Street art has emerged as a powerful celebration of urban culture by transforming mundane streetscapes into vibrant galleries.

Image of puffins painted on a metal bridge as part of a urban street art festival in Cheltenham in 2023
Puffins from Cheltenham Paint Festival 2023.

 

Art that appears on the streets, is often an immediate response to grassroots issues that affect that location and the people who live in it. It can give a city and its people a voice and foster a sense of community as well as vibrancy.

Due to the rise in popularity of this art form, Street art festivals are springing up all round the world celebrating creativity, inclusivity and sparking conversation.

A huge crowd flocks to see the street murals being painted live at Bristol's street festival Upfest.
UPFEST in Bristol drawing a huge crowd to see murals being painted live. Photo courtesy of UPFEST.

Street Art festivals are often more than just showcases of artistic talent; they are platforms for community engagement, cultural exchange, and the exploration of societal issues.

A vibrant mural of flowers rises on a large industrial building in a urban landscape. It picks up the natural life in the scene, as there are flowers growing among the grey buildings.
A floral mural from Brazilian artist Thiago Mazza at NUART, aberdeen. Photo courtesy of NUART ABERDEEN

Here’s our list of upcoming Street Art festivals in the UK.

Perhaps there’s one near you!

Yardworks, Glasgow: 4th – 5th May

Upfest Presents, Bristol.  Fri 17th May to Sun 2nd June 2024

Bring the Paint, Leicester 20th-26th May 2024

Nuart, Aberdeen, 8-11th June

Cheltenham Paint Festival, 27th & 28th July 2024

London Mural Festival, September 2024.

Worchester Paint Festival, September 2024

Concrete Canvas, Chelmsford, walking tours all year round.

A piece of street art featuring a skull with two spray cans in blue and yellow with two faces looking out in opposite directions.
A piece of graffiti art at Cheltenham Paint Festival 2023.

It’s been fantastic to work with Cheltenham Paint Festival over the last four years providing paint for the festival! Read more about it here.

Have you got a creative project in mind? If you’re in need of paint click here.

To pass on your surplus paint click here.

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