Skegness & Mablethorpe | 16 -18 Jun | SO Festival is Lincolnshire’s astounding, international, street theatre festival featuring everything from poetic puppetry and daring dancing to immersive installations and creative conversations. OAUK is there with a Festival Focus cohort and looking forward to Farm Yard Circus, Barolosolo, Casson & Friends, Fluid Motion Theatre, Vero Cendoya Dance Co., Autin Dance Theatre, Sonia Sabri Co. and Spitz & Co. as well as much more seaside fun.

London | 16-30 Jun | Head over to Greenwich Park after school or work for Summer Sessions. A free skate event from Greenwich Dance curated with support from Frankie J and Vibes On Vibes:

  • 16 Jun | Skate Jam and The Urban Playground Team will present On the Strandline, a parkour-based performance.
  • 23 Jun | Skate Jam, Elementz will present their hip hop and street dance performance, and Magpie Dance will present a short extract of their new work.
  • 30 Jun | Skate Jam and Osian Meilir‘s Welsh folk-dancing and queer nightlife inspired show QUERIN.

Derbyshire Dales | 16 Jun -2 Jul | Ashbourne Festival brings the best classical and contemporary arts to the town. Don’t miss Out of the Deep Blue by Autin Dance Theatre, Twelfth Night by Illyria, Her Majesty’s Secret Service, The 2 Men, Peter Mielniczek, The Plastic Fantastic Show, Quinn Beasley, Jason Maverick, HEROMACRO, Herbie Treehead, Breaking Broken Dreams and The Spanish Gentleman Juggler.

Richmond | 16 Jun-2 Jul | This year Richmond Arts & Ideas Festival explores the theme of Together & Change through dance, music, exhibitions, theatre, and conversation to help us imagine our shared future. Out of the Deep Blue by Autin Dance Theatre is there too and How To Build A Universe, a local dance and picnic in the park, by N-Rich Dance with a special performance by Jamaal Burkmar and Gaia by Luke Jerram.

Gloucester | 17 Jun | Strike-a-Light presents PUBLIC by Ockham’s Razor – an outdoor performance of dance, parkour and acrobatics. Completely free and no need to book, just turn up.

Worthing | 17 Jun – 9 Sep | Spin Out Festival is Worthing’s annual season of mesmerising open-air performances from the best, and most exciting performers of theatre, circus, street arts, music and dance at various locations throughout the town;

  • 17 Jun | Why? by Gravity & Levity is a tender and exhilarating aerial duet exploring themes of life, loss, surrender and acceptance in a soft and moving way.

London | 17 Jun | Nigerian Festival UK is back for another epic edition with the theme “Our Language, Our Heritage”. As the largest outdoor gathering of Nigerians in the UK, the festival showcases, acknowledges, celebrates and conserves the cultural richness and unique heritage of current and future generations of Nigerians living in the United Kingdom.

Newcastle-under-Lyme | 17 Jun | Roll up, roll up – the circus is in town! Prepare to be amazed as Astley’s Homecoming takes over the town centre with a day of outdoor circus fun organised by Appetite, the Philip Astley Project and Newcastle BID! Don’t miss Cirque des Misérables by Kitsch & Sync, Phileas Fogg: Day 79 by Dizzy O’Dare, Do What Ya Mama Told Yah! by Just More Productions, Street Cat Strut by TrashCat Productions, Spinsonic Bubbles Show by Spinsonic Entertainment, and hula hooping with Marawa’s Majorettes.

  • 17 Jun | Be amazed and delighted by Astley’s Homecoming Cabaret presented by Dizzy O’Dare. A slick and fast-paced cabaret show, bringing you circus, music, variety and sass!

Hounslow | 17 Jun | Prelude at Bell Square London is a French hip-hop dance performance by Cie Accrorap. A rhythmically compelling performance, it is the story of the meeting between the music of Romain Dubois and the physicality of the dancers.

Gloucestershire | 17 Jun | Get Creative Outdoors with workshops for visually impaired children and families by The Velcro Collective. You’ll do creative things as a family, like treasure hunts in the woods, creating artworks and playing movement games! Co-delivered with visually impaired artist, Dougie Walker, and co-designed with visually impaired dance artist & facilitator, Holly Thomas.

Preston | 17 Jun | Preston City Mela is a celebration of South Asian arts & culture. Don’t miss Tiger Dance by Puli Kali, Chinese Dragon & lion dancing by Yu Taichi and The Worldwise Samba Drummers.

Liverpool | 17-18 Jun | Africa Oyé is the UK’s largest free celebration of African music and culture with a line-up of live acts, DJs and workshops. Don’t miss dance performances from Batala and Movema, loads of kids’ activities in The Oyé Village and the Katumba Drumming & Movement Parade on 18 Jun at 1.45pm.

Barrow-in-Furness | 17-18 Jun | Escape from Fort Lagoon is a live-action, immersive theatre game where players become prisoners and you must work together to try and escape the Lagoon… This is a new Creative People & Places project created by Submersion Productions and Wake the Beast

Nottingham | 17-18 Jun | Ay-UpMarket shines a spotlight on some of Nottingham’s independent businesses. Check out City Arts’ Giant Parrot, appearing alongside carnival performers Can Samba and the Brazilian Carnival Company, and artist Alison Denholm’s flamingo mobility scooters.

