Camden Schools Art Biennale returns for 2026
The Camden Schools Art Biennale will return from 14 to 26 July 2026, following the success of its inaugural event in 2024.
The two-week exhibition will once again take place at the Lethaby Gallery at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London (UAL), showcasing the creativity of pupils from schools across the borough. Located in King’s Cross – one of London’s leading centres for creativity and innovation – the Biennale will bring together schools, artists and cultural organisations from across Camden.
The Camden Schools Art Biennale is a brilliant example of what can happen when every young person is given the chance to be creative and express themselves, whatever their background or identity. With the support of Camden Learning and our fantastic family of schools, it connects children and young people with artists and cultural organisations from across the borough, opening up opportunities to develop valuable skills and real-world insight.
Through this, young people are building confidence, discovering their talents and getting a good sense of the exciting creative careers and pathways open to them right on their doorstep. This is a key part of our Camden STEAM offer, where creativity sits alongside science and technology to inspire the next generation and make sure every child can take part and thrive.
The Biennale is a partnership between Camden Council, Central Saint Martins (UAL) and Camden Learning. It plays a key role in supporting the council’s ambition to strengthen arts education, broaden opportunities for children and young people, and raise standards in creative teaching and learning across schools. The programme is supported by John Lyon’s Charity, The King’s Cross Group, Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne and Camden STEAM.
Rathna Ramanathan, Provost of Central Saint Martins and Executive Dean of Global Affairs, said:
“Creativity shapes not only what we make, but how we live. The Camden Schools Art Biennale begins from that conviction, and from a simple belief: we all have a right to imagine. Central Saint Martins, working with Camden Council and Camden Learning, is helping every young person in our borough see art as a way of making sense of the world, and changing it. Come and meet Camden’s young artists.”
Dame Jane Roberts DBE, Chair of Camden Learning, said:
“What a fabulous and joyful opportunity to celebrate the creativity of Camden students! In a borough rich with art, design and creative activity, the Biennale offers brilliant opportunities to deepen the partnership between its schools and creative organisations, opening up all sorts of possibilities for our young people. Not to be missed!”
The second edition has expanded opportunities for participation and outreach across Camden’s schools. Over 20 art organisations and artists have delivered arts programmes in the lead-up to the Biennale, enriching the curriculum and developing works for the exhibition itself.
The Biennale will feature hundreds of artworks - including sculpture, painting, drawing and film created by pupils across every key stage of learning from the Early Years Foundation Stage, primary and special education through to secondary and A-Level.
For 2026, a new 2D ‘sculpture park’ will extend across the Kings Cross estate, bringing young people’s work beyond the gallery for the first time. Alongside the exhibition, a free public events programme at the Lethaby Gallery will invite families, teachers and young people to take part in creative workshops, talks and activities exploring art and making across disciplines.
The programme includes hands-on workshops, artist-led sessions, youth-focused career pathways events and opportunities to engage directly with the exhibition and its makers, aiming to open access to creative learning beyond the classroom while strengthening connections between schools, practitioners and the wider public.
The 2026 Biennale will highlight how art connects Camden’s diverse communities, strengthening links between schools, artists, families and local cultural organisations.
Meg Jones, Headteacher at Kingsgate Primary School, said:
“The Camden Art Biennale has been a phenomenal catalyst for creativity within our school, providing an exciting forum that has truly ignited a passion for the arts among our pupils. They see themselves as artists. By collaborating directly with professional artists, our staff have gained invaluable insights and a legacy of enhanced skills. This professional growth ensures that the impact of the Biennale will resonate throughout our classrooms, benefiting our pupils and enriching our curriculum for many years to come.”
Through its exhibition and outreach programme, the Biennale continues to raise the profile of art teaching across the borough, encouraging young people to see creative practice not only as a form of self-expression but as a viable pathway into future careers. This reflects Camden Council’s wider STEAM ambitions, strengthening connections between schools and the borough’s thriving creative and cultural industries.
Find out more at the website.