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NOVUM Festival 2026 7 - 9 august 2026 Newcastle City Centre

The City Is Your Playground

NOVUM Festival is back this Summer with a three-day takeover 
of creativity, entertainment and unexpected moments across Newcastle city centre.


Explore. Play. Watch. Enjoy. Wander.

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NOVUM Festival 2026

7 – 9 august 2026

Newcastle City Centre

A City Full of Surprises

For one Summer weekend, Newcastle city centre will transform with a family-friendly programme of free events, outdoor performances, artist workshops, music and plenty of “you just had to be there” moments.

Browse Events

  • Free and drop-in events

    Easy to dip into and free to explore, with a weekend of culture, play and entertainment across Newcastle city centre this summer.

  • Across the city centre

    Explore Newcastle’s iconic spots and hidden corners bursting with colour, creativity and surprises across the city.

  • Open to everyone

    Packed with family-friendly fun and joyful community celebrations, there’s something for everyone to enjoy together.

  • Unexpected moments

    Look out for pop-up moments across the weekend, including a city-wide artwork to discover as you go.

NOVUM Festival 2026

7 – 9 august 2026

Newcastle City Centre

WHAT’S ON

Take a look at some of the standout moments happening across the NOVUM Festival weekend, and stay tuned for more to be announced.

Dominoes Newcastle

Dominoes Newcastle

Sunday 9 August
2:30pm
Newcastle City Centre
FREE

Dominoes Newcastle by Station House Opera is the spectacular headline finale of #NOVUM26, a giant city-wide artwork that will see…

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Playing Out

Playing Out

Saturday 8 August & Sunday 9 August
11am
Newcastle Civic Centre
FREE

Giant bubbles. Giant swings. Mud kitchens. Face painting. Theatre. Aerial performers. Brilliantly bonkers inventions. Games. Colouring. Glitter. And loads more.…

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BLOCK

BLOCK

Saturday 8 August & Sunday 9 August
12noon & 2.45pm
Grey Street
FREE

An iconic outdoor dance-circus spectacular packed with daring acrobatics, gravity-defying leaps, and jaw-dropping physical theatre that will keep audiences on…

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Bird Rave

Bird Rave

Saturday 8 August & Sunday 9 August
11.15am & 1.30pm (BSL)
Northern Stage
FREE

Bird Rave is a joyful celebration of extraordinary birds, and the freedom-to-dance spirit of classic UK rave culture. Part immersive…

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Possê

Possê

Saturday 8 August & Sunday 9 August
12.45pm & 3.30pm
Northumberland Street
FREE

Possê is a joyful, high-energy outdoor performance bringing together live percussion, dance, theatre and voice in a vibrant celebration of…

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Melanie Baker + Support – live at #NOVUM26

Melanie Baker + Support – live at #NOVUM26

Friday 7 August
7.30pm
Newcastle Contemporary Art Gallery
£15

Step inside A Room in Bloom and experience one of the North East’s most exciting live artists in a setting…

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NOVUM Festival 2026

7 – 9 august 2026

Newcastle City Centre

Your NOVUM Weekend Starts Here

Big moments, pop-up surprises and plenty to see across the city. Explore what’s happening across the weekend and sign up to hear the latest festival news.

EXPLORE WHAT’s ON JOIN THE MAILING LIST