Birmingham Festival is back this summer in Centenary Square after the success of hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games. This 10-day festival aims to keep the sporting and cultural legacy alive by offering a variety of free events. In addition to a large screen and a live music stage, the festival will also feature promenade performances, participatory workshops, and special takeover days by local cultural organizations such as Sampad and ACE Dance and Music. The organizers are aiming to recreate the shared moments and magic of the 2022 games. The full program will be announced on June 28.
The Manchester International Festival, which takes place at various venues from June 29 to July 16, is known for its big-ticket shows. However, it also offers a packed program of free entertainment at Festival Square. This year, the festival square has been relocated to the new Factory International venue, and the riverside open-air stage will host over 190 artists, bands, and DJs. The lineup includes A Certain Ratio, Nakhane, and the Orielles. The festival will also feature immersive installations by Yayoi Kusama and Ryan Gander’s city-wide treasure hunt.
London’s National Theatre is currently hosting its free outdoor arts festival, River Stage. The festival celebrates modern Arab culture and features a range of performances, including the Hawiyya Dance Company and Beirut Groove Collective. The final weekend will showcase beatboxing, steel drums, grime, and more, curated by Hackney Empire’s Young Producers.
The Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, taking place from August 25 to September 10, has chosen “acts of hope” as its theme for 2023. The festival will present free outdoor theater, art, dance, and circus performances in public spaces, encouraging creativity and reflection. Highlights include Ancient Futures, a sci-fi dance party, and Cygnus, a quirky ballet performed by robotic swans.
Plymouth Sound will provide a dramatic backdrop for the British Firework Championships on August 16-17. Six professional companies will compete by launching glittering displays from the Mountbatten breakwater while spectators enjoy family-friendly entertainment on the shore.
Liverpool Biennial, the UK’s largest festival of contemporary art, is currently underway. With over 30 artists exhibiting in various venues across the city, the festival explores ancestral and indigenous forms of knowledge, wisdom, and healing. Highlights include a large-scale multilingual neon work and a carnivalesque installation in Liverpool One.
Stockton’s International Riverside Festival will take place from August 3-6 and will feature a packed family-friendly program of free outdoor performances. Artists from around the world will showcase their talents, including French innovators Bivouac, UK dance troupe Akademi, circus specialists Upswing, and Portuguese theatre company Teatro Só.
Glasgow’s Queen’s Park Arena will host a community-led open-air cinema from July 3-21. The summer season of free screenings includes family favorites like Toy Story and Frozen, as well as evening screenings of Scarface and Braveheart. The amphitheater will also host fitness workshops, local musicians, comedy festivals, and storytelling events.
Cardiff’s Tafwyl festival will celebrate Welsh-language culture over two days in the Parc Buté, near Cardiff Castle. The festival will feature over 40 bands, food stalls, beer tents, and activities for all ages. The rest of the city will also join in the celebration with free events leading up to the festival.
Europe’s largest free annual hot-air balloon festival will take place in Ashton Court Estate, Bristol, from August 10-13. Visitors can enjoy mass ascents of up to 100 balloons at 6am and 6pm (weather permitting), as well as tethered historical balloons, aerialist performances, and a market with local stalls and family activities.
Belfast’s Music in the Parks series offers free performances by local Belfast talent in green spaces throughout the city until September 30. The series includes folk groups, jazz trios, contemporary choirs, hip-hop collectives, African drumming ensembles, and brass bands. The series will culminate in a grand finale concert at City Hall.
Leicester’s re/action festival, taking place on August 26-27, aims to address climate change through creativity. The festival will feature pop-up shows, installations, and exhibitions throughout the town center. Highlights include oversized wandering creations, interactive theater, and a recital by the Vegetable Orchestra. There will also be a “re/purpose” area exploring the upcycling of household items.
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