Blythfest 2026: Two Weeks of Art and Culture Across the Town

Blyth is in the middle of its biggest cultural celebration of the year. Blythfest 2026 runs from Saturday 20 June to Sunday 5 July, a fortnight-long festival of art and culture staged at venues right across the town. Brought together by Blyth Culture Network, it brings shanty singing, live theatre, art exhibitions and hands-on craft workshops to the heart of the community.

Best for: Blythfest 2026 runs from 20 June to 5 July at venues across Blyth. The full programme and listings are at blythfest.co.uk.

What's On

The programme spans music, performance, heritage and community making. Highlights include a tribute-show run of Queen Rhapsody, Glam Rock Live, and a Last Night of the Proms to round things off on 4 July. Families are well catered for too, with the McDougalls Farmyard Fun musical among the daytime offerings.

There's a strong community thread running through it all. The Blyth Valley Samba Band holds open sessions, and the Blyth Tall Ship Shanty Singers welcome anyone who fancies a go -- no previous experience required. Visual art features prominently, with the Shifting Forms exhibition of Bede Academy student work at the RePUBlic Gallery and the Estate of the Nation outdoor exhibition, alongside a Stir Your Senses sensory walk in Ridley Park.

Where to Find It

Rather than one main stage, Blythfest spreads across the town's cultural spaces. Events take place at the Phoenix Theatre, Headway Arts, St Mary's Church, Ridley Park and the RePUBlic Gallery, so there's plenty of reason to explore Blyth on foot between performances.

The festival is a reminder of how much creative energy the town holds, and it sits alongside other recent investment in Blyth's cultural life -- including the new Market Pavilion on the Market Place and the Blyth Celebrates Fund, which is backing local creative projects through to next spring.

Planning Your Visit

With events running across two weeks, it's worth checking the running order before you set off. The full programme, dates and any ticketing details are published at blythfest.co.uk, and the festival was first flagged locally by Citizens Advice Northumberland.

Best for: Many events are free or low-cost, but some shows may need tickets in advance -- check the programme before you travel.

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