Fringe Arts Wolverhampton is set to return this November, with a packed programme of exhibitions, live performances, creative workshops and community events taking place across the city centre.

Following its inaugural festival in 2025, which attracted almost 2,000 visitors, this year’s event, which runs from 27 to 29 November, will feature more than 28 visual artists, over 30 local performers and activities across more than 12 venues.

The 2026 theme, Illuminate, explores how creativity can inspire positive change, with artists and communities invited to respond to subjects including sustainability, environmental futures, repair and reuse, community action and the natural world. The festival is managed by Asylum Artist Quarter and Gatis Community Space, with support from Arts Council England, Enjoy Wolverhampton and City of Wolverhampton Council.

A major highlight will be the return of the city-centre light trail and lantern parade on Friday 27 November, alongside exhibitions and performances across Wolverhampton. The Grand Palace will host a visual arts exhibition featuring contemporary work exploring community resilience, activism and sustainable practices, including Future Threads, a sustainable fashion project created by local secondary school students. An immersive installation by artist Lou Chapelle, Reflections, will also explore the relationship between people and water through holographic imagery and sound at the Mander Centre Community Hub.

Saturday 28 November will bring further opportunities to get involved, including a performance by Autin Dance Theatre in St Peter’s Square. Out of the Blue combines puppetry, dance and music to bring a giant sea creature into the city centre. Visitors can also take part in creative repair and upcycling workshops, explore handmade papermaking and block printing at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, and browse the Black Country Artisan Fair at the Mander Centre.

Other Saturday highlights include the Howling Wolves Community Choir at St Peter’s Collegiate Church, live illustration by local artist Wayne Taft and the Wolves Waste Not Market at Gatis Community Space, where visitors can browse donated clothing and collect surplus food for free. The festival will also feature live music, spoken word, open studios and opportunities to meet artists in their working spaces.

The programme continues on Sunday 29 November, with a final opportunity to visit exhibitions at The Grand Palace and St Peter’s Collegiate Church, alongside open studios at Eagle Works and Asylum Artist Studios. Visitors can meet local creatives, discover their working practices and explore artwork produced through the festival’s community projects.

For the full programme and further information, visit the Asylum Art Gallery website.