Sonic Arts Week (SAW) returns to Middlesbrough in 2026, and it is turning the volume all the way up. Across ten days, from Wednesday 24th June to Saturday 4th July, this free, family-friendly festival transforms the town into a playful, unpredictable world of sound, art and invention, spilling out of galleries and into the streets.
Led by the team behind The Auxiliary and Middlesbrough Art Week, SAW has built a reputation for making experimental art feel open, accessible and genuinely fun. This year leans even further into that ethos, with more opportunities to take part, get hands-on, and – most importantly – make some noise.
At the heart of the programme is Encounters, a lively mix of street performance and participatory theatre that appears in unexpected places. One moment you are walking through town; the next you might stumble across DJs broadcasting from a wheelie-bin sound system, a grand piano reacting to electromagnetic signals, or a chaotic, science-fuelled ‘audio assault buggy’.
Fan favourites also return. Rimski & Handkerchief bring back their brilliantly eccentric bicycle-powered instruments, weaving through crowds with songs that shift between humour and poignancy. Noisy Toys once again deliver hands-on sonic experiments for younger audiences and curious adults alike, proving that music can be made from almost anything.
Past editions have shown how SAW thrives on this blend of playful street performance and boundary-pushing sound art, from DIY noise makers to high-intensity electronic artists.
For those seeking something slower and more immersive, Foraging For Stories, a collaboration between Grace Stubbings and Carmen Marcus, offers guided sensory walks, creative prompts and deep listening sessions that build into a shared ‘word journey’.
Meanwhile, at The Auxiliary, Moments in Sound – Expanding Instruments pushes experimentation further still. Artists including Vivienne Griffin, Floris Vanhoof and Nell Catchpole reimagine instruments through electromagnetic pianos, hand-forged steel gongs and sound works inspired by Teesside’s landscapes and stories.
As night falls, Auxiliary Presents continues the programme with live shows in collaboration with Teesside Dub Club, Industrial Coast and Mozzenjammer, featuring artists such as Saint Abdullah & Eomac and Mick Harris.
New for 2026, the Maker Hub invites everyone to build instruments, experiment with sound and explore the technology behind it all – no experience required.
Whether you are a dedicated noise enthusiast or simply curious, Sonic Arts Week invites you to explore, play and experience the world in a completely new way.
For further information, head to sonicartsweek.com.
