Playground Festival is here!
This morning, we gathered at The Beaney in Canterbury to launch Playground Festival; something we've been building towards for a very long time - and what a morning it was.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the launch and to the team at The Beaney for hosting us - your support means everything to us.
Now, the fun really begins!
From today until Sunday 31 May, Playground Festival brings 150+ events to 20+ venues right across Kent - performances, installations, workshops and sessions created especially for babies, young children and their families, by artists from the UK, Spain, Mexico, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
It's joyful, it's playful, it's unlike anything Kent has seen before.
Read on for the trailer, a handful of highlights plus more. And if you haven’t booked your tickets yet - now is the time as spaces are filling up fast!
We can't wait to welcome you 🩷
Watch the Festival trailer
Highlights
Wonder by dybwikdans (Norway)
Sunday 24 - Tuesday 26 May. Jarman 1, University of Kent, Canterbury
New dates added: Monday 25 July, 10.30am, 12.30pm & 3pm
Enter a colourful world of dance and wonder with beautiful knitted sculptures and creatures.
For children 6 - 18 months
Immersive Installations - Open Daily
Everyday, various locations throughout the festival
Our installations are open throughout the festival. Step in, explore at your own pace, and return as many times as you like. These immersive spaces invite babies, young children and families to discover, play and experience together.
- The Garden by Makers of Imaginary Worlds (UK), The Beaney, Canterbury: Step inside The Garden. Wander through a gentle, imaginative world filled with flowers, plants, soft sculptural creatures and curious interactive moments. Find out more
- Golden Time by Grace Hann, Nicola Flower, Casey B, Kenny Mangena & Chris Duncan (UK), The Beaney, Canterbury: a multimedia exhibition created by Playground Artists exploring how parents and babies experience ‘Time’ during early parenthood. Find out more
- HOLD by Natalie Parsons and Meire Machado (UK), ARK Cliftonville: a deeply personal installation created by migrant women, holding and sharing their stories of motherhood and mothering. Find out more
- MoMeNtS by Nicolette May (UK), Gravesend Library: an invitation to be curious, explore books, and let your imagination wander. Who knows where it will take you? Find out more
Early Years: Conversations and Exchanges Series
Join us for Early Years: Conversations and Exchanges: a series of panel discussions exploring creativity, early years practice and working with young audience. Hear from artists, academics and practitioners as they share ideas, insights and experiences.
- Playground Festival: Babies and the Digital World: Challenges and Opportunities for the Earliest Years - Monday 25 May, The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge, 10.30am - 1.30pm. Book tickets
- Seen First: Exploring the Baby’s Visual World for Creative Practice - JV H.O.M.E, Ashford, Tuesday 26 May, 4:00-6:00pm. Book tickets
- Playground: A Baby Revolution - JV H.O.M.E, Ashford, Tuesday 26 May, 1pm - 3pm. Book tickets
- Playground Festival: Towards Sensuous Ecologies: Lecture + Q&A with Dalija Aćin Thelander - JV H.O.M.E, Ashford, Thursday 28 May, 5:00-7:00pm. Book tickets
All ages and babies welcome!
Fields of Tender by Dalija Acin Thelander & Company (Sweden)
Wed 27 May - Fri 29 May 2026, JV HOME
Step into an enchanting and playful, dance performance, which immerses you in an imaginary world of tenderness, affection and love.
Dance, music, sounds, extraordinary objects and interactive video projections welcome you into a calm and intimate space for relaxation.
For babies 6-24 months and young children aged 2-5 with additional needs
Pre-booking is essential as numbers are limited.