From fashion and film to gaming, music and creative health, some of the UK’s leading creative voices will come together in east London this September for four days of inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, exhibitions and industry insight.
The Creative Industries Festival 2026, hosted by the University of East London (UEL) from 2-5 September, invites creatives, students, freelancers and members of the creator economy to explore this year’s theme, Creative Balance: Good Work, Health and Life. Through a packed programme of more than 30 free events, the festival will examine how creativity can help shape healthier, more inclusive and sustainable careers and communities.
Taking place across UEL’s Docklands campus and The Source in Stratford, the festival brings together creative organisations, academics, artists and industry professionals for events spanning art, fashion, film, music, gaming, design, performance, creative health and emerging technologies.
Visitors will have the opportunity to hear directly from people working across the creative industries, gain practical careers advice, experience exhibitions and installations, take part in hands-on workshops and discover some of the ideas and research helping to shape the sector’s future.
Festival highlights include:
A creative fashion design workshop with east London lifestyle brand Lazy Oaf, offering participants a behind-the-scenes look at its distinctive design process before creating their own designs.
Careers talks and CV and portfolio reviews with Searchlight, providing expert advice on breaking into film, television, music, publishing, gaming, advertising and digital media.
A session with Canva Community Lead Gonzalo Rosado Morgan, exploring how accessible design tools and creative communities are helping shape the creator economy.
Breaking into Screen, a panel discussion featuring rising industry professionals sharing practical advice on launching a career in film and television.
Creative Speedwriting Camp & Cypher, bringing together emerging creatives from music, film, theatre, journalism and marketing to collaborate on live creative projects.
Speak Out: Find Your Voice, an engaging public-speaking workshop led by Dash Arts, helping participants build confidence and discover the power of their voice.
Interactive workshops exploring neurodiversity, community co-creation and creative learning, celebrating inclusive approaches to creativity and collaboration.
Alongside showcasing the next generation of creative talent, the festival creates opportunities for freelancers, industry professionals, students, graduates, and local communities to connect, exchange ideas and develop the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly fast-changing creative landscape.
Alison Lowe MBE, Director of Careers and Enterprise for the School of Arts and Creative Industries, said:
“The Creative Industries Festival is about opening doors. Whether you’re a student considering a creative career, an established practitioner, a freelancer, researcher or simply someone with a passion for creativity, there is something here to discover, experience and be inspired by.
“This year’s theme, Creative Balance: Good Work, Health and Life, couldn’t be more timely. As our industries continue to evolve, we want to explore how creativity can help us build careers and communities that are not only successful, but sustainable, inclusive and centred on people.
“We’re delighted to be bringing such an exciting mix of creative talent, industry expertise and fresh thinking together in east London and we hope people will come along, get involved and be part of it.”
The Creative Industries Festival 2026 takes place from 2-5 September. Events are free to attend, although booking is required for many sessions.
