Hackney Art Week 2026: Free 130-Artist Festival Takes Over Hackney; Hackney, 2026

Key Points

• Free, female-founded festival: Hackney Art Week is a completely free-to-visit art festival founded by Lisa Baker and Anna McHugh, returning for its second year in 2026
• Dates and scale: Running from 4th to 14th June 2026, the festival brings together more than 130 artists and creatives across 60 venues throughout Hackney
• Borough-wide coverage: Events span Dalston, Stoke Newington, Haggerston, London Fields, Clapton, De Beauvoir, and Hackney Wick in a Fringe-style format
• Diverse programming: The festival includes exhibitions, installations, workshops, performances, ceramics markets, spoken word nights, live music, projections, and an art treasure hunt
• Notable artworks: Tara Darby’s “The White Cage” photography installation on a Hackney football pitch and Claudi Panaite’s moving fashion projection on Wilton Way
• Opening and closing events: Opening night features “Salon of The Spectacle” at Rose Lipman Building; closing party includes Gabriel Prokofiev & Cecilia Bignall performance at Unlock, Hackney Wick
• Charity component: Limited-edition prints raise funds for local charity Hackney Giving
• Music curation: Composer Gabriel Prokofiev curates live music across clubs, warehouses, and venues throughout the borough

Hackney (East London Times) June 4, 2026 – A free festival of art has taken over an entire east London borough, with 10 days full of exhibitions, installations, workshops, and performances transforming Hackney into one of London’s most sensational celebrations of culture and creativity this summer.

The female-founded and free-to-visit festival is back and bigger than before, as reported by Immy Smith of The Nudge, with more than 130 artists and creatives now participating across 60 venues throughout the borough.

London’s cultural calendar is bursting at the seams with exciting things to see and do this summer, but Hackney Art Week provides a central focus for culture and creativity in one of the city’s most dynamic cultural areas.

How Large Has Hackney Art Week Grown in 2026?

As reported by The Editorial Unit of The Upcoming, Hackney Art Week is returning for 2026 with an expanded borough-wide programme that turns East London into a hub of art, music and community. The festival, which ran from 4th to 14th June 2026, brought together more than 130 artists and creatives across 60 venues—significantly larger than the initial report of 60 artists across 50 venues.

“This Fringe-style event brings together emerging artists, collectives, and East London creatives,”

according to the official Hackney Art Week website. Rather than a single central site, the festival unfolds as a series of moments across the borough, with exhibitions, workshops, performances and installations popping up in unexpected places, as noted by The Editorial Unit.

Which Areas of Hackney Are Hosting Events?

The programme spreads across Dalston, Clapton, London Fields, De Beauvoir, Stoke Newington, Haggerston and Hackney Wick, according to The Upcoming.

Art, music and culture spill across Hackney—from ceramics markets, sound systems and outdoor projections to unexpected art installations, sculptures, and exhibitions throughout the borough, the official website states.

Venues range from Brutalist buildings and hidden galleries to cinemas, cafés, libraries, pubs, record shops and public space, as reported by OutSavvy.

Specific venues include Chats Palace, St Augustine’s Tower, Raleigh Chapel, The Rio Cinema, SPACE Studios, Homerton Library, and numerous pubs including The Clarence Tavern, The Prince George, and The Queen Adelaide.

What Artworks and Installations Can Visitors Expect?

As reported by The Editorial Unit of The Upcoming, public space plays a key role throughout the festival. Claudi Panaite’s projection transforms Wilton Way into a moving, fashion-inspired spectacle, while Tara Darby’s “The White Cage” places a photography installation directly onto a Hackney football pitch, focusing on community and belonging.

Jeanne Gourlaouen’s “The Sandwich Walk” features a surreal installation of shoe-slash-sandwich sculptures on Wilton Way, according to Time Out. The Collagism™ Art Hunt transforms the streets around London Fields into a living collage.

A borough-wide art hunt led by Holly-Anne Buck invites audiences to track down hidden works across London Fields, as reported by The Editorial Unit.

Photographer Jennifer Forward Hayter is running a free People of Hackney pop-up photo booth in London Fields, inviting locals to sit for portraits that could end up featured in next year’s festival, according to Shortlist.

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Which Workshops and Interactive Events Are Available?

Visitors can expect ceramics workshops, writing sessions, and analogue photobooths, as reported by Shortlist. A weekend at ESEACC at The Old Bath House brings together contemporary art and food culture through exhibitions, film and a dumpling pop-up, according to The Editorial Unit.

The Dalston Cultural Quarter Takeover (June 6-7) features workshops, artist open studios, a ceramics market and a street-level sound system taking over Arcola Street, as noted by Time Out. Spoken word nights and markets are also part of the programme, with enough “weird little pop-ups to accidentally lose an entire weekend to,” according to Shortlist.

Who Founded Hackney Art Week and What Is Its Mission?

As reported by Immy Smith of The Nudge, Hackney Art Week was founded last year (2025) by local residents Lisa Baker and Anna McHugh.

