Free Surrey Youth Arts and Culture Festival returns to Staines

Music production, video game design and filmmaking will share the programme when the Surrey Youth Arts and Culture Festival returns for its fourth year. The free event for young people across Surrey takes place at Staines Library Hub on Saturday 26 September 2026, from 11am to 3pm.

Surrey County Council says the four-hour festival will bring arts organisations, educators and creative professionals together under one roof. Visitors can try practical activities, meet people working in the creative sector and learn about possible routes into creative careers.

Workshops span music, games, film and poetry

The programme combines digital, written and performance-based activities. Surrey Arts will lead music production workshops, Chaos Created will run video game design sessions, and the National Film and Television School will deliver a filmmaking workshop.

Young visitors will also be able to explore DJing and poetry or try musical instruments. That range allows attendees to sample several creative disciplines during the event, rather than having to focus on only one area.

The council presents the workshops as both hands-on activities and an introduction to the wider creative sector. Councillor Mark Nuti, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, said the festival was intended to help young people discover creative interests, build confidence and develop skills. He identified music, filmmaking, dance, poetry and digital creativity among the options available.

Live performances and shortlisted film screenings

The performance programme will feature Surrey Arts’ Ukrainian Guitar Group, SG Troop from Stopgap Dance Company and Surrey singer-songwriter Fin. Shortlisted entries from the Escalate Arts Film Festival 2026 will also be screened during the day.

The festival will additionally showcase Escalate Arts, Surrey County Council’s programme for young people funded by Arts Council England. It is delivered with Spelthorne Borough Council, Artswork and Ashford Youth Club and provides opportunities to take part in creative projects, workshops and youth-led activities.

Together, the workshops, performances and screenings give visitors different ways to participate: they can make something themselves, watch work by performers and young filmmakers, or speak with educators and creative professionals about opportunities in the sector.

Check workshop booking requirements before travelling

Entry to the festival is free. Most activities can be joined by turning up at their stated start time, but some workshops require advance booking to secure a place. Anyone attending for a particular music, games or filmmaking session should therefore check the full programme before travelling rather than assume space will be available on arrival.

The source announcement does not provide transport, parking or accessibility details. The full programme and the latest practical information are available through the Surrey Youth Arts and Culture Festival page from Surrey County Council, which is also the place to confirm whether a chosen workshop needs advance booking.

Source: Surrey County Council Press Releases