Festival Theme

Our theme for 2026 is ‘ELEMENTAL.’ A bold celebration of the energies that connect us to each other and to the world around us. From the spark of electricity to the grounding strength of earth and the renewing flow of water, these forces shape how we live, move and create. 

Through visual art, sound, movement and shared experiences, this year’s Arts by the Sea becomes a place to explore how energy flows through people, communities and landscapes. You might feel it in a performance, see it in an emotion, or hear it in the music drifting through the air.

ELEMENTAL invites everyone to take part. Together, we celebrate creativity as a catalyst for positive change, encouraging collective action, sustainable thinking and a deeper connection to the world we share, starting in Bournemouth Gardens.