Hidden Door is delighted to confirm that the festival will return from Wednesday 3 to Sunday 7 June 2026. The news follows confirmation today of vital support from Creative Scotland’s Multi-Year Fund, a major funding commitment that secures the future of the festival through to 2027, enabling the volunteer-run charity to embark on ambitious planning for 2026.
Following the success of transforming The Paper Factory earlier this year, Hidden Door is ready to begin the search for the next wave of talent to join the 2026 programme. The festival, known for showcasing and supporting new and emerging artists, is immediately opening its doors for applications from visual artists keen to present work as part of the 2026 programme. Please see full application details here. The deadline is 23:59 on Sunday 11 January.
Further open calls will follow in the new year inviting poets, dancers, theatre-makers and other creatives to get involved. The festival provides a unique, highly visible platform for artists to reach large audiences and test new ideas within an immersive and dynamic environment.
Hidden Door’s Director, Hazel Johnson, said:
“This support from the Creative Scotland Multi-Year Fund is truly transformative for Hidden Door. As a volunteer-run organisation, securing funding for 2026 and 2027 gives us the stability and freedom to be more ambitious than ever, allowing us to focus entirely on finding and championing incredible emerging Scottish talent.
“We are so excited to immediately open our visual art open call and to welcome the innovative ideas that will define our next chapter. We look forward to working with artists to turn another forgotten space into a vibrant cultural hub.”
Hidden Door is committed to ensuring fair pay for all artists. The funding from Creative Scotland, alongside ticket revenue, donations and sponsorship, means the volunteer-run charity has created paid opportunities for thousands of artists and performers since 2010.
In keeping with its tradition of transforming disused or abandoned spaces into temporary venues, the location for the 2026 festival remains a closely guarded secret for now. Hidden Door will announce the venue in the New Year, ahead of the full programme reveal.
For more information on Hidden Door please check their facebook and instagram.
