Art Fest 2026 brings local, national and international artists together in Nottingham to inspire new ideas and creative connections Art Fest returns to Nottingham from 20 to 22 November 2026 with a three-day festival bringing together artists from across the UK and around the world. Through exhibitions, workshops and talks, the festival aims to inspire the wider public, encourage artistic collaboration and explore how creativity can shape the places where we live.
Now in its third year, Art Fest continues to build on its success in transforming Nottingham's streets through large-scale public artworks. This year's festival brings together local, national and international artists to develop exciting new creative projects, share ideas and strengthen connections between artists, communities and the wider public.
Under the theme ‘Build a City for Artists’, this year's programme invites audiences to consider how artists, communities and cultural spaces can shape our cities, while creating opportunities for new ideas and collaborations to grow beyond the festival itself.
Build a City for Artists
This year's festival explores the theme ‘Build a City for Artists’, asking a simple question: what would our cities look like if they were designed to support creativity?
Inspired by research into artist-led projects and creative communities across the UK and internationally, the theme considers how accessible spaces, shared resources and opportunities for creative practice can help artists and communities thrive.
Through its programme, Art Fest celebrates the people, places and projects that make creativity possible. It highlights how artists can shape the identity of our cities, build communities from the ground up and inspire others to take part in creating the culture around them.
A festival of exhibitions, workshops and conversations
The programme includes:
● A Common Practice, a photography exhibition documenting street art, graffiti and creative culture across the United States, alongside the launch of a new independent publication by KIMU featuring artist interviews, photography, essays and reflections on creativity, community and place.
The People's Hall. 16 Heathcoat Street, NG13AA.
● Meanwhile... Somewhere Else, an exhibition by London-based artist Aida Wilde, bringing together artworks and stories exploring the people, places and creative culture of Hackney.
The People's Hall. 16 Heathcoat Street, NG13AA.
● Wall Stories, an international group exhibition sharing photographs and personal stories from artists around the world, revealing the memories, experiences and meanings behind walls they have painted. The People's Hall.
● CANvas, an international group exhibition transforming empty spray paint cans into original artworks, featuring contributions from artists working across different visual disciplines around the world.
Broadway Gallery. 17 Heathcoat Street, NG13AL.
● Loco - Motifs, a collaborative exhibition presented by Montana x Newsstand, bringing together graffiti crews from across the UK to create original artworks on miniature trains.
Montana Nottingham. Market, UNIT 13 Avenue A, Sneinton Market, NG11DT.
● Shallow Lagoon: Paste-Up Takeover, a collaborative exhibition transforming The Carousel's ramp with paste-up artworks by Shallow Lagoon and friends.
The Carousel. 15 Hockley, Nottingham, NG11FH.
● Artist-led workshops, including protest poster-making using risograph and lino printing with Pink Menace, screen printing with London artist Aida Wilde and a hands-on CANvas workshop with TOKYO.
● Creative walks, including a photography walk with Sisterhood Collective and Walk N Make with Meanderers, inviting participants to explore Nottingham through photography, observation and creative activities.
● Talks, films and discussions, exploring how artists, public spaces and creative communities shape our cities. The programme features filmmaker and street art documentarian Doug Gillen, presenting Hidden Canvases: Street Art & the City, alongside contributions from artists, researchers and creative practitioners.
The festival opens on Friday 20 November with a launch party, and A Common Practice zine launch at The People's Hall, followed by three days of exhibitions, workshops and events across Nottingham city centre, concluding on Sunday 22 November.
Supporting artists and giving back
Art Fest 2026 is being delivered on a not-for-profit basis, made possible through the dedication of a small team, volunteers, artists and supporters. Despite limited funding, the festival remains committed to paying artists for their contributions, with its core team donating significant time to bring the programme to life.
The festival is also raising funds to create a new mural at Rene House, a local homeless shelter in Nottingham, with proceeds from the sale of A Common Practice contributing towards the project.
The initiative reflects Art Fest's wider ambition to create opportunities for artists while using creativity to make a positive difference in local communities.
Art Fest Director Benjamin Kay said:
"Art Fest has always been about bringing people together through art. Over the past two years, we've seen how creativity can transform public spaces, but we've also seen the importance of supporting the artists and communities behind that work.
"This year, we wanted to create something that goes beyond the festival itself. By bringing artists together from Nottingham, across the UK and internationally, we're hoping to spark new ideas, encourage collaboration and inspire people to think about what they could create in their own communities.
"Build a City for Artists is about imagining places where creativity can thrive, where artists have access to the spaces, resources and opportunities they need, and where everyone feels encouraged to take part. We hope this year's festival is a starting point for some of those conversations and future projects."
Event information
Art Fest 2026
Dates: Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November 2026
Location: Nottingham city centre
Venues: The People's Hall, Broadway Gallery, The Carousel and Montana x Newsstand.
Opening Night: Friday 20 November, 18:00–21:00, The People's Hall. Free entry, advance booking required.
Tickets: The festival features free exhibitions alongside ticketed workshops, creative walks and talks, all priced at £6.
Full programme and tickets:
https://www.artfestnottingham.com/2026
Instagram: @artfestnottingham
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