Ensemble Festival 2026

This July, Certain Blacks presents Ensemble Festival 2026 in London’s historic Royal Victoria Docks. Now in its seventh edition, the free outdoor celebration of circus, dance, and theatre returns for two full days on Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 July. Full of bold, joyful and thought-provoking work, suitable for all ages and accessible for everyone.

This year’s programme explores identity, ritual, ecology, and collective experience through a dynamic mix of dance, music theatre, circus, and physical storytelling. Highlights include Fragments of Us from Talawa Theatre in collaboration with contemporary dance company FUBUNATION and award-winning artist Sonia Hughes. Garbh by Shyam Dattani and Mira Salat reimagines Gujarati folk dance Garba through contemporary choreography and visually rich design, while ElevateHer by Daughters of the Wire celebrates female camaraderie and empowerment through wire walking performance.

Nigel “Kobby” Taylor’s The Torch blends Afrobeat, hip-hop, rap and storytelling into performance with music about identity, legacy and discovering one’s own light. Ferdinando + Bernstein’s Stick and Stone brings audiences together through physical comedy and visual imagery in a playful and poignant reflection on nature, ecological crisis, and reconnection. The programme also includes Balance by Brainfools, a contemporary circus piece using found objects, theatre and acrobatics to reflect on pub culture, and Captain C-Man by Cormac Mohally, a juggling and circus show for all ages.

Ensemble also showcases a selection of performances from Catalan artists. These include U.F.A by Cris Clown, a public space installation centred around a clown suspended in the middle of the street; Domte by Nacho Flores, a poetic street circus duet inspired by mythology and transformation and Water Silhouettes by Teatro en Movimiento Callejerx, a participatory performance exploring water scarcity through a symbolic language.

Following recent funding awarded through Arts Council England’s Creative Foundations Fund, Certain Blacks will invest in environmentally conscious and sustainable infrastructure to deliver a greener festival. As well, Ensemble Festival 2026 features work supported through Without Walls, the national network championing outdoor arts across England. 

Where: Royal Victoria Docks, London, E16 1FA

When: Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 July, 12pm – 8pm

Admission: Free

For full details of all events visit www.certainblacks.com

Venue details