Bold international arts programme set to transform Portsmouth for centenary year

A major new international arts programme will bring a summer of large-scale performance, circus, dance and immersive installations to Portsmouth in 2026 as part of the city's centenary celebrations.

The Point Is Portsmouth, produced by Portsmouth-based company Crying Out Loud, will run from June to September 2026 and will transform civic, heritage and community spaces across the city through a series of ambitious live events and participatory projects.

The programme forms part of Portsmouth100 and will take place across key locations including Fratton, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Victoria Park and Guildhall Square.

Featuring internationally recognised artists and companies, the programme will bring major contemporary circus and dance work to the city, including Šeiko Dance Company from Lithuania, Morocco's Company Zid, and Catalan companies Delrevés, Osadia and If Circus. Many of the works will be showcased in the UK for the first time.

Rachel Clare, Artistic Director of Crying Out Loud, said the project reflects "the collective energy of the city" and aims to place Portsmouth firmly on the map as a destination for ambitious cultural work. She said: “Portsmouth has such a strong identity - from its naval and maritime history to its proud football culture, literary links, free artistic promenade events and vibrant waterfront. We want to put Portsmouth firmly on the map as a place where exciting, ambitious work happens - not just brought to the city but created with it. This is about more than watching - it's about being part of something shared."

The summer programme begins in June with 432 Fratton, a large-scale community performance at St Mary's Church Yard involving up to 60 local participants alongside international artists. Members of the public will be invited to take part, with no experience required.

In July, Circus in Motion will transform Portsmouth Historic Dockyard into a live performance space for contemporary circus, alongside a professional industry conference exploring how heritage sites can be used for sustainable touring and performance. In September, Victoria Park will host a large-scale immersive installation designed to fill the space with light, colour and interactive design, while Guildhall Square will stage an international performance combining dance, live music and freestyle football.

A key feature of the programme will be its focus on participation, with workshops, skills development and community engagement running throughout the summer, encouraging people of all ages to take part in creative activity across the city.

The project is supported by Arts Council England and Portsmouth City Council, alongside a wide network of cultural and community partners including Portsmouth Creates, Portsmouth Historic Quarter, Fratton Together, Soul Rawkus and Pompey in the Community.

Further support comes from the Lithuanian Cultural Institute, Normandie Regional Council (Millenium 2027 European Year of the Normans), and the Bentley Young Person's Trust.

Organisers say the programme is designed not only to bring international work to Portsmouth, but to actively involve local communities in its creation.

Rachel Clare added: "This is one of our most ambitious Solent projects to date. We're looking forward to working closely with communities and organisations as the programme begins to take shape."

Further details on how to take part and full event listings will be announced in the coming months.