The line-up for Well Creative 2026 has been announced, as it returns to Wellingborough Town Centre on Saturday 21st March from 1pm to 8pm. This year the festival will slowly start to illuminate as the sun sets, with captivating street performers, family activities and inventive artists at venues across the town centre, bringing local and national artists to Wellingborough who work in music, craft, performing arts and more.
Well Creative Festival is produced by Made With Many and designed by Canvas, Made With Many’s youth forum, to be a fun, free and friendly festival celebrating creativity for residents and families of Wellingborough. The event has been made possible by funding from Arts Council England, thanks to National Lottery players.
Be amazed by incredible, illuminated inflatables as you wander through Wellingborough’s streets. Meet Ocho the Octopus — a spectacular gigantic puppet promising instant wow-impact and delight. Ember, the magnificent dragon, will weave across the festival by two skilled puppeteers, who control its twisting body, animated facial features, and swishing tail. Nocturnal, an enchanting series of illuminated woodland animals adorned with intricate mandala patterns that will glow soothingly and come alive as day turns to night.
Visitors can also look forward to whimsical walkabout puppetry and glowing lantern art. Celebrate the importance of nocturnal pollinators with Moths and Moonflowers, where giant illuminated moonflowers attract curious moths. Catch Hare and Moon, where gentle Moon guides adventurous Hare through a playful, interactive story of exploration and discovery. Lollipop Puppet Theatre will invite you to meet Solar Sister and her astronaut companion in a roving performance filled with cosmic facts and feats of puppet agility. Stroll along the main thoroughfare and you may catch these charming characters weaving through. Mike Payton will also be delighting audiences with magical, imaginative Storytelling sessions.
Pause at one of the workshop zones to join in and take home your own glowing creation. Print & Ink invites families and friends to decorate their own Fun Fairy Twinkle Lights for bright festival memories. Local artist Phiona Richards invites you to Sunburst Books, a relaxed drop-in workshop where participants decorate small notebooks using neon and metallic designs. Plus, discover a Lantern Installation that has been lovingly co-designed by Phiona and adults with learning disabilities who attend the Creative Support Day Centre. And take a breather while little ones get stuck in at Glow, Sparkle & Shine, a light-inspired creative experience exploring shimmer, reflection, and play with Artsters.
You can also immerse yourself in music, movement, and sensory experiences at this year’s Well Creative Festival. Just Karen will fill the streets with Bubble Play and Displays including giant bubbles and inviting playful participation. Step into Tom Dale Company’s SURGE in VR and immerse yourself in a futuristic world of movement, sound, and dance. Experience a glowing disco on wheels with Groove and Glow, where you can dance along to timeless hits. A highlight of the festival will be the SPARK! Drummers, who will bring the rhythm of the night with high-impact beats and kaleidoscopic lighting. Follow the bubbles and sounds through the town to discover these artists in unexpected spaces.
Plus, celebrate community with The Shed Of Culture. The Creative Place will install a pop-up arts space co-designed by local young people, inviting everyone to share stories and shape a collective cultural experience. Step inside to explore, create, and connect with your Wellingborough neighbours in an interactive corner of the festival.
Made With Many’s Co-Director Vicky Frayard commented, “We are so impressed once again with how hard our Canvas group of young people have worked to curate another outstanding Well Creative line-up —giving up their own time to bring a free, fun-packed day of creativity to Wellingborough. We also want to thank The Swansgate Shopping Centre for being our 2026 main festival partner, who will be supporting our festival in various capacities.”
A free programme will be available on the day and all entertainment is free throughout the day, so turn up and get Well Creative! Please visit the Made With Many website at www.madewithmany.org for more information.
