Creativity and community spirit to fuel Festival of Energy
The free four-day event in Blyth promises to blend a celebration of the town's maritime heritage with its growing reputation as a leader in renewable energy
Blyth will be transformed into a stage for large-scale artworks, performances and light installations next spring when the town hosts its first Festival of Energy.
Running from March 5-8, 2026 the free four-day event will be presented by Blyth Celebrates and produced by renowned outdoor arts company Walk the Plank.
Large-scale artworks, performances, and immersive experiences inspired by the sea, wind, moon, and earth are all lined up to play their part in celebrating the town’s maritime heritage and its growing reputation as a world leader in renewable energy.
The festival, which will spread across the town’s streets, quayside and public spaces will bring together artists, scientists and local people to explore themes of energy, light, and transformation, working in partnership with Port of Blyth, The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, Energy Central Campus and Newcastle University.
Among the headline attractions is a world-first installation by celebrated artist Luke Jerram, whose Museum of the Moon and Gaia (the Earth) - two seven-metre diameter artworks created from detailed NASA imagery - will be displayed together for the first time inside ORE Catapult’s unique testing facilities.
Each installation will be accompanied by a specially composed soundtrack by BAFTA-winning composer Dan Jones.
Other highlights include Tower of Light, a giant lighthouse installation featuring fire, light and theatrical performance on the quayside; and Whale Song, a life-sized humpback whale brought to life through spectacular water, sound and light projections by LCI Productions, to be staged where the River Blyth meets the sea.
Community involvement is at the heart of the event, with five new art commissions and two days of films, talks and workshops planned at the Energy Central Learning Hub.
Local artists and creative groups from across the North East are invited to apply for one of the £2,000 Festival of Energy commissions, responding to themes including renewable energy, the sea, and transformation. Applications are open until Sunday, November 30, 2025, via getinvolved@walktheplank.co.uk.
Councillor Wendy Pattison, cabinet member for sport and culture at Northumberland County Council, said: “This is a festival that belongs to Blyth. It’s a chance for everyone to come together, celebrate our town’s innovation and imagination, and see Blyth’s story told in a spectacular new way.”
Bev Ayre, senior producer at Walk the Plank, added: “We are excited to bring our creative imagination to Blyth. This is an invitation for everyone to step inside the story of the town, connect with the power of the North Sea, and see the future celebrated in a spectacular new light.”
Steve Foxley, chief executive of ORE Catapult, said: “We’re so excited to be able to open our doors to the public and play host to one of the amazing installations planned as part of this Festival.
“Blyth is a town right at the very heart of efforts to transform how we produce energy in the UK and aid our transition towards a more sustainable energy future. So, we’re extremely proud to play our part in what will prove to be a truly extraordinary celebration.”
The Festival of Energy marks the grand finale of Blyth Celebrates, a programme placing creativity at the centre of the town’s regeneration as part of Energising Blyth - a £95 million scheme funded by Northumberland County Council, the UK Government and the North East Combined Authority.
For full details and updates, visit www.blythcelebrates.co.uk