We’re so excited to share our brand-new 2026 season with you – a vibrant mix of exceptional live music, inspiring creative learning, energising comedy and standout cinema. This year’s programme celebrates everything we care about at Brewery Arts: innovation, artistic excellence and genuine community connection. It’s a season that shows just how diverse, ambitious and creative our little corner of Kendal can be.
Live Music Highlights
Our Live Music programme is bursting with incredible artists from across the UK and beyond. We’re welcoming internationally recognised names alongside some of the most exciting rising talent.
Amber Run (13 Feb) join us with a stripped-back acoustic tour celebrating the global success of hits like I Found and 5am. Prog favourites Solstice (20 Feb) head to Kendal with their award-winning Clann tour, and pop icon Chesney Hawkes (7 Mar) brings all the nostalgic, chart-topping energy we know and love — along with tracks from his recent comeback album.
We’re also thrilled to have EMF (13 Mar), the band behind the era-defining hit Unbelievable, still buzzing from receiving a commemorative blue plaque in 2025.
Other standout nights include Grammy-nominated duo Manu Delago & Max ZT (3 Apr), global folk innovators Mishra featuring Deepa Shakthi (4 Apr), and art-pop visionary Jane Weaver (16 Apr), celebrating 15 years of her influential work. BBC Introducing also shines a light on fresh talent with genre-blending artist Maya Kally (11 Apr), supported by Clara Pople’s atmospheric Celtic/trip-pop sound.
Comedy & Family Fun
We’ve got plenty of laughs and family-friendly magic lined up this season. Olaf Falafel (1 Apr) brings his gloriously silly, award-winning kids’ comedy show — praised by Time Out and The Times as one of the must-sees of the year. Comic magician Pete Firman (19 Feb) also joins us with Tricks & Giggles, packed with jaw-dropping sleight-of-hand and laugh-out-loud moments. You might recognise him from viral clips and major TV appearances!
Big Screen Moments
Cinema lovers, we’ve got you covered. Our Event Cinema programme this season includes:
National Theatre Live: Hamlet, R.E.M. x Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr., Woolf Works, and Tristan und Isolde.
Plus, we’re hosting multiple Director Q&A screenings. Don’t miss BAFTA-winning filmmaker Phil Grabsky for My Childhood, My Country: 20 Years in Afghanistan (9 Jan) and Caravaggio: Exhibition on Screen (9 Jan).
Creative Learning: Try Something New This Spring
Our Creative Learning Spring Season offers the chance to explore writing, art, photography, dance, theatre and film — whether you’re a curious beginner or looking to grow your skills.
You can get hands-on with stone carving, mosaic making, kinetic sculpture, analogue photography, line-hatching and more. Some highlights include Crafting Fiction with award-winning writer Simon Sylvester, darkroom photography workshops, and brand-new sessions inspired by our exhibitions, led by Kendal artist Lela Harris.
We’re also relaunching our Youth Arts programme, with welcoming classes in visual arts, dance, film and theatre for ages 0-16.
Members get priority booking for Creative Learning from 16 December at 11am, and general sale opens 18 December at 11am. There’s truly something for everyone – from family workshops to full courses and masterclasses.
Eat, Drink & Relax With Us
Our Bar & Restaurant is serving up vibrant seasonal menus, craft beers and small-batch cocktails made with locally sourced ingredients. Whether you’re popping in before a show, settling in for a workshop, or just enjoying a slow morning coffee, we’re here to help you unwind and soak up the Brewery Arts atmosphere.
