Sunrose Arts Festival 2026
Schedule
Sat, 25 Jul, 2026 at 11:00 am
UTC+01:00Location
Dane John Gardens | Canterbury, EN
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And now, the event you’ve all been waiting for… please, welcome to the stage, SUNROSE ARTS FESTIVAL 2026!You’ve been to the poetry slams.. You’ve created masterpieces at scratch club.. You’ve open miced with the best of them.. It’s time for the main event!
Sunrose Arts Festival is the highlight of our year's programme; a one day festival full of performances, workshops, scavenger hunts, market stalls and exhibitions, finishing off with the Utterance Worldwide Poetry Grand Slam Final in the evening!
Taking place on Saturday 25th July 2026 from 11am until 9pm, situated in Dane John Gardens (Canterbury), we invite you to take part, enjoy the art, and maybe even make some of your own!
PROGRAMME:
- Exposure Main Stage (midday to 6pm): Join us for local talent, performing music, poetry, dance, theatre, comedy and more! A staple for Canterbury open mics, Exposure has been running since 2021 and celebrated a diverse range of performers. At our festival, Exposure becomes our main stage, featuring authentic, raw and brilliant local talent.
“They nurture artists of all kinds - musicians, poets, actors, painters, sketchers, comedians, storytellers - and do so in a way that makes everyone feel welcome.”
-Sunrose Book Fair and Art Market (11am to 6pm): A favourite of Sunrose Arts Festival, local artists’ works including prints, books, jewellery, crafts and more!
- Sanctuary Visual Arts Exhibition (11am to 6pm) An enigmatic celebration of three local artists in their chosen discipline
- Creative Circle (11am to 6pm) An open space to sit, draw, write and share! Suitable for all ages and experiences
- ‘We Are’ Workshops (various times) Your choice of three workshops on a variety of creative endeavours!
- Scavenger hunt (all day, across the city) Ready to go on an adventure? Our artists have created a scavenger hunt across the city where you can discover hidden treasures of music, poetry, art and more! Want to join the exploration? Pick up a map from our Box Office on the day!
- Utterance Worldwide Grand Slam Final (7pm to 9pm) Our four 2026 slam winners go head to head for the title of Utterance Grand Slam Champion!
CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES
Exposure Main Stage (call out for performing arts: musicians, poets, dancers, theatre makers, comedians and magicians)
Ready to take to the stage?
20 - 30 minute slot
Times - Starts at midday, finishes at 6pm
Fee - £50 + hospitality
We also have open mic slots of 5 - 10 minutes, also receive hospitality!
Book Fair and Art Market (call out for all creatives)
This is a fan favourite for Sunrose! Whether you have a poetry book, make jewellery, design art prints, or anything else, we want to hear from you!
You get 100% profit for your sales. We provide hospitality, marquee, table, chair, display materials and a card reader, all you need is your works!
Your contribution (to ensure all resources are covered) - £10
Sanctuary Exhibition (call out for various)
We are looking for poets, photographers and visual artists to respond to Canterbury with commissioned pieces!
Fee - £50 + hospitality
We also have a community gallery in the exhibition you can add any works to.
Sunrose Digital Scavenger Hunt (call out for all creative disciplines)
There are QR codes across the city for attendees to scan and discover a piece of art. We’d like your works to be that art!
This is a great way to gain more exposure for your creative endeavours, whether it’s a sound byte, visual art, a poem, video of you performing etc!
‘We Are’ Workshops (call out for all creatives)
Want to get started as a workshop facilitator? Our team of trained mentors, tutors and facilitators are ready to support you develop your session! Develop a workshop or experience for the general public.
Length - Up to 45 minutes
Fee - £220 + hospitality
Volunteers (call out for everyone)
We would love to hear from you if you are interested in volunteering for the festival! You’ll get hospitality + thank you pack! This is a great way to get working experience in event production and management.
Paid opportunities close 25th May, with all other opportunities closing 29th June.
Respond to the open call in our linktree.
ACCESSIBILITY
Our team value making events accessible to everyone. We have a team of accessibility advisors who support us in the design and execution of our events, aiming to make each activity as accessible as possible. Some general measures include:
Sensory tools available at each venue
Wheelchair accessible
Those who are unavailable to attend in person can livestream Utterance at home
Large print flyers are available at our Box Office on the day
We are available via our email to answer any questions in the lead up to the festival. You can contact us at [email protected] with any queries! Full access journey is available in our Link Tree.
FINALLY, WHO ARE WE?
We are a small Community Interest Company called Sunrose Arts, dedicated to connecting creatives, creating opportunities and celebrating the community. We are a safe space for all people, of any gender, sexuality, ethnicity or access requirement. We want to see a thriving and diverse community represented in our city, and look forward to meeting each and every one of you!
GET IN TOUCH
For general queries, contact [email protected]
For creative opportunities, contact [email protected]
For marketing queries, contact [email protected]
Contact number: 07883368328
Visit our information portal in our link tree.
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Where is it happening?
Dane John Gardens, Dane John Gardens, Canterbury. CT1 2RN,Canterbury, Kent, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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