Cambridge Arts Festival 2026 - 9–18 February 2026
We’re thrilled to announce the return of the Cambridge Arts Festivalfor its 3rd year! Delivered by Cambridge BID, the festival will once again shine a spotlight on the extraordinary creativity and talent that make our city so special.
This year’s programme promises something for everyone — from exhibitions and workshops to hands-on activities and family-friendly fun, in venues across the city. Staying true to our ethos, most of the programme will be free to attend, making art accessible for all.
Cambridge BID is proud to announce the launch of a new strategic partnership with Place Support Partnership (PSP), designed to help local businesses combat rising operational costs and improve their bottom line. BID levy payers across Cambridge will have access to a fully funded, expert-led Savings and Advisory service.
As part of Cambridge Food & Drink Week (9–17 May 2026), Cambridge BID, in partnership with Elle Events Management, will host a dedicated Hospitality Panel Event bringing together a range of perspectives from across the sector.
Taking place on Tuesday 12 May from 5:30pm at Town and Gown, the event, “25 Years of Change and the Future of the Hospitality Industry”, will create space for open conversation around how the industry has evolved and what the future may look like.
As part of Cambridge BID’s ongoing commitment to supporting a safe, welcoming, and vibrant night-time economy, the Purple Flag team attended the January 2026 Welcome Back events at University of Cambridge – footfall of approx. 1,256 (19 January 2026) and Anglia Ruskin University footfall of approx. 2,000 (27 January 2026).
Cambridge Arts Festival 2026 - Wrap-Up Report
Cambridge Arts Festival 2026 was delivered by Cambridge BID to celebrate the City’s rich creative and cultural landscape, while actively engaging City centre businesses in a programme designed to increase footfall, dwell time and visibility across key locations.
Join Chief Executive Maria Manion in conversation, Maria will provide a brief outline on What is a Business Improvement District, and what we deliver across the City. This is also an opportunity to discuss the burning issues you have as a business and to find out more about the projects being delivered. These will be quarterly meetings so don’t worry if can’t make the April meetings.
December is one of the busiest and most important trading periods for Cambridge’s city centre, with increased footfall, later trading hours, and a higher concentration of visitors and residents enjoying the festive offer.
To ensure the city remained safe, welcoming, and well-managed throughout the festive season, Cambridge BID and CAMBAC coordinated an enhanced multi-agency safety and welfare programme across the night-time economy (NTE).
What is the King Street Mural? As part of Cambridge Arts Festival 2026, Cambridge BID has been working on a large-scale collaborative project to bring vibrant street art to Cambridge, spanning 45-metres across a wall on King Street. The artwork was expertly created by three talented artists (Darin Mount, Melissa Lhoirit and Susy Snow) who drew inspiration from the rich history of Cambridge and King Street. Their designs were painted on the wall by Graffwerk, appointed design agency. The mural is a temporary installation, live for 24 months.
Cambridge’s vibrant hospitality scene will take centre stage this spring as Cambridge BID announces
the return of Food and Drink Week, taking place from 9–17 May 2026.
The week-long celebration will see the city come alive with special dining offers, exclusive
experiences and curated trails, showcasing the very best of Cambridge’s food and drink offer. From
independent cafés and restaurants to bars, pubs and speciality venues, businesses across the city
will be taking part.
This festive season, the City has been brought to life with a magical festive atmosphere that delighted residents, visitors, and businesses alike. Cambridge BID delivered a vibrant and distinctive citywide lighting scheme with Field & Lawn, marking the eighth consecutive year of this project. Alongside this, two seasonal launch events.
Cambridge BID delivered a family-friendly Halloween Film & Activity Day at The Grafton, transforming the centre into a lively and welcoming destination for families during the half-term period.
The event featured three free film screenings, face painting and glitter tattoos, and a Halloween window display competition for retailers across the centre.
Cambridge’s creative community is invited to take part in an exciting new event as part of the upcoming Cambridge Arts Festival delivered by Cambridge BID. We’re calling on local and regional artists, makers, and creators of all disciplines to showcase and sell their work at The Art Makers Fair, a vibrant marketplace celebrating originality, craft, and artistic talent.
Engaging directly with students at the start of the academic year remains a key element of Cambridge Purple Flag, managed and ran by Cambridge BID (Business Improvement District) and CAMBAC (Cambridge Business Against Crime). Attendance at Fresher Fairs and related student events enables us to introduce new students to city safety initiatives, share key information about Cambridge’s night-time economy, and gather first-hand feedback about their experiences.
We were delighted to welcome around 60 guests to this year’s Cambridge BID Annual General Meeting and Networking Evening. The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the past year, share updates from across our projects, and officially launch our refreshed Business Plan for the year ahead.
