Festival & Performance Listings

Roots To Rise, Hounslow

Nandita Shankardass brings together three women, each absorbed in the chaos of their own world. Blending folk and contemporary movement with Indian classical dance, this new work follows their journey back to the land, the soil, and the stories written in the stars. Set to polyrhythmic musical scores and guided by embodied memory, they confront personal and More

Grantham Car Show, Grantham

Clear the diary and get ready for a fun-filled day out as Grantham Car Show roars back into Wyndham Park on Saturday 16 May. Classic favourites and much‑loved vehicles from decades gone by will take centre stage as this popular event returns to the local calendar – and best of all, it’s free to attend. From 10.30am to 4pm, visitors can enjoy an impress 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 Barnsley Garden Party on Saturday 23 May will transform the town centre with music, dance, circus acts and outdoor arts for all ages. 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

Luton International Carnival 2026, Luton

Date: Sunday 24 May 2026 Time: 12pm – 6pm Venue: Wardown Park, Luton, LU2 7HL. The carnival parade will go from Luton Town Centre to Wardown Park. Expect dazzling costumes, infectious rhythms, and that unmistakable Luton Carnival energy that brings generations together. Whether you’re 5 or 85, this is a family celebration for everyone — a day to danc 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

Out There 2026, Great Yarmouth

Perched on the east coast, closer to the continent than the capital, Out There has established an international reputation for its exceptional, innovative and diverse programme. Regularly attracting more than 60,000 people to Great Yarmouth each year. Breath-taking spectacle and quirky comedy combine in a festival woven through with quality performance, f More

Carlow Arts Festival, Carlow

Each year we present a kaleidoscopic programme of works by local, national and international artists, across a variety of artforms including dance, street arts, spectacle, literature, circus, visual arts, film, music and theatre. We also work with artists and communities throughout the year to create new work. This year-round work informs, diversifies, an More

Scarborough Streets 2026, Scarborough

Join us for a three-day festival of outdoor events and performances. This inclusive community event takes place in Scarborough Town Centre over the weekend of Saturday 29 to Sunday 31 May (11am – 4pm) and will include a variety of free performances and activities. We want to inspire, celebrate and showcase local creativity and there will be something for eve More

Luminarium: Terceradix, Harwell Campus

The Light Project’s newest event is a Luminarium, a spectacular walk-through installation that fills visitors with light, colour, and calm. Created and hand-crafted by the world-renowned Architects of Air, this monumental inflatable structure invites visitors to slow down and explore at their own pace. Inside, winding pathways and soaring domes glow with ra More

Umbra, Hounslow

A powerful and nuanced trio, delicate and explosive in equal measure.Umbra, meaning ‘shadow’ in Latin, is a trio, which looks at the light and darkness within us. How these make us different and the same as each other. The piece explores what we hide and what we reveal, and how behaviour changes depending on who we are with. Highly physical and theatrical, U More

Whirligig 2026, Weston-super-Mare

A free international festival of circus & outdoor arts for all ages Winner of Best UK Small Event, National Outdoor Events Association Awards, 2019. Super Culture’s award-winning, flagship festival returns to Weston-super-Mare to bring an outstanding programme of international outdoor arts to the coast. This year’s Festival once again takes place i More

Victoria Day, Aldershot

Victoria Day is back on Saturday 6 June from 10am to 4pm in Aldershot town centre. This year’s theme is ‘folklore and fairy tales’ and we’re ready for a magical day filled with storybook surprises! Visit Union Street, Wellington Street and Princes Gardens between 10am and 4pm for a treasure trove of free activities, craft and community stalls, whimsical l More