Findhorn Bay Festival
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  • A mouse puppet decorates a pink cake in a colourful kitchen, while a cat puppet in an orange jumper watches from below. Shelves with kitchen items and a green cooker are in the background.
    Theatre, Exhibitions, Circus & Street Arts

    The Circus of Dreams

    Wed 30 Sep – Sun 4 Oct, Logie Steading

    Vision Mechanics presents an intimate travelling marionette theatre following a young tiger’s search for belonging, beneath the canvas of a miniature big top.

  • Exhibitions

    Wine About It

    25 Sep-4 Oct
    Findhorn Village Centre

    Codie Anne’s crochet work challenges the divide between art and craft, asserting the value of human skill in a world of mass production.

  • Circus & Street Arts, Irish Connections, Out & About

    Tumble Circus

    Fri 25-Sun 27 Sep
    Various Moray locations

    Belfast’s Tumble Circus brings riotous acrobatics, juggling and comedy to the streets of Elgin, Forres and Findhorn across four free outdoor shows.

  • Theatre, Family

    ISLAND

    Thu 1 – Sat 3 Oct
    Various Moray venues

    A gentle, non-verbal performance for babies up to 12 months, celebrating the bond between little ones and their grown-ups through music and dance.

  • Music

    Phil Bancroft Trio

    Sat 3 Oct, 8pm
    James Milne Institute, Findhorn

    Saxophonist Phil Bancroft and his Standards Trio bring fresh energy to Black American jazz classics from Ellington, Coltrane, Davis and more.

  • Illustration promoting Culture Day Forres on Saturday, 26 September 2026, with silhouettes of people, landmarks, and marquees on hills, surrounded by stars and balloons.
    Out & About

    Culture Day Forres

    Sat 26 Sep, 11am-4pm
    Forres Town Centre

    A carnivalesque, free family day out across Forres, packed with stalls, exhibitions, street performances, circus and community activities for all ages.

  • A person with bright pink hair listens to a wooden object shaped like an ear whilst standing behind a wooden box outdoors, surrounded by greenery.
    Exhibitions

    Tender Exchange

    Thu 1 & Fri 2 Oct
    Grant Park, Forres

    Whisper something that matters into a carved wooden heart and pass it on, as Tender Exchange turns personal words into a collective listening ritual.

  • A person with curly hair smiles at the camera outdoors, with a blurred background of blue water and sky.
    Out & About

    Morna Ross

    Fri 25 Sep, 7pm, James Milne Institute

    Socially engaged artist Morna Ross worked with the Findhorn community to explore the past, present and future of the James Milne Institute through shared stories and memories.

  • A man in a light blue Elvis Juice shirt and cap films with a camera on a beach near the sea, with waves in the background.
    Out & About

    Graeme Roger, Wildbird

    Fri 25 Sep, 8-10.30pm, Burghead Community Hall

    Visual artist Graeme Roger spent time with the Burghead community, using contemporary visual storytelling to uncover its history, identity and the stories that matter most to local people.

  • A woman plays the violin and smiles next to a man playing an acoustic guitar. They sit together outside in front of a rustic wooden door, both enjoying the music.
    Music, Dance, Irish Connections, Schools

    Celebrating Celtic Traditions

    Fri 2 Oct, 1pm
    Forres Town Hall

    A relaxing afternoon of Celtic music and stepdance, celebrating connections with Ireland through fiddle, flute, guitar and Gaelic song.

  • A stone viaduct with multiple arches spans a green, grassy field and is surrounded by trees. Blue sky with scattered clouds is visible above the structure.
    Out & About

    Explore Divie Viaduct

    Thu 1 Oct, 12pm, Edinkillie Village Hall Car Park

    Join composer Hamish Napier for a guided walk around Divie Viaduct, discovering how landscape shapes his music, with a picnic lunch along the way.

  • Exhibitions

    Life within the Findhorn Eco Village

    25 Sep-4 Oct
    The Phoenix Cafe, The Park, Findhorn

    Photographer Keiran Perry spent two years living within the Findhorn Eco Village, capturing an intimate, observational glimpse of life within the community.

