Dundee to Become a City of Play for Four-Day Community Festival
Thursday 11th June – Sunday 14th June 2026
Dundee will transform into a playground for all ages this June as a new four-day Play Festival launches on the International Day of Play.
Dundee Play Festival joins a growing international movement that recognises play as essential to healthy communities and thriving cities for people of all ages. On the first day of the Festival, a city-wide event is planned for primary school pupils to join together to create a huge, shared moment of play and celebration with football playing activity. From 11–14 June, communities across the city will be invited to explore, imagine and connect through the joy of play, in every ward and the city centre.
Supported with generous funding from NHS Tayside Charitable Trust and Foundation Scotland, the Dundee Play Festival will feature a lively programme of hands-on activities, interactive performances and creative experiences designed to spark curiosity and imagination.
People of all ages will be encouraged to explore, create, and play together in spaces across the city.
Organisers, Celebrate! Dundee’s Play Forum says the festival is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: play is for everyone. By bringing individuals, children, families and communities together, the event aims to highlight the role play can have in strengthening relationships and building a sense of belonging. The festival is committed to creating a welcoming and accessible environment where people of all backgrounds, abilities and generations can take part and have fun! Residents and visitors alike are invited to join the celebration to rediscover the joy of play through Sport, Drama, Music, Dance, Digital and Board Games, Indoors and outside.
Get involved!
There’s still time for you to add your event to our city-wide programme or maybe you just want your venue to be included, we can help find and possibly fund the activity to create a session to ensure you and your community can get involved. – Please get in touch with Caitlin.scrapantics@gmail.com to find out more.
Local businesses are invited to support this new event dedicated to the future physical and emotional wellbeing of Dundee’s families with sponsorship and gifts in kind. Contact Maralyn Boyle maralyn@partnershipbee.co.uk
Notes
Celebrate! Dundee’s Play Forum is a growing collaborative of Dundee organisations including Scrap Antics, V&A Dundee, Dundee City Council, Dundee Rep, Dundee Science Centre, Dundee Contemporary Arts, Cake or Dice, Maxwell Centre, Creative Dundee, Dundee Heritage Trust , Dundee & Angus College, Abertay University, Biome Collective and many freelancers.