Coventry | 17-18 Jun | Riverside Festival is a celebration of community, art and nature with live music, theatre, DJs, crafts, dance, poetry and more. Don’t miss The Whale by Talking Birds, Half Truths & Sticklebacks by Ludic Rooms and Ascension Youth Open Sessions with Ascension Dance.

Holmfirth | 17-18 Jun | Holmfirth Arts Festival Weekend will see the spectacular Forces of Nature Parade by Handmade Parade on Sat 17 Jun, plus exciting live street theatre, installations and new commissions on Sun 18 Jun. Don’t miss Freefall by Urban Angels, Masquerade by Callaloo Carnival Arts, To Be Us by Dark Horse Theatre, Butterflies by Neighbourhood Watch Stilts International and Flood by Theatre Témoin.

Lowestoft | 17-18 Jun | First Light Festival will return for a weekend of free arts, activities and experiences, shining a first light on new and creative talent and building opportunities in the local community. Don’t miss Olive Branch by Vanhulle Dance Theatre and giant puppet Farrah the Fox’s first stop on the Hi! Street Fest national tour (Emergency Exit Arts & Thingumajig Theatre) where she will meet giant puppet Sol (101 Outdoor Arts), during the opening parade on Sat 17 Jun.

Somerset | 21-25 Jun | The Glastonbury Festival aims to encourage and stimulate youth culture from around the world in all its forms. The theatre & circus fields are packed full of Outdoor Arts and so you’ll see so many walkabouts around the festival – we’ve made a list of everyone we know is there on our website here.

Bradford | 23 Jun – 2 Jul | Bradford Literature Festival is an annual festival and year-round cultural outreach programme. Encompassing the best of literature, music, theatre, cultural discussions, lectures and family events.

France | 23-25 Jun | Viva Cité is a historic festival of street arts in Europe, which celebrated its 30th edition in 2019. An unmissable 3-day event for all lovers and professionals of street arts.

Romania | 23 Jun – 2 Jul | The Sibiu International Theatre Festival represents, beyond a celebration of the arts, a perfect combination between theatre, dance, circus, film, musical, opera, book, conferences, exhibitions, performances, music and street performances.

London | 23 Jun – 5 Jul | Enjoy the long days and warm summer nights in the heart of Hyde Park with BST Open House! Don’t miss performances and ‘have a go!’ sessions with Upswing.

Basingstoke | 23 Jun – 9 Jul | Basingstoke Festival is a free annual outdoor arts festival celebrating arts, culture, community, and place. Supporting the best of Basingstoke’s local creative talent and showcasing national and international arts in unusual places. Don’t miss Flourish – Town Centre Parade with Fluid Motion Theatre, Flood by Theatre Témoin, RUSH by Joss Arnott Dance, Look Mum, No Hands! by Daryl & Co. & Mimbre, Falconry Dismay by Dizzy O’Dare, Parade – The Giant Wheelby Autin Dance Theatre, The Precious Thing by Inverted Theatre, The Wagon of Dreams by Jellyfish Theatre, Eau de Memoire by High Leg Kick and Step Hop House by Folk Dance Remix.

Nottingham | 24 Jun | Arnold Summer Fair is a celebration of community and diversity. Featuring live music, creative workshops, performances and stalls. The City Arts puppets will appear alongside carnival performers Can Samba and the Brazilian Carnival Company.

London | 25  Jun | The Maryon Park Picnic is an afternoon of family-friendly performances, workshops, games and community fun! Don’t miss performances from Beeja Dance, GD Collective and the grand finale parade with TARU Arts.

Glasgow | 25  Jun | Glasgow Mela is the largest in the country, bringing music, dance, arts and vibrancy to the heart of Glasgow’s West End. Based on the traditions of the Indian sub-continent the Glasgow Mela has evolved to become an outdoor multi-cultural spectacular.

Portsmouth | 28  Jun – 2 Jul | Ports Fest has an ambitious multi-arts programme that responds to the city’s identity as a commuter belt, sea city, and area of rich cultural history. Don’t miss The Crow House by Circo Rum Ba Ba and The Tempest by The Theatre of Dark Encounters.

Winchester | 30 Jun – 1 Jul | Hat Fair is the UK’s longest continually running Outdoor Arts festival; it’s a family-friendly festival of Street Performance and Outdoor Arts where there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss the headline show Ancient Futures by Upswing and Unlimited Theatre and OAUK will be there with a free Funding Focus event.

Coventry | 30 Jun – 2 Jul | Godiva Festival offers incredible live music from top-name acts and local artists, as well as creative and interactive family-friendly entertainment. Don’t miss Imagineer’s giant Godiva puppet, Ancient Futures by Upswing and Unlimited Theatre and performances from Darryl J Carrington, Jones & Barnard and more!

Cheadle | 30 Jun – 2 Jul | Back in 2016 the first Cheadle Carnival Committee for around 30 years was created. Every member had the same vision – to bring back what was once the highlight of the year for the community. Don’t miss the ‘Kings and Queens’ carnival parade on Sat 1st Jul!

Hampshire | 30 Jun – 9 Jul | The theme for this year’s Sway Carnival is Up & Beyond, so think of all those things you might find in the sky or space when creating you scarecrows, decorating your garden or dressing up for the Carnival Procession.