  • Exhibitions

    LVII: Independent Photographers Collective

    25 Sep-4 Oct
    Logie Steading
    Logie Steading

    A salon-style photography exhibition exploring River Connections around Logie, marking the steading’s 100th anniversary with established and emerging photographers.

  • Exhibitions

    Lucy Dodd

    25 Sep-4 Oct
    Moray Art Centre, Findhorn

    Moray-based Lucy Dodd’s immersive abstract paintings use natural pigments from walnut shells, lichens and soil to evoke cosmic, otherworldly landscapes.

  • Exhibitions

    John McGeoch

    25 Sep-4 Oct, Edinkillie Village Hall

    John McGeoch’s immersive exhibition blends artworks, film and interactive elements, exploring creativity itself through curiosity, playfulness and surprise.

  • Music, Theatre, Dance

    Deiseil: Dancing in Time

    Fri 2 – Sun 4 Oct
    Various venues

    An immersive journey through stepdance history, told through fiddle, feet, Gaelic song and storytelling, from award-winning director Gerry Mulgrew.

  • Music, Theatre

    Sand, Silt, Flint

    Thu 1 Oct
    12pm & 8.30pm
    James Milne Institute

    Fiona Soe Paing’s acclaimed audio-visual album explores North-East Scotland’s ballads and folklore through experimental electronica and archive material.

  • Out & About

    Where Wild Geese Gather

    Sun 27 Sep, 6.30am, Kinloss Church Hall Car Park

    Watch thousands of pink-footed geese rise from Findhorn Bay at dawn, with poetry, storytelling and stillness led by local artists.

  • A woman with a rucksack holds colourful flags by a coastal path, with the sea, sandy beach, and a distant town under a blue sky in the background.
    Exhibitions

    The Act of Walking

    Sun 4 Oct, 10am, Findhorn Village Centre

    A reflective coastal walk carrying hand-painted silk pennants, exploring our evolving relationship with the coast, led by Kinetika founder Ali Pretty.

  • Dance, Circus & Street Arts, Family

    The Flying Ceilidh

    Sat 3 Oct, 4.30pm
    Brodie Castle

    Traditional ceilidh culture soars to new heights as live music, dance and aerial artistry combine at Brodie Castle for all the family.

  • Exhibitions

    Under This Northern Sky

    25 Sep-4 Oct
    Universal Hall, Findhorn

    Photographer Paul Heartfield presents abstract double-exposure works created since moving to Scotland, alongside his acclaimed portraits of musicians and cultural figures.

  • Theatre, Dance, Circus & Street Arts, Family

    Soup!

    Sat 3 & Sun 4 Oct, 12pm
    James Milne Institute

    Clowning chefs and communal cooking meet in this interactive dance performance celebrating sensory memory and the joy of cooking together.

  • Music, Dance

    Karawane Takeover

    Sat 3 Oct, 7pm
    Forres Town Hall, Forres

    DJs Mark Thomson and Ali Aitken lead a high-energy night of salsa, afrobeat and cumbia, with live band Orquesta Boreal bringing the heat.

  • Music, Dance

    Culture Night Ceilidh

    Sat 26 Sep, 8pm
    Forres Town Hall, Forres

    An all-star Highland ceilidh band led by Hamish Napier brings fast reels, graceful waltzes and traditional marches for a fun-packed dancing evening.

  • Music, Circus & Street Arts

    Pop up Band

    Sat 26 Sep, 1.30pm
    Grant Park, Forres

    A unique intergenerational pop-up band, formed the night before, brings high-energy brass and rhythm to Grant Park for Culture Day Forres.

  • Music

    So Below

    Sun 27 Sep, 11am & 2pm
    Findhorn Kirk

    Glasgow musician Alex Smoke’s evocative performance fuses looped cello, synthesis and surround sound to guide audiences on a sublime sonic journey.

