Union Chapel launches Your Story Festival this summer, a season-long programme of free arts events inspired by Union Chapel’s archive, running from 18 June to 19 September 2026, marking the reopening of its restored Sunday School building and celebrating more than 200 years of cultural, social and architectural history.
Bringing together a vibrant programme of performances, exhibitions, screenings, workshops and community-led activity, the festival has been shaped and led by Participation Manager Cristina Carrasco, in collaboration with local artists, young creatives and community partners.
Highlights include a workshop series with acclaimed London jazz collective Steam Down, a major multi-media exhibition marking Pride Month, experimental film screenings, gastronomic events, a youth-led fashion show, a theatre performance with members of Cardboard Citizens and a children’s treasure hunt.
Through this cross-disciplinary programme, Union Chapel opens its spaces to new audiences while championing emerging and underrepresented voices, reflecting its longstanding commitment to music, social justice and community as well as breaking down barriers to the arts.
A New Home for Arts, Heritage and Community
Your Story Festival marks the public reopening of Union Chapel’s Grade II*-listed Sunday School building, sensitively repaired and retrofitted as a new creative hub at the heart of the Islington community. Renovation works began in July 2024 and have been made possible by a £2.28 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players and other funders.*
At the heart of the project is Sunday School Stories, a major new archive that will open to the public later this year. Spanning more than 200 years, the archive brings together material relating to Union Chapel’s Nonconformist roots, social history, architecture and evolution into a world-renowned live music venue.
Previously in major need of repairs and on the Heritage at Risk Register, the building has undergone a comprehensive programme of structural and conservation works. Major repairs have been completed across the fabric of the building. One of only a few remaining examples of an Akron plan hall in the UK, the Sunday School sits alongside the Grade I listed Gothic Revival chapel designed by James Cubitt and was originally built in the 19th century to serve the local community, including classes for 180 underprivileged children. Its restoration is a key part of Union Chapel’s long-term vision to secure the site’s future as a cultural and community landmark.
Kathryn Dixon, Managing Director of Union Chapel, said, “The reopening of the Sunday School is a landmark moment for Union Chapel and for the Islington community. This building has been part of the fabric of this neighbourhood for nearly 150 years, and thanks to the extraordinary support of The National Lottery and National Lottery Players, Historic England and all our funders and supporters, we have been able to give it a new life – one that honours its history while opening its doors to a whole new generation. Your Story Festival is our way of celebrating that, and of showing what this remarkable space can become.”
Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “The restoration of Union Chapel’s historic Sunday School has been a transformational project, bringing this remarkable space back into use for the community once more. Your Story Festival is the perfect way to celebrate this, sharing Islington’s amazing heritage while creating opportunities for learning and creativity. We’re proud to have supported this once-in-a-generation project thanks to National Lottery players.”
Your Story Festival Listings | All Free Tickets
Protest & Recognition in Queer Islington, 1970–2026: Art Exhibition
A multi-media exhibition marking Pride Month, drawing on Islington Local History Centre’s Pride archives to explore the borough’s role in LGBTQIA+ activism and community formation. Featuring political banners, portrait photography, experimental film and archival material, alongside newly commissioned work created with local groups including Say It Loud Club and Capital City College.
18 June – 4 July
Protest & Recognition in Queer Islington, 1970–2026: Film Screenings
Curated LGBTQIA+ films with live discussions and Q&A expanding on the exhibition’s themes, exploring queer histories and activism in Islington.
18, 21 and 28 June 2026 (Hen & Chickens Theatre, N1, opposite Union Chapel)
Treasure Hunt for Kids and Families
A family-friendly interactive trail inviting children and parents to explore Union Chapel through art and play. Led by hugely popular Mrs H Sings, these lively adventures combine music, storytelling and exploration. Designed to build confidence and spark curiosity, they invite young audiences to discover Union Chapel’s architecture and heritage and see how the past can inspire the art of today.
20 June, 18 July, 8 August 2026
Protest Posters: The Architecture of Noise
A hands-on experimental workshop where you will transform Union Chapel from a building into a living instrument via exercises designed to activate the acoustics of Union Chapel, in collaboration with Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art.
July 1
Protest Posters: Al Fresco Drawing
An outdoor drawing workshop led by architect William Jefferies, inviting participants to capture Union Chapel’s Victorian Gothic architecture in an open-air setting. Selected works may be featured in a future exhibition.
7 July 2026
Gastronomic Experiences
Travel the world through food, music and shared stories at this immersive event celebrating global culinary traditions. Bringing together communities and cultures, the evening explores how food connects us to memory, identity and place — from traditional recipes to the music and folklore that surround them.
• A modern twist on a traditional church tea with Union Chapel Church— Sunday 26 July 2026
• Caribbean: Reggae Party with The Tighten Up Crew’s Reggae Cookouts – Sunday 16 August 2026
• All Algerian: with Tuned In London – Monday 7 September 2026
Spoken Word with Steam Down
Workshops led by acclaimed London jazz collective Steam Down, exploring Islington’s social justice heritage through poetry, rap, beatbox and music production, culminating in a live showcase.
Workshops: 5, 12 and 13 September 2026
Festival Finale: Union Chapel Open Day — Saturday 19 September 2026
The festival culminates in a range of events bringing together new work developed throughout the programme, alongside performances that reflect Union Chapel’s ongoing commitment to creativity, community and social justice.
Spoken Word with Steam Down: Performance — The culmination of a series of workshops, this live showcase features new work by young participants responding to Islington’s social justice heritage through poetry, rap, beatboxing, music, and visual art.
Cardboard Citizens Theatre Performance — Changing the story society tells about homelessness and poverty. Developed from Members’ creative responses and in collaboration with leading industry professionals, this moving, thought-provoking performance supports the development of writing and performance skills.
Youth Fashion Show — A bold, youth-led catwalk show bringing together emerging designers, models and creatives. Inspired by Union Chapel’s architecture and legacy, the show celebrates collaboration, identity and self-expression in the Chapel’s striking historic setting. Presented in collaboration with Grassroots Arts Studios.
Online Programme Re: Latest edit for approval
Audiences can also take part remotely through a series of digital events and resources:
• Your Story Festival Podcast — via YouTube
Full details and ticket information: unionchapel.org.uk/projects/events/your-story-festival
Sunday School Stories Pre-Gig Music Talks (date tbc)
Ahead of selected live shows, Union Chapel will be offering pre-gig music talks in the bar, where you can listen to the fascinating stories of Union Chapel’s 200 + years of musical heritage. From the rare 19th-century Henry ‘Father’ Willis organ to the huge name stars that have graced the stage. Check the website for future events.
Your Story Festival logo designed by Dayna Figueroa
*Sunday School Stories Project is made possible thanks to support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery Players, as well as Historic England, City Bridge Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation, Foyle Foundation, Benefact Trust, Islington Community Energy Fund, National Churches Trust, Friends of Union Chapel, The Rose Foundation, Islington Archaeology & History Society, Union Chapel Members and individual supporters, with thanks to the Mayor of London.
