A truly cosmic experience is landing at Warrington Arts Festival (WAF) this summer, which will leave families pondering the age-old question: Is there life on Mars?
The vibrant annual event, produced by arts charity Culture Warrington, has gone galactic for its 2026 programme with a series of performances and installations coming to a variety of venues and pop-up spaces between 18 and 25 July.
WAF uniquely blends global showstopping performances with new bespoke work devised, created and delivered by Warrington artists, communities and young people.
Leading the way is internationally renowned artist Luke Jerram’s awe-inspiring sculpture of Mars which will be suspended from Parr Hall’s ceiling throughout the duration of the festival. It will be free to view but with pre-booking required at key times.
Measuring seven metres in diameter, the artwork has been created using detailed NASA imagery of the Red Planet, 140 million miles away, so that every valley, crater, volcano and mountain will be laid bare for visitors to inspect.
The atmospheric experience will be accompanied by a sound composition crafted by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award-winning composer Dan Jones, and Luke’s hope is that by seeing this inhospitable desert wasteland up close, people might stop and think differently about their own life on Earth.
Mars will also bring some extraterrestrial flair to a series of special events which will take place under the planet. There will be an astronomy talk, film screenings, yoga and sound baths.
But the highlight will be two nights of live music beneath Mars’s glow.
First up is Manchester band HENGE whose alien blend of rave and prog rock won them ‘Best Live Act’ at the Independent Festival Awards in 2018.
Energetic, playful and joyfully original, HENGE’s ‘music from distant planets’ is the perfect fit for a unique gig under Mars on 23 July.
Then on 24 July, club culture icon Dave Haslam will bring the spirit of the Haçienda to life for a rare and intimate club night. Dave will be joined by Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert (The Other Two/New Order) plus another special guest soon to be announced for a night of electronic sounds, underground classics and Manchester after dark vibes.
CirkVOST are flying to Warrington to present Pigments
Elsewhere at WAF 2026, the circus will be rolling into town for a large-scale and unmissable aerial spectacular with plenty of wow factor.
Contemporary French circus company CirkVOST are flying to Warrington especially to present Pigments which will close the festival in style at Bank Park with two shows on Friday and Saturday, 24 and 25 July.
The free open-air show will feature 12 acrobats, a series of synchronised trapeze stunts and a jaw-dropping performance of increasingly daring feats 15 metres above ground.
Lauren Banks, Programme Producer for Warrington Arts Festival, said: “We’re thrilled to return to Warrington Arts Festival with a bold, eclectic programme for 2026.
“This year brings an expansion of our live music offer – an exciting step in the festival’s evolving identity.
“From our opening weekend outdoor stage spotlighting local talent to the brilliantly offbeat HENGE under Mars, we’re proud to be working with an exceptional lineup of artists.
“Across the week, expect a vibrant mix of exhibitions, outdoor performances, cabaret nights and more – culminating in a spectacular large-scale finale at Bank Park.
“Presented by French contemporary circus company CirkVOST, it promises a powerful and unforgettable close to the festival. We can’t wait to welcome you!”
Some festival favourites will be making a welcome return too. For the third year running, Family Garden Party will transform Queens Gardens into a hub of colourful community creativity on Saturday, 25 July.
Not to miss at this all-day attraction is a new local artist commission, an outdoor family show called The Way We Live in UK // 看我英該怎麼活.
Bringing together decades of experience working in children’s entertainment, Hong Kong performing artists Orange, Puika and Jamie will explore the humorous, touching and sometimes absurd moments of adapting to life on the other side of the world.
The Birdcage Stage will also be returning to Family Garden Party by popular demand with new show, Don’t Feed the Explorers!
Mixing acrobatics, aerial theatre, circus and dance in the Birdcage’s signature non-verbal style, it’s a story about a group of wide-eyed Victorian style travellers who go on an expedition to the jungle and meet some wild, weird and wonderful creatures along the way.
Also back after its success last year is Made By Me – a film event created by and for young people from Warrington and surrounding areas.
With an exclusive screening at Cineworld Warrington on 21 July, the inspiring evening will once again put young filmmakers, aged between 18 and 25, in the director’s chair to shine a spotlight on creativity and emerging talent.
This year, the chosen films have been curated by alumni from Culture Warrington’s Young Producers scheme – a programme launched to provide pathways for young people to access the creative industries.
Liz Pickering, Interim Cultural Director for Culture Warrington, added: “We are incredibly proud of this year’s festival programme. At its heart are the community collaborations that make the festival unique to Warrington, alongside nationally and internationally renowned work brought to the town throughout the nine-day event.
“The festival is all about spending time with family and friends, exploring the programme, and discovering something new together. From our young people’s programme to our artists across Warrington, local creativity is what makes this year’s festival truly special.
“We want to take audiences beyond the everyday and invite them to experience Warrington in new and unexpected ways. This year the programme should surprise and delight as we’ve created the conditions for a wonderful festival, audiences it is over to you now, to bring them to life.”
Warrington Arts Festival underwent a substantial relaunch in 2024 thanks to a funding boost from Arts Council England (ACE) to make it more accessible, far reaching and community-centred.
The 2026 event has once again been made possible thanks to financial support from ACE with generous match funding from Warrington Borough Council, Warrington BID and the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
The festival’s goal is to break down barriers to the arts and celebrate Warrington through arts, culture, people and place.
Cllr Jean Flaherty, Warrington Borough Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Leisure, said: “This year’s Warrington Arts Festival promises to be a very special experience for our entire community this summer.
“There’s a spectacular programme in place that beautifully blends global showstopping performances with unique work created by our own local artists and young people.
“With most events completely free, the festival embodies our commitment to celebrating Warrington’s vibrant culture and ensuring that world-class creativity is accessible to everyone It’s a brilliant showcase of what makes our town so special, and I can’t wait to see Warrington come alive with wonder, curiosity and shared joy.”
Warrington Arts Festival takes place between 18 and 25 July and most events are free to attend. For more information, tickets and the full programme, visit warringtonartsfestival.org
