More than 30,000 people joined this year’s NOVUM Summer Festival – and organisers have confirmed it will return to Newcastle next summer.
The three-day festival, which took place from August 7-9, brought music, performance, installations and family activities to streets, squares and buildings across the city centre.
More than 200 artists and freelancers were involved, alongside 230 volunteers and over 50 community groups, with plans now being drawn up for NOVUM’s return in August 2027. Dates are expected to be announced this autumn.
One of this year’s biggest draws was Dominoes Newcastle, the city-spanning work by Station House Opera which provided the festival finale.
An estimated 15,000 people watched as thousands of breeze blocks toppled along a 2.5km route from near Newcastle City Library, passing through streets, buildings and public spaces before finishing at Newcastle Helix.
The installation was built with the help of NOVUM’s volunteers and was one of a wider programme which included aerial performance, live music, dance, immersive installations, collaborative artworks, workshops and silent discos.
Newcastle-based visual artist Josie Brookes was among those commissioned to create work for the festival.
“As a local artists born and bred in Newcastle, it was such an amazing experience to be part of this year’s NOVUM Summer Festival,” she said.
“I loved seeing the city come alive with creativity and the opportunity it provided for people to connect with all these different talents from our region, and beyond. I saw so many happy faces. The whole festival was such a fun weekend for everyone, like a massive treat for the city.”
NOVUM is programmed and funded by Newcastle City Council and this year also received National Lottery funding through Arts Council England and support from the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.
First announcements related to NOVUM 2027 are expected later this year.