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Playground Festival

Playground Festival

Back to our work See upcoming Playground Festival events

Kent’s first international early years festival, celebrating the creativity of babies, young children and their families

Playground Festival is an exciting new international early years festival designed for babies and young children in Kent.

From Friday 22- Sunday 31 May 2026, more than 150 FREE events will take place across 20+ venues including libraries, cultural spaces and outdoor locations.

The ten-day programme brings together inspiring work from artists across the UK, Spain, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, Finland and more - all created especially for babies and young children.

Expect performances, installations, workshops, talks and discussions designed to spark imagination and creativity. 

The festival will also visit Wyvern School on Friday 29 – Saturday 30 May, bringing international performances and activities to the school community.

Playground is proud to be an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) whose funding has made Playground Festival possible. Playground is a partnership between Kent County Council’s (KCC) Culture and Creative Economy Service and Kent Libraries.

What's on?

  • An illustrative image of The Garden installation. It shows colourful plans, dragon flies and a sculpture of a colourful plant. There is a screen in the background with clouds.
    0-5 years

    The Garden by Makers of Imaginary Worlds (UK)

    Sat 25 Apr - Sun 5 Jul
    The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
  • A baby touching a golden piece on material
    All ages

    Golden Time by Grace Hann, Nicola Flower, Casey B, Kenny Mangena & Chris Duncan (UK)

    Fri 22 May - Sun 14 Jun
    The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
  • White paper feathers
    All ages

    MoMeNtS by Nicolette May (UK)

    Fri 22 May - Sat 30 May
    Gravesend Library
  • A baby lying on a black mat. She is laughing and is surrounded by feathers
    0-18 months

    Baby Playground

    Fri 22 May 10:30am - 11:15am
    Canterbury Library
  • A light shines brightly surrounded by blue/green materials
    0-12 months

    In The Deep by Natalie Thomas and Stasha Dukic (UK)

    Sat 23 May - Tue 26 May
    The Eden Centre
  • An artist on stage engaging with a group of children and their parents/carers
    6-36 months

    Pulsar by Teatro Al Vacio (Mexico)

    Sat 23 May - Thu 28 May
    Kent History & Library Centre, Maidstone
  • Two young children playing with musical instruments. The one on the left is playing with a mbira/kalimba instrument and the other a xylophone/marimba instrument.
    0-5 years

    Family Playground

    Sat 23 May 1:30pm - 2:15pm
    ARK - Cliftonville's Cultural Space
  • A young child and their parent/carer are lying on a textured black mat and looking up at he ceiling.
    0-18 months

    Baby Playground

    Sun 24 May 10:30am - 11:15am
    Deal Library
  • A performer in a darkly lit room is taking a leap over lots of textured materials. they are surrounded by a lot of different shapes and textures
    6-18 months

    Wonder by dybwikdans (Norway)

    Sun 24 May - Wed 27 May
    Gulbenkian Arts Centre
  • A young child and their parent/carer looking at a robot
    Panel Discussion

    Babies and the Digital World: Challenges and Opportunities for the Earliest Years

    Mon 25 May 10:30am - 1:00pm
    The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
  • A baby and mother embracing. In the background is the sea
    0-12 months

    ISLAND by Starcatchers and Frozen Charlotte (Scotland)

    Mon 25 May - Sun 31 May
    Dartford Library
  • A young child interacting with lights and textured materials
    Panel Discussions

    Playground Festival: Early Years - Conversations and Exchanges Series

    Mon 25 May - Thu 28 May
  • An artist smiling at the camera whilst holding an instrument
    0-5 years

    Baby Bhangra by Cohesion Plus (UK)

    Tue 26 May - Sun 31 May
    Various locations
  • A close up of a woman drawing an illustration
    All ages

    HOLD by Natalie Parsons and Meire Machado (UK)

    Tue 26 May - Thu 28 May
    ARK - Cliftonville's Cultural Space
  • A group of children and parents/carers in a Playground session interacting with each other and the artists
    Panel Discussion

    Playground: A Baby Revolution

    Tue 26 May 1:00pm - 3:00pm
    JV H.O.M.E, Ashford
  • Two babies looking up
    Panel Discussion

    Seen First: Exploring the Baby’s Visual World for Creative Practice

    Tue 26 May 4:00pm - 6:00pm
    JV H.O.M.E, Ashford
  • A performer wearing a fluffy feather top and a mask has their hands wide open in front of a baby lying on their front. The background is dark with textured materials hanging from the ceiling
    2-5 yearsFor children with additional needs

    Fields of Tender by Dalija Acin Thelander & Company (Sweden)

    Wed 27 May - Thu 28 May
    JV H.O.M.E, Ashford
  • A performer wearing a fluffy feather top and a mask has their hands wide open in front of a baby lying on their front. The background is dark with textured materials hanging from the ceiling
    6-24 months

    Fields of Tender by Dalija Acin Thelander & Company (Sweden)

    Wed 27 May - Fri 29 May
    JV H.O.M.E, Ashford
  • A baby and mother in a darkly lit room surrounded by light
    0-18 months

    First Light by Daniel Naddafy / Marty Langthorne (UK)

    Thu 28 May - Sat 30 May
    Cliftonville Library
  • Colour Workshops: a baby lying on their front and holding up a mirror
    4-11 months12-23 months

    The Colour Workshop for Babies by Kruunupää Centre for Children´s Culture (Finland)

    Thu 28 May - Fri 29 May
    Seashells Children's Centre
  • A young child standing and touching the performers veil who is sat down
    Panel Discussion

    Towards Sensuous Ecologies: Lecture + Q&A with Dalija Aćin Thelander

    Thu 28 May 5:00pm - 7:00pm
    JV H.O.M.E, Ashford
  • A baby touching a golden piece on material
    0-18 months

    Baby Session at Golden Time

    Fri 29 May - Sat 30 May
    The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
  • A group of goats outdoors
    0-18 months

    GOAT by Lucy Thompson, Megan Garrett-Jones and Tom Tegento (UK)

    Fri 29 May - Sat 30 May
    ARK - Cliftonville's Cultural Space
  • An adult and young child standing inside an inflatable
    0-5 years

    Lumini by Architects of Air (UK)

    Sun 31 May
    Dartford Central Park
  • Playground artists making music and interacting with each other
    0-5 years

    Playground Band by Playground Artists

    Sun 31 May
    Dartford Central Park
  • A performer and children tangled with a green string in a park
    0-5 years

    Tangle by Teatro Al Vacio (Mexico)

    Sun 31 May
    Dartford Central Park
  • Young children interact with a giraffe, touching it's head
    All ages

    Girafes by Xirriquiteula Teatre (Spain)

    Sun 31 May
    Dartford Central Park

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