Arts and Humanities Day 2026

Join researchers, artists and community groups for a full day focused on humanities, arts and social sciences in the heart of Southampton. Join researchers from the University of Southampton, community groups and artists for a family-friendly day packed with interactive activities, workshops, talks, exhibitions and live performances, suitable for all ages. You will be given an insight into the amazing arts and humanities research that take place on your doorstep, as well as the role that these disciplines play in shaping our local communities and neighbourhoods. Activities and events will take place at the Southampton Cultural Quarter, at: • Sir James Matthews Building • 1 Guildhall Square • John Hansard Gallery • Mayflower Studios • Southampton City Art Gallery Archaeology, history, modern languages, music, design and fashion, with just a pinch of science are just some of the exciting topics to be explored on the day. You can craft, build and draw creatively, discover past, present and future communities and even have your senses surrounded through virtual reality worlds. You'll also have the opportunity to immerse yourself in an interactive world of words, sounds, colours, textures, ideas and rhymes that will shape your journey to explore human experience. The event is FREE to attend, but we require all guests to book a general admission ticket in advance. For more information about the programme, visit www.southamptonartshumfest.co.uk Ticketed events: to reserve your space for some of our most popular events on the day, please visit our dedicated Collection in Eventbrite HERE. If you have any additional needs, you can start planning your experience by visiting the Accessibility section on our website. To organise your journey to Arts and Humanities Day please visit the 'Find us' section on our web page. For all other queries, please visit our comprehensive Frequently Asked Question 'FAQ area'. Arts and Humanities Day is part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 05 –14 November 2026. Being Human is led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. For further information please see beinghumanfestival.org. Arts and Humanities Day is the flagship event of Southampton Arts and Humanities Festival, the University of Southampton's annual celebration of humanities and the arts, taking place 5th - 14th November 2026. Follow #UoSArtsHumFest on social media to stay up-to-date with the latest news, events and activity announcements. Take a look at the video to find out what Arts and Humanities Day is going to be all about!