Celebrating Inclusive Arts and Disabled Artists from across Wales and Europe
Hijinx has announced details of the Unity Festival 2026, set to take place from 30 June to 5 July this year at Wales Millennium Centre, Chapter Arts Centre and The Glee Club in Cardiff with satellite performances in Llanelli, 25 June and Mold, 27 June. The Unity Festival is one of Europe’s largest inclusive arts festivals and the only one of its kind in Wales.
Comedy, music, drag, circus, theatre and dance can all be enjoyed by audiences throughout the festivities in engaging, thought provoking and entertaining performances.
The programme includes staged shows and events alongside a programme of free pop up street entertainment designed to captivate audiences in Llanelli, Mold and Cardiff Bay. Festival ticketed events go on sale from Friday 17 April.
As well as performances by Hijinx artists, the festival will also welcome other companies from the UK alongside international performers from across Europe including: Theater Thikwa, Blaumeier-Atelier, Danza Mobile, Vero Cendoya, Collettivo Clochart and ADM-VZW to name a few.
Hijinx and Unity Festival Background
Hijinx is one of Europe’s leading inclusive theatre companies, championing learning disabled and/or autistic artists through provocative, impactful and outstandingly entertaining productions. The Unity Festival now in its 12th edition offers audiences a fresh perspective on theatre and performance, connecting artists from across Wales with international performers and offering an exceptional programme of street, foyer and studio entertainment. In addition the festival offers a platform for local, national and international artists and creatives to showcase their talent to the people of Wales.
North Wales Partnership
This year’s Unity Festival officially opens with street entertainment in Llanelli (25 June) and Mold (27 June) with performances by Kitsch & Sync, Stopgap Dance Company, tanzbar_bremen and Humans Move. The partnership with Theatr Clwyd in Mold is new for the festival this year and further establishes North Wales as an important hub for the company with Hijinx’s Academy already based there.
Main Festival Programme
The main programme of Unity Festival events will begin in Cardiff on 30 June continuing in the city until the culmination of the festival on 5 July. Performances will light up the foyer at the iconic Wales Millennium Centre, the venue’s Weston Studio and outside the front of the building in Cardiff Bay. In addition, a programme of scratch performance will take place at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff giving local acts Same Hat Theatre and House of Deviant an opportunity to share work in development, with a comedy night produced by Hijinx’s Associate Artist (and stand-up comedian), Richard Newnham, also to take place at Cardiff’s Glee Club.
Artistic Director and Co-CEO of Hijinx, Ben Pettit Wade said:
“Performances that change the way that we perceive the world are the performances that remain with us forever. Visitors to this year’s programme will witness everything from the first man on the moon to a performance of Carmen with a difference!”
Executive Director and Co-CEO of Hijinx, Eloise Tong adds,
“Through bringing artists together, both neurodivergent and neurotypical, Hijinx presents a world that champions inclusion and challenges perceptions. We have a loyal following of people who have seen our productions and love what we do. A festival setting offers us the opportunity for more people who haven’t yet discovered Hijinx or the Unity Festival to enjoy new experiences and to delight in inclusive performance and theatre.”
A taste of Wales’ Entertainment and Produce at The Cardiff Food and Drink Festival
The Unity Festival has partnered with the Cardiff Food and Drink Festival this year which takes place from 3 to 5 July presenting pop up outdoor performances and experiences around Roald Dahl Plass outside Wales Millennium Centre. The Unity Festival will offer entertainment for visitors to the Cardiff Bay event which celebrates and offers a taste of Wales.
Industry Event to Develop Arts for the Future
During the Unity Festival period, Hijinx will host an Artist Exchange Conference at Wales Millennium Centre, in partnership with the funding network, Cultural Bridge, which supports arts and cultural organisations across the UK and Germany to develop partnerships that explore social arts practice. The event will see creatives and decision makers from the industry reflecting on and sharing approaches to inclusive social arts practice and international collaboration to shape future ways of working.
The Unity Festival is supported by Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Government through Events Wales, The Leche Trust, Cultural Bridge, Taith, First Choice Housing Association, The Jenour Foundation and Grant Stephens Family Law.
For more information on Unity Festival 2026 visit www.hijinx.org.uk
