Brighton | 6 – 28 May | Brighton Festival is a celebration of music, theatre, dance, circus, art, film, literature, debate and outdoor and community events in familiar and unusual locations.

  • 27 – 28 May | A Weekend Without Walls by Without Walls is an outdoor pop-up series showcasing circus, dance and music in a riot of joy and colour at various locations. The following shows will see Brighton Festival out with a bang: I think we should start over by Candoco Dance Company and choreographer Jamaal Burkmar; TEABREAK by Trigger; You&Me by Amina Khayyam; Mughal Miniatures by Sonia Sabri Company; Choogh Choogh by Beeja; Pravaas by Akademi; and Ancient Futures by Upswing and Unlimited.

London | 11 May – 11 Sep | Join At the Docks for a spectacular season of world-class arts, culture, and events at London’s newest and coolest waterside destination. The line-up includes contemporary art installations, the UK’s first zero-waste theatre and cutting-edge performances.

Norfolk | 12 – 28 May | For 17 days the Norfolk & Norwich Festival transforms public spaces, city streets, performance venues, parks, forests and beaches, bringing people together to experience the same brilliant and inspirational events.

Bristol | 13 May – 4 Jun | Weekends of Wonder! will bring Bristol’s Broadmead to life with an outdoor street performance festival spanning four weekends. Expect vibrant circus and theatrical ‘Covent Garden style’ performances in circle shows as well as interactive walkabout acts, plus artistic window installations. Don’t miss Felicity Footloose, Darryl J Carrington, Fraser Hooper, Able Mable, The Amazing Gracie B, Billy Kidd, Spikey Will and Unstable Acts with Pete Anderson.

Spain | 18 – 21 May | The Leioa Street Artists Fair celebrates its XXIII edition with a powerful program that celebrates performing arts in the streets and squares of Leioa. This year’s festival will showcase 90 performances, including dance, theatre, circus, clowns, walkabouts, installations, music & more.

Peterborough | 19 – 21 May | Peterborough Celebrates Festival is a community festival for Peterborough at Ferry Meadows. Discover and experience different activities, workshops and food & drink – keep an eye out for the fun and interactive walkabout acts. Don’t miss WILD by Motionhouse, Out of the Deep Blue by Autin Dance Theatre, drumming performances by Punjabi Roots Academy, Dovetailby Vanhulle Dance Theatre, and Hollywood Joy Movie by Lamphouse Theatre.

London | 20 May | Dovetail by Vanhulle Dance Theatre is at Bell Square London this weekend. Don’t miss this high-energy, 15-minute dance duet, fusing elements of ‘breakin’ and martial arts, created within a contemporary dance theatre construct.

Newbury | 24 May | Ancient Futures by Upswing / Unlimited is coming to Newbury Market Place, a blend of circus and storytelling with Sound System culture and West African folklore. The flamboyant Afrinauts build an encampment throughout the day where they welcome participants to train with them and witness their unique community. They will also be at Brighton Festival’s Without Walls Weekend so you’ll have another chance to see them then!

Spain | 24 – 28 May | The International Festival of Theatre and Street Arts of Valladolid(TAC) fills the streets of the city with dance, circus, puppets, urban music and lots of theatre. Don’t miss Frock by Stopgap Dance, Alter by Kamchatka and League & Legend by 15 Feet 6.

Portugal | 25 – 28 May | Imaginarius invests in major international productions and the development of original creations to be premiered as part of its programming, thus giving way to experimentation and the imagination of local creators.

Grimsby | 26 – 28 May | Our Future Starts Here aims to explore issues of our time, while providing new experiences for North East Lincolnshire residents and highlighting Grimsby’s place in the world now. The 2023 programme includes Timeless by Joli Vyann, a ground-breaking outdoor show based on the world we currently live in.

Leek | 26 – 28 May | Colours of the Moorlands kicks off in a big, bright and bold way with Luminarium in Leek – an interactive walk-in sculpture by Architects of Air and designed by Alan Parkinson. A dazzling maze of winding paths and soaring domes, it melds into an inspiring monument to the beauty of light and colour. This is part of the new Creative People & Places project, ‘Outside’.

Bath | 26 May – 11 Jun | Bath Fringe is a festival of all the arts, with few rules as to what should be in or out. Don’t miss Queen of the East by Dodo Dramatics and Radstock Fayre, a family-friendly outdoor arts event by the Natural Theatre Company.

Grenoble | 26 May – 2 Jul | Grenoble Street Art Festival is an opportunity to discover one of the greatest artistic movements of all time. From graffiti to new technologies, this all-public event has a simple intention: to take stock of current street art and raise public awareness of this growing discipline.

Devizes | 27 – 28 May | Devizes International Street Festival is a fantastically energetic event which sees Devizes bustling with world-class street theatre and music. This year is special, as they have an even wider selection of events to blow you away. Don’t miss WILD by Motionhouse, Blockbuster Factory by Cat & Mouse Theatre, Do What Your Mama Told Ya! by Just More Productions, Octopus Garden by Circo Rum Ba Ba, Cat Sith by Ludic Acid, Fresh Talent by Circomedia and much more!

Mildenhall | 27 – 28 May | 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.

Derby | 27 – 28 May | Altered Streets – The Big Book Bonanza puts performance and storytelling onto the streets with a full day of free family-friendly events. Don’t miss the immersive, funny and quirky The Book Ends by Rhubarb Theatre and What Happened to You by Nikki Charlesworth.

Luton | 28 May | Luton International Carnival is a fantastic annual one-day carnival celebration. It is a zealous day celebration that is about embracing multiculturalism and celebrating some of the city’s cherished cultures.

France | 30 May – 4 Jun | La Fête du Cirque is a festival of circus and street arts in the park of the Château de Gromesnil, Saint-Romain-de-Colbosc. The festival promotes contemporary circus that is popular and high quality as well as live entertainment in all its forms.

Newcastle | 31 May | ABC Art & Biodiversity Festival is a festival of art, music, games, and education in Princess Square. Their mission is to create optimistic art, events, games, and planet-saving actions and build a community dedicated to saving the planet.

Lowestoft | 31 May – 1 Jun | In the run-up to this year’s First Light Festival, First Light is offering creative Festival Workshops for the community to get involved with the big Opening Parade:

Nottingham | 2 – 4 Jun | Green Hustle Festival is a celebration of life and creativity that aims to make our city greener, healthier, and more connected. Old Market Square will sing with music, creativity will creep up from the gutters, and seeds of wild ideas will be sown in Nottingham’s fertile soil. Don’t miss Out of the Deep Blue by Autin Dance Theatre, circus workshops with Circus Hub and performances from Capoeria Nottingham.