Scotland’s independent arts and music festival launches 2026 programme with immersive woodland trail exploring connection, creativity and the hidden worlds beneath our feet
Kelburn Garden Party officially opened last night (THURS) with the unveiling of The Neverending Glen, the festival’s acclaimed immersive arts programme, transforming the ancient woodland surrounding Kelburn Castle into a living landscape of contemporary art and performance.
Now in its 16th year, the independent festival welcomed artists, guests and festivalgoers to a special preview of the 2026 trail ahead of a weekend that will see more than 250 music acts, artists, performers and workshops take place across the estate.
This year’s Neverending Glen theme, Beneath the Surface, draws inspiration from the hidden fungal networks that connect forests underground, known as the “Wood Wide Web”. Across the winding woodland paths, more than 30 artists have responded to the theme through sculpture, sound, performance, projection, land art and installation, creating an experience that encourages exploration, reflection and discovery.
Among the highlights are Mycelial Bodies by Kirsten Tingle and RJ Weaver, a series of living sculptures grown from blue-grey oyster mushrooms using waste cardboard and spent coffee grounds; Net Work by Neil Butler, Maria McCavana and Jack Butler, an evolving installation created from reclaimed ghost fishing nets; and a specially commissioned projection work by Bright Side Studios, bringing the unseen connections of the forest to life.
Elsewhere, visitors can encounter site-specific acrobatic performances hidden among the trees, GPS-triggered sound walks, interactive storytelling games, community workshops using locally sourced clay and willow, and a new programme of land art residencies inviting audiences to create temporary works within the landscape itself.
Marina Renee-Cemmick, Creative Director, said: “We’re unbelievably proud of the diverse range of artists and types of work on show this year – it’s no mean feat to install such an exhibition in this challenging, wooded ancient landscape. A huge thank you to all the artists involved, and to the incredible team who dedicate themselves to supporting the artists, installing and sharing the work in a space that is so unique, that it enables people to connect to each other, the land and work in a truly powerful way”.
The opening also marks an important milestone for The Neverending Glen, which this year formally established itself as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), creating a framework that will allow the project to expand its year-round programme of artist residencies, workshops and community activity beyond the festival weekend.
Unlike many festivals driven by headline acts and commercial partnerships, Kelburn continues to place participation, creativity and shared experience at its heart, with hundreds of artists, musicians, performers and makers contributing to an event that has become one of Scotland’s most distinctive cultural gatherings.
Supported by EventScotland’s National Events Programme, Kelburn Garden Party runs until Monday 6 July at Kelburn Castle, near Largs.