The Editorial Unit of The Upcoming confirmed that the female-founded event was established in 2025 and builds on its breakout first year with a larger, more ambitious programme.

As reported by Blue Moon Meanderings on Facebook, Baker and McHugh are Hackney residents who created the festival to bring together more than 130 artists across 60 venues spanning the borough. The festival is completely free and open to all, according to the official website.

How Does the Festival Support Local Charity?

With its mix of grassroots creativity and established names, Hackney Art Week continues to carve out space for artists within the borough, while raising funds for local charity Hackney Giving through limited-edition prints, as reported by The Editorial Unit. Visitors can buy a limited edition print and support Hackney Giving, according to the official website.

What Music and Performance Events Are Featured?

Live music curated by Gabriel Prokofiev is a central feature of the festival, according to The Editorial Unit. Composer Gabriel Prokofiev’s live music will take over clubs, warehouses and everything in between, as noted by Time Out.

The closing party on Sunday 14 June (5.30-8pm) at Unlock, Hackney Wick features a unique collaboration between contemporary electronics and classical cello, featuring the latest compositions by Hackney-based composer Gabriel Prokofiev (live electronics) and cellist Cecilia Bignall, according to OutSavvy.

The lineup also includes Sammi Gale & Flown with visuals by Martin Samways, alongside artwork by Russell Bamber, Jay Yeomans, and Hunaid Natalia.

The opening night at the Rose Lipman Building on 3rd June hosts “Salon of The Spectacle,” a female-led showcase combining photography, live performance and immersive installation, as reported by The Editorial Unit.

Which Notable Artists Are Participating?

Art aficionados can explore work from more than 130 artists and creatives across 60 Hackney venues, according to Instagram.

The official website lists artists including Aiko & Werner, Aileen Kelly, Alex Booker, Lakwena Maciver, Roxana Halls, Lakwena Maciver, Babak Ganjei, and many more.

Pieces will range across building-spanning installations to smaller works, with solo exhibitions, group shows, installations, workshops, markets, and live performances throughout the borough, as noted on Instagram.

Is Hackney Art Week Completely Free to Attend?

Yes—the festival is free-to-visit and open to all, according to multiple sources. Most events are free, though a handful are ticketed, according to Shortlist. The festival description explicitly states “Free. Open to all” on the official website.

Background: The Development and Growth of Hackney Art Week

Hackney Art Week represents a significant development in East London’s cultural landscape, emerging from local community initiative rather than institutional backing. Founded in 2025 by Hackney residents Lisa Baker and Anna McHugh, the festival began as a breakout first-year event that successfully demonstrated demand for accessible, borough-wide art programming.

The 2026 edition shows substantial growth, expanding from the initial programme to include more than 130 artists across 60 venues—more than doubling the scale from earlier reports of 60 artists across 50 venues. This expansion reflects both increased artist participation and broader venue engagement across Hackney’s diverse neighbourhoods.

The festival’s Fringe-style format—scattering events across pubs, cafes, libraries, cinemas, Brutalist buildings, football pitches, and public spaces—represents a decentralized approach to cultural programming that contrasts with traditional art fair models.

This approach transforms everyday spaces into cultural venues, making art accessible throughout the borough rather than concentrating it in designated gallery districts.

The charity component, raising funds for Hackney Giving through limited-edition prints, demonstrates the festival’s commitment to local community support beyond纯粹 cultural programming.

Prediction: How This Development Will Affect East London Residents and Visitors

The expansion of Hackney Art Week will likely increase community engagement with contemporary art throughout the borough. With 130+ artists presenting work across 60 venues in residents’ neighbourhoods—from Dalston to Hackney Wick—local people can access art without travel costs or museum entry fees. The free People of Hackney photo booth in London Fields, where portraits could feature in next year’s festival, offers direct participation opportunities for residents.

The charity component supporting Hackney Giving means visitor participation directly benefits local community causes through limited-edition print purchases.

However, increased foot traffic during the 10-day festival (4-14 June 2026) may create congestion in popular areas like London Fields, Dalston, and Hackney Wick.

For Emerging Artists and Creatives

The festival provides crucial exposure for emerging artists and collectives, bringing together

“emerging artists, collectives, and East London creatives”

according to the official website. With curators including Anne McCloy, Caroline McCambridge, Indy Calland, Maria Guy, Mei Hui Liu, Paola Lucente, and Ryan Coleman-Connolly, the programme offers professional curation support.

The Fringe-style model allows artists to present work in unconventional venues, expanding opportunities beyond traditional gallery representation. However, the festival’s success may increase competition for venue space in future years as more artists seek participation.

For Visitors and Tourists

The festival positions Hackney as a major cultural destination during June 2026, offering visitors a consolidated 10-day art crawl across one of London’s most dynamic cultural areas.

The diverse programming—from ceramics markets to outdoor projections to live music—provides multiple entry points for different audience interests.

The completely free model removes financial barriers, potentially increasing attendance significantly compared to ticketed art fairs. However, visitors should expect crowded venues during peak times, particularly at popular installations like Tara Darby’s football pitch piece and Claudi Panaite’s Wilton Way projection.