  • A man with a beard and moustache, wearing a patterned shirt and black beanie, stares at the camera. Orange light effects partially obscure the image, creating a dramatic, artistic feel against a dark background.
    Music

    Findlay Napier and Kris Drever

    Thu 1 Oct, 8pm,
    Forres Town Hall, Forres

    Findlay Napier and Kris Drever share an evening of compelling songs and musical craftsmanship, blending sharp observation with imaginative storytelling.

  • Theatre, Dance

    Balfour Reparations

    Thu 1, 7pm & Fri 2 Oct, 2pm
    Universal Hall, Findhorn

    Dancer and scholar Farah Saleh examines the UK’s colonial legacy in Palestine through a performance lecture blending history, fiction and fantasy.

  • Music, Theatre

    We Will Hear the Angels

    Wed 30 Sep, 7.30pm
    Universal Hall, Findhorn

    Magnetic North returns with a poignant celebration of sad music, following five neighbours quietly struggling with heartbreak and healing.

  • Music

    Hamish Napier

    Sun 4 Oct, 4pm
    Universal Hall, Findhorn

    Hamish Napier premieres The Hill, celebrating Highland hill terms and mountain landscapes through reels, jigs, Gaelic song and piobaireachd.

  • A person is silhouetted against a red background, leaning back whilst playing a trumpet.
    Music

    Kings of Swing

    Sat 26 Sep
    2pm
    Mosset Tavern, Forres

    Trumpeter Colin Steele leads Scotland’s finest swing jazz players through timeless 1930s and 40s hits, with audience tune requests welcomed.

  • A man in a suit rests his chin on his hand, looking up thoughtfully. Red, yellow, and blue balloon animals float around his head against a teal background.
    Theatre, Family, Irish Connections

    Magic Gareth: Balloonatic

    Sat 26 Sep, 12.30pm
    Forres Town Hall

    TikTok sensation Magic Gareth brings balloons, games and mind-blowing live magic in a high-energy family show suitable for all.

  • Music

    Harry Bird

    Fri 2 Oct, 7.30pm
    Forres Town Hall, Forres

    Modern-day troubadour Harry Bird returns with his full band, joined by Sunshine & The Silver Seams and local duo Hulliannah.

  • Performers in beige and purple costumes, wearing face paint and hats with arrows, bend forward with outstretched arms during an outdoor event, with musicians and greenery in the background.
    Music, Theatre, Dance, Circus & Street Arts

    The Sailmaker’s Palm

    Sun 4 Oct, 3pm
    Findhorn Kirk, Findhorn

    A fantasy tale of salt and sails blends theatre, music and dance to explore Scotland’s coastal heritage and craft-based ways of living.

  • Music

    Birdvox

    Sun 4 Oct, 7.30pm
    Forres Town Hall, Forres

    Four of Scotland’s most distinctive musical voices unite for an ancient-yet-contemporary sound, closing the festival alongside Kuchke and DJ Dolphin Boy.

  • Theatre, Dance, Circus & Street Arts, Family, Irish Connections, Out & About

    Buff and Sheen

    Sat 26-Sun 27 Sep
    Various locations

    Two bumbling window cleaners bring slapstick, dance and ladder acrobatics to the streets, restoring joy and connection through absurd, soapy fun.

  • People gather in a brightly lit art gallery, viewing colourful abstract paintings on the walls and enjoying conversation. Three women in the foreground smile and talk whilst other visitors mingle in the background.
    Exhibitions

    Festival Opening Night

    Thu 24 Sep, 4-8pm
    Various Findhorn venues

    All festival exhibitions launch at once, with artists on hand to share their stories, followed by a traditional music session at Phoenix Cafe.

  • Black and white photo of a group of people sitting at round tables in a hall, smiling and applauding. Some people stand and clap in the background. Decorative banners hang on the wall. The mood appears celebratory.
    Music, Family

    Storylands sessions

    Wed 30 Sep, 7pm
    Duffus Village Hall

    Musician-in-Residence Hamish Napier and storyteller Aila Schafer curate an evening of songs, tunes, poems and stories from Highland and Moray talent.

  • Two women in elegant gowns, one in red playing the violin and one in black playing the cello, perform on a desert landscape at sunset.
    Music

    The Ayoub Sisters

    Wed 30 Sep,
    8pm
    St. Laurence Church, Forres

    Scottish/Egyptian duo The Ayoub Sisters blend classical, folk and contemporary influences using live-looping technology to create immersive soundscapes.

