Yardworks Festival 2026: What to Expect at the 10th Anniversary Weekend at SWG3

If you are looking for one of the most colourful and creative weekends in Glasgow, Yardworks Festival 2026 is set to return to SWG3 on Saturday 2 May 2026 and Sunday 3 May 2026 for its biggest event yet.

Marking its 10th anniversary, Yardworks will once again transform SWG3 into a huge working canvas filled with live mural painting, workshops, installations, street food, music and family-friendly activities. Since launching in 2016, the festival has grown from a grassroots gathering into one of Scotland’s leading urban art events, attracting artists and visitors from across the UK and beyond.

For 2026, Yardworks is expanding its programme even further, with more than 120 artists taking part across the weekend, plus new satellite projects, talks, workshops and interactive activities.

What is Yardworks Festival?

Yardworks Festival is an annual celebration of graffiti, mural art and street culture, held at SWG3 in Glasgow. Over two days, visitors can watch large-scale murals being created in real time across indoor and outdoor spaces, while also taking part in creative workshops and enjoying food, drink and entertainment throughout the venue.

What makes Yardworks special is the mix of internationally recognised names, local legends and emerging artists, all working side by side in a festival setting that feels open, welcoming and packed with energy.

What’s new for Yardworks 2026?

This anniversary edition promises to be the most ambitious yet. Alongside live painting and installations, Yardworks 2026 will feature a wider focus on participation, education and the role of street art in shaping the city.

New names joining the 2026 programme include PEACHZZ, who has recently been recognised among the world’s leading street artists, and .EPOD, whose work blends graffiti, fine art and futuristic influences. Also appearing this year are ZURIK, known for bold WildStyle lettering, and WILLIAN, whose detailed character-led work explores identity through vintage-inspired illustration.

Scottish artists on the line-up include KMG & Pizzaboy, while other UK names include Katie Scott, Aroe, Tech Moon and Tizer. International artists such as ESKAE and HOACS from the USA, plus Nexus and Strapper from Australia, further highlight the global reach of the event.

Live art and mural painting at SWG3

One of the main attractions of Yardworks Festival is the chance to see murals and street art pieces come to life in front of you. Throughout the weekend, artists will be painting across SWG3’s indoor and outdoor walls, turning the venue into an evolving open-air gallery.

For anyone interested in graffiti, urban culture or contemporary public art, this is a rare chance to watch artists at work and see the creative process unfold in real time.

Family-friendly activities at Yardworks Festival 2026

Yardworks remains a family-friendly Glasgow event, with plenty for younger visitors to enjoy. The Family Zone, based in the SWG3 Warehouse and included in the ticket price, will run across both days with a variety of hands-on creative activities.

These include:

• Spray Can Upcycling – turning used festival cans into colourful ornaments
• T-shirt Design – reworking previous Yardworks garments into new pieces using fabric pens, patches and heat press vinyl
• Building Blocks – supported by Quickblocks, allowing children to build large-scale structures
• The Cube and Posca Walls – collaborative art spaces designed for all ages
• Doodle-a-thon – a returning favourite where Yardworks aims to create the longest collaborative doodle at a public event

This makes Yardworks one of the best family days out in Glasgow for anyone wanting a mix of creativity, culture and interactive fun.

Workshops at Yardworks 2026

The workshops programme is also expanding for 2026, with sessions designed for both children and adults.

For younger visitors, there will be 30-minute spray painting workshops, where participants can create a canvas piece to take home. These sessions are priced at £20.

Adults can take part in more specialist workshops, including:

• Design Your Deck – create a custom artwork on a skateboard deck (£45)
• Traditional signwriting workshops
• Japanese calligraphy sessions

These sessions offer a chance to go beyond watching the artists and get involved in the creative side of the festival yourself.

Satellite events and expanded programme

New for this year is a wider programme of satellite activity beyond the main SWG3 site. The Kingston Bridge Satellite Site will see 16 pillars transformed as part of the ongoing Yardworks GRID placemaking programme, while the Clyde Walkway will host refreshed live painting across its legal wall.

There will also be an expanded talks and industry programme, including a book launch, film screening and roundtable discussions exploring graffiti, street art, identity, culture and regeneration.

Food and drink at Yardworks Festival

As well as the art, there will be plenty to eat and drink across the weekend. Some of Glasgow’s best street food vendors will be serving food on site, including Wow Burger, Streat Scullery, The Wee Taqueria and more.

Expect menu options such as fried chicken, bao buns, tacos, pizza, loaded fries, plus award-winning churros from Loop and Scoop and ice cream from Tony’s Ice Cream Van.

SWG3’s bars will also be open throughout the event, making this an ideal weekend hangout whether you are heading along with friends, family or fellow street art fans.

Yardworks Festival 2026 artist line-up

More than 120 artists and collectives are taking part in this year’s event, making it one of the biggest Yardworks line-ups yet.

Selected names include: .EPOD, Agnes, Aroe, Batz, Birdie, Christian Kerr, Ed Hicks, Eskae, Hoacs, Katie Scott, KMG Yeah, Nexus, Peachzz, Pizza Boy, Protest & Suffragettes, Tech Moon, Tizer, Willian and Zurik.

The full line-up spans Scottish, UK and international artists, reflecting Yardworks’ growth from a local festival into an event with real global reach.

How to get tickets for Yardworks Festival 2026

Tickets for Yardworks Festival 2026 are on sale now.

The event takes place at SWG3, Glasgow on Saturday 2 May 2026 and Sunday 3 May 2026.

Finished artwork from the festival will also be available for public viewing from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday.

For school or community group tours and workshop bookings, email yardworks@swg3.tv.

Why visit Yardworks Festival 2026?

Whether you are into graffiti, mural art, photography, street food or simply looking for unusual things to do in Glasgow, Yardworks Festival offers a packed weekend of creativity and culture. The mix of live painting, workshops, family activities and food makes it one of the standout events in the city’s spring calendar.

With its 10th anniversary bringing an even bigger programme, Yardworks Festival 2026 looks set to be a must-visit for anyone interested in street art in Glasgow and beyond.