Festival & Performance Listings

Brighton Festival 2026, Brighton

We’re thrilled to share the programme for the 60th edition of Brighton Festival. This May marks a momentous milestone: not only are we celebrating six decades of world-class performance here in Brighton, but it is also the 40th edition of the Children’s Parade and the 10th edition of Our Place. From 1–25 May, we’re welcoming over 100 events from artists arou More

Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Norfolk

Norfolk & Norwich Festival is a charity and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. Made up of one of the country’s longest running arts festivals and a region-wide programme of creative engagement that particularly focuses on improving the cultural offer for children and young people. For 17 days each May, the Festival transforms our More

TAC 2026, Spain

The Valladolid International Street Theatre and Arts Festival (TAC) has become a cultural benchmark where action, observation, fun, shock, emotion and reflection work together to redefine urban space and give extraordinary dynamism to the entire city of the Pisuerga. The TAC is the moment when the city of Valladolid and its citizens merge to experience th More

Dumfries & Galloway Festival, Dumfries & Galloway

Since 1979 the Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival has been the bedrock of our organisation’s identity and activities, and will continue to be so. We also respond to community-led initiatives across the region and help them develop bespoke festive celebrations which they would like to initiate, experience and enjoy. Includes OAUK Member Oceanallover wit More

Imaginarius, Portugal

Imaginarius is a cultural project of the Municipality of Santa Maria da Feira dedicated to art in public space, conceived as an ecosystem that integrates creation, presentation and critical thought within a single strategic vision. It is grounded in the understanding that public space is a political and cultural site, where art does not emerge as ornament, b More

Grace O’Malley Festival, Achill Island, Co. Mayo

The Grace O’Malley Festival – A Celebration of Ireland’s Legendary Pirate Queen 22–24 May 2026 | Achill Island, Co. Mayo Join us for the first ever Grace O’Malley Festival, a bold new celebration inspired by the fearless Grace O’Malley (Gráinne Mhaol). Rooted on Achill Island, the festival brings together jaw-dropping circus, live music, storytelling, More

Good Grief 2026, Hastings

Good Grief Hastings will explore how creativity, conversation and community can help people support one another through grief and loss. Taking place over the late May Bank Holiday weekend, the four-day festival will bring people together for talks, workshops, music, film and creative experiences that open up compassionate conversations about death and bereav More

Barnsley Garden Party, Barnsley

The Glass Works Square and The Seam will come alive with some of the UK’s leading artists and most exciting performances on Saturday 23 May. Don't miss a packed day of spectacular outdoor arts, dance, music, circus and family shows at this free family festival. It all starts at 11am until 4pm in The Glass Works Square and The Seam Digital Campus. Fo More

Seeing Thurrock Differently: A Journey Home, Thurrock

Kinetika’s T100 Festival returns this May with its free 2026 programme, Seeing Thurrock Differently: A Journey Home. From heritage walks to graffiti workshops, poetry in dye gardens to citizen science at dusk, playful performances to a joyful festival finale by Kinetika’s home in Purfleet-on-Thames, this year’s programme brings Thurrock into motion – conn More

The Big Bahooey at Hampton Court Palace, Hampton Court Palace

This late May Bank Holiday, the Big Bahooey returns to Hampton Court Palace for a weekend of serious nonsense, with a brand-new lineup featuring world-class entertainment and jaw-dropping acts. The gardens of Hampton Court Palace will transform into a family-friendly festival of fun, bursting with spectacular shows, exciting encounters and live music for vis More

Scala Festival of Play, Worcester

A FREE festival of play for children and their grown-ups, in Worcester. Saturday 23 May 2026, 10am-5pm. In & around The Arches and The Hive, Worcester WR1 3PD Scala Festival of Play is a day-long festival for children aged 3-11 and their families, with circus, aerial arts, gaming, dance, street games, drumming and visual arts. Join us in and aro More

Salford 100: The Wagon Train, Salford & Manchester

The Wagon Train is a pop-up festival in your neighbourhood with free, family-friendly entertainment throughout the summer. Expect music, poetry, play space, karaoke, talent competitions, in a programme co-created with Salford’s citizens. Part of Salford's centenary celebrations, celebrating the heart and soul of Salford. Events will take place whatever th More

Whitley Bay Carnival 2026, Whitley Bay

Saturday 23rd 11am ‘FOLK’ Carnival Parade 11am – 12:30 Whitley Bay Metro Station to The Links via Station Road, Whitley Road, Park View, Marine Ave Featuring costumed promenaders and giant structures from 16 schools/groups with live music from Spanish City Rollers, Drumdin, & Storytellers Streetband, Our theme for 2026 is FOLK and as always we hav More

Everywhere’s a Beach, Wigan

Join us for a day at the beach unlike any other in this high energy, circus theatre show! Perfect for the whole family, Everywhere’s a Beach is a charmingly ridiculous performance taking place on a giant revolving beach parasol! This dynamic, dizzying and downright daft show will leave you dancing with delight! You’ll be swept away as this show embr More

MK MOTION, Milton Keynes

Saturday 23rd May 12:00-17:00, Middleton Hall, centre:mk​ Join us for a free family festival of dance! Local and national dance artists will showcase incredible family-friendly dance works in a range of styles. 12:00 Two Thirds Sky - Out of Body 12:30 Tavaziva Dance - Requiem 13:00 Two Thirds Sky - Out of Body 13:30 Sonia Sabri Company - El More

Captive, Redditch

Daily performances and workshops at venues across Redditch 23rd to 25th May 2026 Four dancers perform a thrilling blend of highly physical dance, acrobatics and aerial work inside a large cage. Inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke’s poem The Panther, this extraordinary outdoor show explores what it means to be captive. Saturday 23 May. 1pm. Tesco Ext More

Eastbourne Carnival, Eastbourne

Following on from a fabulous, colourful celebration featuring “Celebrations of the World” theme in 2025, Carnival is back in Eastbourne on Saturday 23rd May 2026, and our theme is “Lights, Camera Action”. This year, for 2026, we want the community to get excited and creative about the world of Film, Television, and being a theatre town – Theatre & Mus More

Luton International Carnival 2026, Luton

Date: Sunday 24 May 2026 Time: 12pm – 6pm Venue: Wardown Park, Luton, LU2 7HL. Luton International Carnival celebrates 50 years of colour and culture returning to Wardown Park with Luton Rising as headline sponsor.. Luton’s landmark cultural celebration is marking a major milestone this year as the Luton International Carnival celebrates its 50th ann More

Olive Branch, East Quay

Olive Branch is a family-friendly acrobatic extravaganza Join us for a funny and feel-good tale of friendship and the wonder of the natural world, told through a captivating mixture of physical theatre and martial arts. Two strangers meet in a forest and must learn to overcome their differences to help protect mother nature. How will they learn to work More

Romeo & Juliet, Hever Castle

Join us on Anne Boleyn’s Walk to witness as this age-old vendetta between two powerful families erupts into bloodshed. This is the greatest love story of all time A group of masked Montagues risk further conflict by gate-crashing a Capulet party. A young lovesick Romeo Montague falls instantly in love with Juliet Capulet, who is due to marry her father’s More