Spark Festival for Children

Leicester’s much-loved Spark Festival returns this May, transforming venues across the city into a nine-day celebration of creativity for children and families - and this year, children aren’t just taking part, they’re helping to lead the way.

Running from Saturday 16 to Sunday 24 May 2026, the nine-day festival will transform schools, libraries, community spaces and venues across the city into a vibrant celebration of the arts for young people aged 0-13 with a packed programme of performances, workshops and hands-on experiences.

At the heart of this year’s festival are the “The Mega Bosses of Spark” - a group of children aged 8–13 who have played a central role in shaping not just the programme, but the overall feel and identity of the event. From influencing the creative direction and themes, to helping design the festival’s visual look, their impact can be seen across every aspect of the 2026 programme.

Working alongside a professional designer, the Mega Bosses of Spark created the artwork for this year’s festival brochure cover, bringing their ideas to life and ensuring the festival truly reflects the voices and imagination of Leicester’s young people.

Their vision has been clear from the start: the festival should be "fun, not boring" - a guiding principle that runs throughout the programme. They have also shaped this year's themes of Peace, Equity and Play, highlighting the importance of creativity, inclusion and joy in young people's lives. This year we launch The Children’s Choice: two of the programmes have been specifically chosen by them (Minecraft movie and sisters 360).

Trina, Director of The Spark Arts for Children, said: “We’re so excited to invite families back to The Spark Festival for 2026. Our Mega Bosses have been at the centre of everything this year - from helping to shape the programme to influencing how the festival looks and feels. It's been inspiring to see their ideas come to life, and it means the festival is truly led by child's voices"

For more than 20 years, The Spark Festival has played a key role in Leicester’s cultural life, championing children’s creativity and putting young voices centre stage — and in 2026, that commitment is more visible than ever.

To ensure the festival is accessible as possible to as many as possible, tickets range from free drop-in sessions to low-cost paid events.