A New Look for Worcester Paint Festival September 2026
Worcester Paint Festival is back this month, though changes have been necessary this year. Funding pressures, limited available wall space, and some personal health challenges mean there will be fewer murals, no main event day, and no HQ at Friary Walk as in previous years. Despite the smaller scale, there’s still plenty to see: Graffiti Writers and Street Artists at work, striking finished pieces to enjoy, and indoor artworks in communities across the city. Tours and talks can be booked by getting in touch.
Last year’s map remains a great guide, with over 100 pieces to explore, available from Worcester Tourist Information on the High Street. Any new additions for 2026 will be added to the online map, with a downloadable version to follow.
Kate Cox – WPF organiser said, “The event climate is facing challenging times, but we are happy to shift with this and bring you some fabulous pieces of work, rooted firmly in this scene. We hope you will get out and view the artists at work and gain insight into some of the incredible skills and unique identity involved with both Graffiti Writing and Street Art pieces.”
Worcester Legal Wall
The annual paint jam at the Sixways Hall of Fame runs Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th September, 10.30am–5pm (likely later), featuring the festival’s veteran graffiti writers alongside guests from across the UK. This year’s walls take loose inspiration from the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon Wacky Races.
Big walls: KFO crew — Spar, Sore, Nuzoe, Cask, Zare, Phe, Al and Sweetheart
Other walls: Cinz, Birdy, Umix, Frank Bough, Knel, Minto
Best access is via Wainwright Road, walking through Offerton Lane Nature Reserve and turning right towards the canal (what3words: shady.ships.match).
Guest Artists
From 7th September, two acclaimed artists join the programme. Katie Scott returns to Worcester after painting Angel Place in 2022 (now demolished). Known for large-scale spray-paint murals blending realism with a fantastical colour palette, and for work with community groups, schools, prisons and councils across the UK and Europe, she will paint the old Sauce Factory building on London Road, next to Fort Royal Park — a project brought to life by Karen O’Callaghan of the Fort Royal Park Environmental Rangers, funded by the Bransford Trust.
Joining the festival for the first time is KMG, a Scottish street artist with two decades of international experience, having exhibited at major festivals including NUART Aberdeen, Waterford Walls, Yardworks and The Crystal Ship. Drawing on Celtic folklore from Northern Scotland, her murals reclaim overlooked oral storytelling traditions and explore how marginalised communities have been shaped by shifting social agendas. She will paint on Cranham Drive in Warndon, part of the festival’s ongoing partnership with Platform Housing.
Further Activity
From 18th September, MrSce will paint a canal-side wall near the old football ground on St Georges Lane, celebrating the site’s history. This is funded by Local Councillors Karen Lewing, Matt Jenkins and Alex Mace, alongside the Arboretum Residents Association and Worcester Canal Group.
An ongoing community project continues with emerging Worcester-born, Bath-based artist Rensyil, who first painted with the festival in 2023 while still at art college. This summer’s project draws on themes of celebration and diversity, via Worcester’s Mela Festival and community engagement sessions with Worcester Community Trust — including ‘Snack and Chat’ groups in Ronkswood and Dines Green, and a young people’s event at the WCT Hub in Warndon — where participants created their own canvases and doodle sheets. Rensyil will complete five linking murals inside community hubs at Ronkswood, Warndon, Tolladine, Dines Green and the Horizon Centre. Thanks go to Local Councillor Jabba Riaz for funding, and to Helen, Sharon and Rob at Worcester Community Trust, Severn Arts, and the Local Voices Creative Choices programme — Elaine, Rachel and Jacob.
A rescheduled piece will see the festival return to the Unison building on Loves Grove next spring, working with Sweetart Murals — a graffiti artist from in the Midlands, now based in Worcester.
The festival also thanks Steve and Crown Paints for their continued support and paint donations, and Jack from Fit Out Management for his assistance.
For more information go to the website or socials @worcesterpaintfestival