The Bright Lights Youth Arts Festival returns to Washington, Tyne and Wear this weekend to showcase the creative work of local children and teenagers. Starting Saturday, 7 February 2026, the festival — running from 7 February to 14 March 2026 — will feature art exhibitions, theatre performances and film screenings created and performed by young people aged 11–19, with additional junior activities for ages 8–10.
The festival has been a part of the local community for more than 30 years and is organised by Sunderland Culture and Arts Centre Washington. A group of young leaders called the Celebrate Different Collective co-produces the event to help ensure programming is relevant to their peers.
Many events are free to attend, though some require advance booking and a few are already sold out. The programme includes a music showcase called Washington Emerging and a variety of creative workshops and special events concentrated in late February (largely Feb 24–28). Creative You Junior singing sessions run during the festival (Creative You Junior workshops are scheduled for Feb 25–27), and Washington Emerging is listed for 27 February.
These activities take place at Arts Centre Washington, which has recently completed internal improvements to its performance spaces and is undertaking courtyard upgrades to improve access and visitor facilities.
This year’s festival forms part of wider cultural investment in the city, supported by Sunderland Culture and local council programmes. Young people can sign up for junior singing sessions through the Creative You programme, and the festival runs until 14 March 2026.
