Dates set for award-winning Outwith Festival as it returns for 2026
Award-winning arts festival Outwith returns to Dunfermline later this year.
The five-day celebration of creativity and community – running from September 2 to 6 – brings a host of cultural events to the city, offering a vibrant programme of art, music, film, writing, and theatre.
Organisers are excited with how this year’s programme is shaping up, and to have formed a new partnership with local arts initiative Dunfermline Creatives Network. This new collaboration will help develop the festival's community-led approach, as well as expanding its visual arts offering.
Visual artist Arthur Frain, Outwith organiser and DCN co-founder, explained: “This year Outwith Festival will be home to a multitude of visual arts exhibitions and workshops.
"Outwith Contemporaries, which highlights under-represented and up-and-coming artists across Scotland, will feature international artist Eric Meese whose current practice discusses his growing up in Dunfermline’s twinned city of Trondheim.
"We’ll also be going back to our community roots through our partnership with local arts and cultural initiative Dunfermline Creatives Network, founded by local artists Holly Welsh and myself.
"DCN’s impact on the community will be showcased at the festival this year through an exhibition highlighting the community-led workshops, events, and activities they’ve organised since founding in October 2025. ”
The 2026 events follow a hugely successful festival in 2025, whose highlights included a performance of the acclaimed Scottish musical Mary, Queen of Rock; a 40th anniversary screening of Scottish cult-favourite Restless Natives; and a cultural interview with author Sir Ian Rankin.
Organisers look forward to sharing more details about Outwith 2026 soon.