Galoshans Festival 2026
Feral Takeover
A celebration of creativity with community at its heart
Inverclyde’s Galoshans Festival returns from 16th–31st October 2026, bringing a spellbinding celebration of contemporary performance, local creativity and Halloween tradition to communities across the region.
Deeply connected to Inverclyde’s cultural heritage, this year’s festival will feature an exciting programme of theatre, dance, live music, workshops and spectacular outdoor performances for audiences of all ages. The celebrations will culminate in the much-loved Galoshans Festival Mini Parade and Street Party.
Galoshans Festival is led by a creative consortium of RIG Arts, Feral Arts and The Beacon Arts Centre.
The programme is delivered with support from Inverclyde Libraries, The Wyllieum, Magic Torch Comics, CVS Inverclyde, Kayos – Inverclyde Youth Theatre, Where’s The One/Oi Musica, Inverclyde YMI Street Band, Theatre School of Scotland, The Travelling Gallery and GFS Properties.
The festival is funded by Creative Scotland’s Multi-Year Funding Programme, Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative, The National Lottery Community Fund and the Scottish Government’s Investing in Communities Fund.
For the fifth year running, Feral Arts presents a specially curated takeover as part of Galoshans Festival. Audiences are invited to experience an imaginative series of playful performances, theatrical adventures and curious encounters in distinctive locations across Inverclyde.
FERAL X Galoshans 2026 Takeover Programme
“Qwerin (bach)” by Osian Meilir — a joyful celebration of culture, identity and community, bringing together the flowing patterns of Welsh folk dance with the pulsating energy of queer nightlife. Taking place at Newark Castle, Port Glasgow, on Saturday 17th October at 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Free, unticketed and family friendly.
“When Prophecy Fails” by Groupwork— an award-winning physical theatre production inspired by the extraordinary true story of the world’s first UFO doomsday cult. Expect apocalyptic visions, flying saucers and a gripping exploration of belief and cognitive dissonance. Taking place at The Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock, on Friday 23rd October at 7:30pm. Ticketed.
Saturday 24th October is Galoshans Family Day —
a day of free, family-friendly pop-up performances across Greenock Town Centre.
At The Wyllieum,“Europe, Meine Liebe, Mon Amour” by Bruno Gallagher presents an immersive series of surreal and playful performance encounters—a love letter to journeys across land and through the imagination. Performances take place at 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Free, unticketed and family friendly.
“Then What” by Vince Virr Dance Company— a high-energy dance duet exploring the tense and thrilling moment when two people meet for the first time. Daring lifts and dynamic choreography bring two different worlds into collision, with audiences gathered close to the action in Greenock Town Centre. Free, unticketed and family friendly.
“Arachnobot” by Tim Davies brings a spectacular giant spider puppet to the Galoshans Festival Mini Parade and Street Party. With an inflatable body, cable-controlled skeleton and eight articulated legs, Arachnobot will roam through the crowds, ready to terrify and enchant audiences of all ages. See it at Custom House Way and Custom House Quay, Greenock, on Wednesday 28th October from 5:45pm. Free, unticketed and family friendly.
Explore the full programme on the Galoshans Festival website.
