Arts by the Sea Festival

Arts by the Sea is a celebration of art, culture, people and place.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you all to Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival 2026 this September for another exceptional weekend of art, culture, people and place.

Our theme, ELEMENTAL, celebrates the powerful energies that connect us to each other and to the world around us. From the crackle of ideas that light up our imaginations to the steady rhythms that keep us grounded, these forces remind us of all that creativity is.

Join us to celebrate creativity as a catalyst for positive change, encouraging collective action, sustainable thinking and a deeper connection to the world we share, starting in Bournemouth Gardens.

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About us

We bring together large-scale installations, diverse music, intriguing spectacles, dance, street theatre, participatory experiences and so much more, to give you a festival that is unique as it is celebratory.

Originally launched in 2011, Arts by the Sea brings cultural experiences to the centre of Bournemouth, as well as into surrounding neighbourhoods, working with schools and communities across the local areas.

We champion local artists and emerging talents, providing a variety of opportunities to support their creative development. Inclusivity, diversity and sustainability are at the heart of all that we do and we feel privileged to bring to you the 16th edition of Arts by the Sea for 2026.

We’re an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation organisation, which means that funding from taxpayers and National Lottery players play a huge part in supporting the work we do each year.