Yardworks Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary this weekend with its most ambitious edition to date, transforming SWG3 into a dynamic, large-scale canvas across Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 May. Welcoming 4500 visitors across the two-day event, the festival brought together 120 artists from across the globe alongside local pioneers and emerging talent for a packed programme of live painting, installations, workshops and music.
Now firmly established as one of Europe’s leading festivals of graffiti and urban art, Yardworks continued to build on its grassroots origins with an expanded focus on participation and community engagement. Across the site, artists worked in real time to create large-scale murals, while audiences engaged with an enhanced programme of drop-in workshops, talks and interactive installations designed to open up the practice of street art to all ages and experience levels.
This year’s line-up reflected the global reach of the festival, with internationally recognised names including PEACHZZ, .EPOD, ZURIK and WILLIAN joined by artists such as ESKAE and HOACS from the USA, Nexus and Strapper from Australia and more from across Europe reflecting the depth and global reach of the scene. Scottish talent remained central to the programme, with artists including KMG & Pizzaboy and further UK names like Katie Scott, Aroe, Tech Moon and Tizer.
Beyond the murals, the 2026 edition saw significant growth in its interactive programme. The Family Zone returned across both days with hands-on activities including spray can upcycling, T-shirt design and collaborative painting walls, while workshops for both young people and adults offered opportunities to develop new skills. Doodle-a-thon once again brought visitors together in a collective creative effort, building on previous large-scale public works.
New for 2026, Yardworks expanded beyond its core site, with satellite activity including the transformation of pillars at the Kingston Bridge as part of the ongoing GRID placemaking programme, alongside continued live painting at the Clyde Walkway legal wall. An extended talks and industry programme further explored the role of street art in culture, identity and regeneration, reinforcing the festival’s position within wider creative discourse.
A key highlight of the weekend was the introduction of the Street Arts Prize, a new initiative supporting emerging Scotland-based artists. The £1,000 award, established to celebrate underrepresented voices within the street art community, was presented live at the festival, with the winner also receiving the opportunity to create new work as part of the Yardworks programme. The prize reflects an ongoing commitment to nurturing talent and widening access within the scene.
Andrew Leitch, creator of the Street Arts Prize, said: “The loss of my partner in 2024 taught me that life is indeed too short and that we need to celebrate it whilst we are still alive. I wanted a living legacy to give back therefore I have committed £5,000 to support 5x£1,000 prizes for Street Art in Scotland over the next 5 years.
“This inaugural Street Art Prize will celebrate Scottish artists whose work brings something fresh, personal, and powerful to the street art and graffiti scene and allow for more voices to be heard and seen through their art.
“Why did I do this? Because sometimes you just have to do what your heart tells you.”
Prize winner Katie, also known as KMG, an Edinburgh-based street artist with over two decades of experience working across Scotland and internationally, said: “I’m thrilled to have won the street arts prize. I’ve been creating work on the streets of Scotland for over two decades and so it feels very special to have this work recognised and acknowledged with this prize. At a time when working as a visual artist in Scotland is incredibly precarious, this prize is a much valued contribution to the stability of my own creative practice and will support me in continuing to afford to develop my work as a single mother working in an increasingly difficult social, political and economical landscape.”
Visitors also enjoyed a wide selection of street food and on-site bars throughout the weekend, with indoor and outdoor spaces offering opportunities to experience the festival at a relaxed pace. As in previous years, the event remained fully accessible and family-friendly, reinforcing its inclusive ethos.
The completed murals will remain open to the public for viewing from 10am to 4pm for the next 2 weeks, Monday to Friday, with tours and workshops available for school and community groups via prior booking.
With its scale, ambition and continued commitment to community and creativity, Yardworks Festival 2026 marks a significant milestone in its evolution, reinforcing its reputation as a key fixture in the international street art calendar.
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