New Shows Announced for 2026

With only 100 days to go until Freedom Festival 2026, our team are working hard behind the scenes to get everything together to make it a memorable one for our wonderful audiences! This week we’re proud to announce some more exciting shows and some powerful and thought-provoking interactive installations that Freedom Festival have commissioned.  

If you’re a fan of The Traitors, or you got to experience The Night of The Werewolves at last year’s festival, this first one is for you! Silent Uproar are back with a new, silly, gothic interactive show Vampires! Vampires! Vampires! and you can be involved. It's 1897, and everyone is scrambling to stop Dracula's arrival. Choose to be a participant and you'll be a 19th-Century Hull City Councillor identifying secret vampires in your midst, or choose to be a spectator, and all you have to do is sit back and watch the chaos unfold. This is a hilarious comedy-horror packed with bluffing, betrayal and political chaos. If you’re itching to be a part of this one, participant tickets are going on sale Tuesday 2^nd June! If you just really want to see it but you’re not up for audience participation, we’ll be releasing spectator tickets soon. Keep checking back for updates. 

Another energetic performance and another return to the festival, The Torch by Kobby Taylor is one not to miss – and it’s a new version live on the streets of Hull! An upbeat and feel-good gig-theatre experience, this is a vibrant mix of storytelling and live music that Kobby performs with his band. Powered by live DJ decks and shimmering synths, the cast multi-role as musicians and actors, slipping between characters and the band. With comedy, heartbreak and a beat-driven narrative about not fitting in, this show celebrates identity, legacy and the moment you finally discover your own light. The Torch is supported by Without Walls.  

We then have two interactive installations that you can visit over the festival weekend, both from Hull-based artists. The Hate Circuit by Annabel McCourt is an installation that will provoke you to re-examine your own thoughts and opinions, as these two large inflatable dinghies rely on a balance of love and hate to breathe - in a world where the rise of nationalism is dividing us. Hooked up to a "Hate Circuit", their ability to inflate is impacted by public opinion on migration, sanctuary, and refuge. With your own positivity and human effort, you're invited to intervene and counterbalance the negative opinions in your attempt to reinflate the sculptures. 

Lastly is Through the Ruins by Ukrainian artist Yeseniia Serdiuk. A touching and emotional tribute to victims of war, this piece contrasts the small-scale of the miniature city with the large-scale impact of war in the real world. As you enter the darkness, you’ll walk through the mist to discover lit scenes depicting a city ravaged by war and the devastation to its infrastructure. Tiny houses, streets, parks and playgrounds left in ruins highlight the large-scale consequences of war. This is a piece that will stay with you.  

Locations, times, and dates will be announced in the coming weeks, so stayed tuned for more information. 

If these have piqued your interest, head over to our Festival 2026 page to find out more. And keep your eyes peeled on our socials as we’ll be announcing more of our free programme soon, with plenty for the whole family to enjoy. Freedom Festival is back in Hull City Centre Thursday 3^rd – Sunday 6^th Sep.  

Go to Freedom Festival 2026