Last summer we pressed pause for a rare year off after fifteen years of Just So – to reimagine, reinvent, and dream. We’ve spent the past year creating a whole immersive world for you to step into, and we can’t wait to share it with you! Here’s a taster of what’s to come in 2026.
As always, we’ll have a packed music line-up. We’re thrilled to announce our daily headliners at our new music stage The Shindig. We’ve got the Hyde Family Jam’s high-energy pop covers (with a folk twist) on the Friday night, gypsy funk band Klonk tearing it up on the Saturday, and King Zepha with ska, soul and jazz fusions on the Sunday night.
And it wouldn’t be Just So without our legendary campfire. We’ll be gathering round the glowing embers to hear tales from storytelling extraordinaire and long-time festival favourite Ian Douglas, as well as escaping to different worlds courtesy of the Magic Lantern and its crew of storytellers, musicians and puppeteers. And as the night draws in, the campfire becomes the place to party! Get your toes a-tapping as we dance to live music from our fabulous house band in the moonlit woods.
There’s loads of enthralling theatre and performance, including the 80s Ultimate Party Game Show from the hilarious Dizzy O’Dare, where you can become part of the most outrageous kids’ TV show that never happened. Hear amazing stories about trees when you pay a visit to the mini exhibition on wheels in the Museum of Memorable Trees, and reconnect with the living world through a new immersive outdoor arts piece Mud Plant Rave from our friends at Festival of Thrift. And the tiniest Just So-ers will enjoy a heart-warming tale of friendship and curiosity from Ascension Dance in Peekaboo, our area dedicated to under 3s.
One of our biggest Just So traditions, the Carnival of the Animals, is having a shake-up this year. The power to decide our animal champions is now firmly in your hands… but only if you’re under 18! Campaigners will be out all weekend to fight for your vote before we go to the polls on festival Sunday in the Grand Just So Election. Then on Sunday evening we’ll gather together as we announce the winners, who will rule through the year until next Just So!
(Don’t worry, we’re not getting rid of golden pebbles! For many years they were the currency of victory, but in 2026 they’ll have a different role to play. Dark forces are swirling and we’ll need the protective powers of our golden pebbles. Hold them close…)
And we’re throwing a huge party in honour of last year’s Carnival champions, the glittering Fish! Come with shimmering fins, sequined tails and gleaming tentacles for the Fish Party at Shifting Sands!
Every year we go to battle with all manner of strange objects – we’ve fought with pillows, with water, even jelly! This year we come armed with odd socks (clean ones only please!)
There’s loads more to get involved in, including family yoga sessions, crafty workshops in our brand new area Craftivism, and you can swap your unwanted clothes for something new to you at the Thread Exchange.
