Whirlilig Festival of outdoor arts 2026

Italian Gardens and town centre Weston-super-Mare

Two very tall and very pink and yellow lady stilt walkers

For one spectacular weekend in June, Weston-super-Mare transforms into a giant open-air stage as the award-winning Whirligig Festival of Outdoor Arts bursts back into town from Saturday 6 June – Sunday 7 June 2026

Weston’s streets don’t just come alive… they cartwheel.

Think jaw-dropping circus, gravity-defying aerial performance, dance that spills through the streets and surprise moments around every corner. This is not your average seaside stroll.

Hosted by Super Culture, Whirligig brings together extraordinary outdoor artists from across the UK and Europe, turning Weston’s town centre and Italian Gardens into a buzzing playground of creativity, colour and seaside energy.

Whirligig 2026 event timetable

A timetable poster featuring text in blue, red, green and yellow boxes explaining what's on at the 2026 Whirligig Festival in Weston-super-Mare. The poster also features a sketch of a stilt walker in the bottom left hand corner.
Timetable of events for the 2026 Whirligig Festival of Performing Arts in Weston-super-Mare

For more information on the individual events and performers see the Visit Weston What’s On section.

Whirligig 2026 event map

A poster on a largely green background featuring text and sketched images of the locations for events at the 2026 Whirligig Festival of performing arts in Weston-super-Mare
More details

And the best bit? It’s completely free

Head into town and you’ll discover a whirlwind of performances designed to stop you in your tracks – whether it’s acrobats soaring overhead, interactive comedy popping up unexpectedly, or explosive street dance drawing crowds.

This year’s line-up includes an eclectic mix of internationally acclaimed performers and crowd-pleasing favourites including Artizani, Autin Dance Theatre, Bristol Breakers, Circ Pistolet, Lanördika Circus -Theatre, Off the Wall Aerial and Pere Hosta, alongside live music, silent discos and interactive family shows guaranteed to keep all ages entertained.

Expect the unexpected. One minute you could be watching breathtaking aerial theatre against a Weston sky, the next you’ll find yourself dancing in the street beside a pop-up disco or laughing along with brilliantly bonkers comedy performers.

Whirligig is also packed with hands-on workshops and creative activities, giving visitors the chance to get involved rather than just watch. Families can drop into sessions with Weston Artspace, Community Scrapstore North Somerset and Tiny Circus to try circus skills, make, play and create together.

  • Family Fun

  • Outdoor