The National Festival of Making is a unique celebration of making, from the kitchen table to the factory floor. Presenting a programme of work that combines Art, Manufacturing, Making and Communities, we commission local and national artists to create world-class works, a year-round programme and a participatory FREE FAMILY festival for all to enjoy.

The National Festival of Making weekend will return to Lancashire on 4th & 5th July 2026, filling the streets of Blackburn with free participatory making opportunities, workshops, performances, talks, exhibitions, markets and more.

The festival is recognised as a place where makers deliver an extraordinary range of workshops for all ages. Workshops make up the largest part of our programme, offering our audience the opportunity to take part in high-quality making experiences and explore new skills and materials.

Whether coming with the family or on a solo trip, the programme is packed with opportunities for intergenerational making, discovering an artists’ practice, or contemporary takes on heritage skills.

Blackburn Town Centre

11am – 5pm