INCREASE THE PEACE FESTIVAL 2026
About this Event
Increase the Peace is Boscombe’s big‑hearted community festival, packed with live music all day in multiple venues, from local musicians and headline acts Freefall Collective, The Undercover Hippy, Midnight Alliance, Mischa & The Merry Many, Tuto Tribe, Suna Alan, internationally recognised Kurdish Alevi singer and the wonderful Kitty Stewart. Enjoy free children’s entertainment all day, creative kids’ workshops, bold graffiti art, cultural dance, Rhythym Generation's African drumming workshop, CYC Yoga and DJ sets from The Hush Club, Jungle Cub DJs and AfroDisiac Youth DJs*. Get involved with writing workshops from The Outsiders Project and The Story Works, powerful theatre from Drama Peace 'Celeste', and spoken word with Getting Poetical. Explore our Human Library, feast at international & local food served by Pickled Mongoose, Golden Spoon, The Dough Box & more. Browse buzzing community & charity stalls — and check out Intrepid skate ramp & Jungle Cub DJs bringing extra energy to the day. Every penny raised helps us create more community projects with local charities, supporting Boscombe & Bournemouth all year round.
Agenda
🕑: 11:30 AM - 08:30 PM
The Street Stage
Host: Freefall Collective
Info: FULL DAY OF LIVE MUSIC
🕑: 12:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Boscombe Cresent
Host: The Hush Club
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:30 AM
Chaplin's & the Cellar Bar
Host: The Undercover Hippy
🕑: 11:00 AM - 01:30 PM
MAKE YOUR OWN COMIC WITH THE STORY WORKS at TOSH
Host: THE STORY WORKS
Info: Create a your own micro-comic book with our top team of artists and storytellers from The Story Works. Through collaborative and individual exercises, you’ll go home with a small comic of your own creation as we guide you through the amazing possibilities that comics hold, and the process of writing and illustrating your own graphic novels from start to finish.
Booking recommended. (Ages 7-14)
🕑: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP with The Outsiders Project at TOSH
Host: THE OUTSIDERS PROJECT
Info: We run creative writing workshops throughout the year with marginalised communities in Boscombe - helping to develop skills, confidence and self-belief. All workshops are run by trained outsider artists. Join Outsiders Project member, Neil Benad, for this taster workshop. No writing experience is necessary! (ages 18+)
🕑: 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM
CHILDREN'S ENTERTAIMENT
Host: Creative Kids
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Wild Cafe & Kitchen
'We are Free' Creative workshop 10-12, Eats N Beats 12-6 & Vinyl sets all day
🕑: 12:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Jazz Coffee & Bar
Host: https://www.jazzcoffeebar.com/
Info: Live acoustic musicians celebrating and performing at this beautiful, new venue, nestled in a hidden nook opposite The Crescent, Boscombe. Jazz Coffee & Bar - your cosy suburban hideaway for smooth tunes, rich coffee, and late-night cocktails.
🕑: 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Celeste Theatre Production of 'Writing Home'
Host: https://www.toshspace.co.uk/
Info: Celeste Theatre Group — a company using creativity, second language learners and lived experience to spark connection, conversation and hope will be performing 'Writing Home'.
🕑: 12:30 PM - 06:30 PM
Sovereign Circle & Dance Arena
Host: Afro* Disiac Youth DJs
Info: Young People's stage, Cultural dance performances, Afro*Disiac DJs, Rhythm Generation African drum workshops!!
🕑: 12:00 PM - 06:30 PM
Sea Rd Skateboarding & Jungle Cub DJs
Host: Jungle Cub DJs
🕑: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Bournemouth Stitchers Textile Card making workshop at TOSH
Host: Bournemouth Stitchers & TOSH
Info: Come and stitch a stunning and unique textiles card out of African fabric scraps. A collaborative project by Bournemouth Social Stitchers and TOSH.
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🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:30 AM
Chaplin's & The Cellar Bar
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🕑: 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM
The Human Library
Host: Gareth Sherwood CEO
Info: Meet local community figures and chat about topics of interest & discussion with 'Living Books'. Connect, debate, laugh & learn in The human Library. Don't judge a book by its cover!
'Hands' Art Exhibition
🕑: 10:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Auger Gallery 'Hands' Art Exhibition
Host: Dr Rehan Zia
Info: The hands that feed us - environmental photography exhibition. A photo essay and art exhibition to highlight & celebrate the massive contributions immigrants and refugees make to our community and the wonderful people they are.
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'Hands' Exhibition at The Auger Gallery
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🕑: 10:30 AM - 05:30 PM
Auger Gallery Art Exhibition
Info: Environmental photography exhibition highlighting and celebrating the positive contributions migrants & refugees make to society & Bournemouth in particular. It aims to counter the negative rhetoric and connotations that have been created around terms/labels such as 'refugee' and 'migrant' and shows the everyday, hardworking human beings just trying to get through life like everybody else.
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🕑: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Textiles Card Making Workshop at TOSH
Host: Bournemouth Social Stitchers
Info: Come and stitch a stunning and unique textiles card out of African fabric scraps. A collaborative project by Bournemouth Social Stitchers and TOSH.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 0.00 to GBP 20.00