  • A mouse puppet decorates a pink cake in a colourful kitchen, while a cat puppet in an orange jumper watches from below. Shelves with kitchen items and a green cooker are in the background.
    Circus & Street Arts, Workshop

    Circus of dreams: Talk and demonstration

    Thu 1 Oct
    12:30pm – 1:30pm
  • Two women in black clothes stand side by side. One holds a violin towards the camera, while the other smiles and holds up a pair of red dance shoes. Both are facing forwards against a plain light background.
    Workshop

    Deiseil: Step Dance Workshop

    Sun 4 Oct
    10:00-11:30am
    Duffus Village Hall
  • Exhibitions

    Beach of Dreams

    Sun 4 Oct
    10am-4pm
    Findhorn Beach

    Naturally dyed silk pennants carrying personal stories form a shifting tapestry on Findhorn Beach, exploring our relationship with the coast.

  • A composite image of four performers in colourful clothing playing on a bare white floor with cushions. On the cushions are crayon-style drawings of faces with varying emotions.
    Dance, Family

    Little Ray

    Sunday 27 September, 11am
    Universal Hall, Findhorn

    Created in collaboration with early years specialists Starcatchers, Little Ray is a beautifully crafted dance performance for children aged 3–5 and their grown-ups.

  • Four people stand in a warmly lit corridor with stone walls. Two hold guitars, one holds a violin, and they all smile at the camera. Candles line the floor along the walls.
    Music

    Julie Fowlis, Zoë Conway, Éamon Doorley and John McIntyre

    Saturday 3 October, 7.30pm
    Universal Hall, The Park, Findhorn

    Folk luminaries offer a captivating collection of songs and tunes inspired by Irish and Scottish Gaelic traditions.

  • Saxophonist, Colin Steele, and another musicians play in front of spotlights with purple hazed background.
    Music

    Colin Steele Quintet play Miles Davis

    Sunday 27 September, 2pm
    Forres Town Hall, Forres

    Celebrate the legacy of jazz icon Miles Davis as the acclaimed Colin Steele Quintet brings his timeless music to life in a spectacular tribute marking Davis’ 100th birthday

  • A woman dances in a residential street next to a simple wooden chair. She is wearing ankle boots, shorts and a moss green jumper.
    Dance, Circus & Street Arts, Out & About

    Miss Mary

    Friday 2 – Sunday 4 October. Various Times & Locations.

    A hauntingly beautiful outdoor dance work that reimagines the spirit of Ireland’s travelling dance masters.

  • A woman with long dark hair, wearing a pale coloured coat, looks directly at the camera. In the background is a river delta-like landscape with shallow waters, landscape and trees.
    Music

    Rachel Sermanni and Joshua Burnside

    Sunday 27 September, 8pm
    Forres Town Hall, Forres

    Join two exceptional singer-songwriters for an evening of contemporary folk, rich storytelling and beautifully crafted music.

  • A man stands in the midst of darkness wearing a seagreen t-shirt and glasses - bending forwards as though to address the audience in character.
    Theatre

    When Billy Met Alasdair

    Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 September. Various times.
    James Milne Institute, Findhorn

    Explore the struggles, origins, and creative triumphs of two Glasgow legends in an uplifting tale of resilience and artistic brilliance.

  • A man wearing a blue shirt stands with both arms raised to the sky. Other performers are in front with arms outstretched.
    Dance

    Ray

    Saturday 26 September, 7pm
    Universal Hall, Findhorn

    Inspired by the words of the 13th-century poet Rumi, Ray explores the idea of emergence and our deep human desire for connection.

  • Music, Theatre, Dance, Exhibitions, Circus & Street Arts, Family, Out & About, Schools, Visual Art, Workshop

    Culture Day Forres 2026

Culture Day Returns

Culture Day Forres will be returning for 2026. Find out how you can be part of the day of community, creativity and celebration.

Get Involved in Culture Day Forres