CONCRETE CANVAS
Chelmsford’s Street Art Festival Returns in 2026
Chelmsford’s Street Art Festival returns in 2026, bringing bold new energy back to the city’s streets, growing the Street Art Trail.
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Monday 11 – Sunday 17 May: New Murals Installed
Monday 11 – Sunday 17 May: Concrete Canvas HQ Open over at Patch
Saturday 16 May: Concrete Canvas Street Party, 10am – 5pm, Bond Street Bowl
Discover the incredible artists below who will be bringing Concrete Canvas 2026 to life.
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Louis Masai @louismasaimichel
Zabou @zabouartist
7th Pencil @7th_pencil
JerooOne @jerooone
Edgeworks @edgewrks
Katie in Colour @katie.in.colour
Atma @atmastudio
Nic Mac @nicmacillustration
Mr Cenz @mrcenzone
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Elaine Tribley @elainetribley
Jennifer Flint @originalcreativework
Becky Carter @rebeccacarterartwork_
Freya Parker
@_freyastar_
Joe Pendragon @necronomicorn.art
Streets of Lily @streets_of_lily
Essex Rockerz @demaneerz
Bec
Finllium @finllium
Gavin Ives
Isobella K
Kirsten
Leonnie Fisher @leonniefisherart
Lisa Kavanagh @art.and.kav
Livi
Nick Hearne @mrnickhearne
Spark! Youth Forum @sparkchelmsford
This is Lost Boy @thisislostboy
Tyler Harragan @th_artworks
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Anne Henry @ah.anne.henry
Blake @blakewalke.r
Brave @brave_arts
Chris Bardell @chrisbardellarts
Curioser and Curioser @curiouser.and.curiouser3
Dave Plants @dave_plants
Grub @grub.2013
RUOK @ruokmyluv
Sharon Stone @sharon_stone_art
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Brave Arts X Gold Geese @brave_arts
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Doppel @doppelwashere
Shauna Anseo @shauna.anseo
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Launched in 2022 by Chelmsford For You in collaboration with local artist Candy Joyce, Concrete Canvas was created to bring new life to overlooked spaces across Chelmsford. The project tells stories of the city while creating opportunities for artists and making art more accessible to the community.
Since its launch, Concrete Canvas has helped transform the city centre into an open-air gallery, creating a Street Art trail. Each edition has brought together a mix of international and local artists, whose work has been inspired by Chelmsford and its surroundings, leaving a lasting mark across the city.
This May, the project returns with a new line-up of artists and locations. From Monday 11 to Sunday 17 May, walls, bollards and unexpected corners of the city will become the canvas for striking new works, adding to Chelmsford’s growing collection of permanent street art.
The festival culminates on Saturday 16 May with the Concrete Canvas Street Party. Expect live painting, music, creative activities and a local arts market, all set against the backdrop of the city’s newest murals.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be announcing this year’s sites and artist line-up, so be sure to check back for updates and follow @chelmsfordforyou on Facebook & Instagram and @ConcreteCanvasChelmsford on Instagram.
Save the dates and prepare for new art, in the meantime explore the city’s current street art below.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
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Class of 2026 Concrete Canvas is excited to announce who will be taking part and creating stories around out beautiful city.
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The festival culminates on Saturday 16 May, in the Bond Street Bowl, with the Concrete Canvas Street Party. Expect live painting, music, creative activities and a local arts market, all set against the backdrop of the city’s newest murals.
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See the current Street Art and explore murals across the city and discover the artists behind them. Please note that some artwork may no longer be on display.
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Explore the current collection of street art across the city and discover the artists behind each mural. Learn more about the stories, ideas and inspirations that have shaped these works.
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During the 2026 festival, you’ll find Concrete Canvas HQ at Patch in Grays Yard. Serving as a central hub for the event, it’s the place to find out what artwork is being created each day, pick up your 2026 maps, meet the artists, and purchase original works directly from them.
CONCRETE CANVAS: REIMAGINED
Since the last Concrete Canvas in 2024, you may have noticed street art murals popping up outside the city centre, and we have SPARK! to thank for these beautiful additions to Chelmsford.
SPARK! Young Cultural Changemakers is a youth movement of 13 to 25-year-olds, supported by local charity Culture Chelmsford, and they’re using art and creativity to make Chelmsford an even more fun and inspiring place to live.
SPARK! was so inspired by the Concrete Canvas murals in the city centre, that they wanted more people to get involved in this fun and inclusive art form, learn new creative skills and celebrate the diversity of Chelmsford’s cultural stories. This led to the co-creation of Concrete Canvas: Reimagined, their two-year collaboration with Concrete Canvas and Chelmsford For You.
You can find out exactly what SPARK! have been up to with Concrete Canvas: Reimagined
