Green Phoenix Festival Returns for Summer 2026

Exeter Phoenix’s Green Phoenix Festival returns on Sunday 5th July for the third consecutive year.

This one-day festival brings people of all ages together for a day of creativity, to inspire and promote action towards building a sustainable future.

Delivered in partnership with local sustainability organisations and individuals, this festival highlights how we can all contribute to a greener future while connecting audiences with impactful work already underway in the community.

Join them for a day of free talks, workshops and creative activities for the local community, featuring: creative activities for all ages, music, art, film screenings, learning, stalls and much more!

The 2026 festival will be headlined by acclaimed climate scientist and comedian, Dr Matt Winning.

Performance Programmer, Katy Danbury said: "After seeing his brilliant show Solastalgia at Edinburgh Fringe last year, we are thrilled that acclaimed climate scientist and comedian Dr Matt Winning will be headlining this year's festival at 5pm, fresh off a sell-out run at Soho Theatre!”

The first half of his headline performance will be extracts from previous show Hot Mess (based on his best selling book Hot Mess (what on earth can we do about climate change), followed by his new showSolastalgia: From karaoke with a bunch of bankers to petrol station bathrooms and the United Nations, this is an epic story about fatherhood, finance and facing the future, together. Please note Matt Winning’s performance is ticketed separately.

The event takes place on Sunday 5 July, 11am-5pm and entry is free.

This year’s festival is made possible thanks to the generous support of David & Charles Publishing and is being delivered as part of the "If Trees Could Talk" International Art Biennale in Devon, in partnership with Significant Seams.

Select Programme Highlights for 2026

FEDUP EXETER: Food Emergency | 11- 4pm

Discover what food growers are doing in and around Exeter to limit the impact of our food crisis. Displays, films, talks and discussions. Suitable for all.

Art Blocking with the Exeter Community Alliance | 11 - 3pm

Hands on printing on t-shirts, dresses or fabric offcuts. Choose from a selection of blocks depicting slogans, wildlife and logos, pick your colour ink and then print it onto the fabric (bring your own or use some of ours). All ages.

Crafty Butterfly Club | 12 - 2pm

Sow and take home wildflower seed pots for butterflies and moths and create colourful art inspired by our fluttery friends! Suitable for children aged 4+ with an adult.

Spangelwagon | 12 - 2pm

Face and body painting artist Sparkly Sonia will be painting native moths and butterflies on people and their wildflower habitats to encourage wonder, learning and a deeper delight and connection with Nature. All ages welcome.

Films for a Liveable Future | 12 - 1pm

Join Exeter Greenpeace for selection of short films on climate and nature emergency themes such as renewable energy, plastic pollution, sustainable diets and green projects in the Exeter area. After the films there will be opportunities to hear from speakers and take part in discussion and feedback.

Poetry Reading with Exeter Young City Laureate Graci Wakely | 12 - 1pm

Join Exeter’s Young City Laureate Graci Wakely for a reading with a focus on environmental poetry that gives hope for the future, that looks for examples of people making a difference and envisions a fairer climate future for Exeter and the world. Graci will be joined by storyteller, poet, editor, publisher and lecturer Dr Sally Flint.

‘Us Folk’ Concert | 2 - 2:30pm

Through song & poetry, Devon based folk musician Maz McNamara’s ‘Us Folk’ is a call to stewardship for England’s biodiversity & was created for Natural England’s public engagement programme.

Tree Badge Making | 2:30 - 3:30pm

Join Significant Seams to celebrate the international "If Trees Could Talk" Biennale here in Devon with a badgemaking workshop using recycled buttons

Nature Connection Outdoor Workshop | 3pm - 4pm

Enhance your wellbeing through playful exercises that reveal the simple keys to finding awe, gratitude and belonging in nature. All ages welcome. Some exercises involve gentle movement or walking. Meet at the front steps.

For the full programme head to exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/green-phoenix-festival