The fifteenth anniversary edition of Arts by the Sea has unveiled its full programme, with a new headline show at the heart of the celebrations.
The free festival returns to Bournemouth from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 September 2025, bringing together art, music, theatre and community performance across the town centre and seafront.
Leading the line-up is Bourne to Love, a two-act creation from Bristol’s Cirque Bijou. The evening show will combine circus, aerial performance, live music and community participation in what organisers describe as one of the most ambitious spectacles in the festival’s history.
Cirque Bijou’s Artistic Director Billy Alwen said the production is designed as a joyful celebration of togetherness, created especially for Bournemouth.
Alongside the headline, the programme features a wide range of live acts. Highlights include dream-pop singer Nory J, Bournemouth’s Four Corners Collectif with Afrobeat and reggae rhythms, Matters Unknown with an eclectic mix of jazz and soul-funk, and indie pop group The Daisy Chains. International flavour comes from the Thokozile Collective and South Sudanese rapper TR Craze. The weekend will also see performances by Momo\:Tempo, and a vibrant Indian dance showcase from Namaste Bournemouth.
Immersive experiences include CODE by Justice in Motion, combining parkour, bikes and live rap, as well as light installations along the seafront in Here We Glow! and playful walkabout theatre by the Company of International Artists. Dance and circus combine in Life’s a Beach by Joli Vyann, while families can explore the sound-based installation Noisy Noise Noise.
The festival also continues its support for local artists. Gabrielle Parker has been named Artist in Residence for 2025, while Associate Artist Bobby Brewer will present a large-scale willow sculpture in the Lower Gardens.
This year’s theme, WE ARE HERE, celebrates community, identity and belonging. Festival Director Andrea Francis said every act contributes to this theme, while Councillor Andy Martin described the line-up as a reflection of local creativity and diversity.
Running alongside the main weekend, the Arts by the Sea Fringe will bring events to independent venues across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole from 19 September to 5 October.
Arts by the Sea is produced by BCP Council with support from Arts Council England. The full programme is available at artsbythesea.co.uk.
