Storyhouse’s acclaimed and hugely popular Kaleidoscope Festival returns next month with a busy programme of exciting events – all created by or for learning-disabled artists and audiences.

The annual festival, now in its eighth year, takes place from 6-10 July 2026.

Kaleidoscope Festival is week-long celebration of neurodiversity, inclusion and the talents of those living with a disability.

This year’s festival features activities, performances and special events at Storyhouse and in Chester city centre, shining a spotlight on the creativity and imagination of the learning-disabled community.

Highlights include the Chester Disability Pride Parade, Kaleidoscope Annual Disability Awards and the return of Kaleidoscope’s Got Talent which this year takes over the main stage.

All events are free or Pay What You Can.

The programme opens on Monday, 6 July with the spectacular Chester Disability Pride Parade, still one of the only events of its kind in the country, which is set to fill the city’s streets with a brilliant burst of colour, sound and movement.

Each year Storyhouse unites with disabled people, charities and businesses to raise awareness and promote positive change by inviting everyone to join in what is an empowering and joyous event.

The parade route will include Northgate Street, Werbergh Street past Chester Cathedral and Eastgate Street before turning back on to Northgate Street to head towards Exchange Square. Music will be provided by ‘speakers on wheels’ and at Exchange Square by DJ Max Mutant, where dance artists from Cheshire Dance will also be waiting to teach people some moves.

Following the parade, the festival continues at Storyhouse where a special Kaleidoscope Fashion Show will be held in The Kitchen.

The lunchtime event will feature a showcase of clothing from two adaptive fashion brands – Intotum and May Marigold – all modelled by members of the Kaleidoscope community. Both designers will also be on hand to talk about their fashion ranges and there will be a chance to take a closer look at all the clothing.

Then on Tuesday, 7 July the Garret Theatre and Garret Bar will be transformed into an art studio in a Blue Room Takeover, with a variety of activities and skills for people to try, plus something to ‘make and take’.

Blue Room, founded in 2008, is the Liverpool Bluecoat’s inclusive art project for learning-disabled and neurodivergent adults.

The festival continues on Wednesday, 8 July with the hotly anticipated Kaleidoscope Annual Disability Awards Ceremony, returning for a second year and taking place in the Garret Theatre.

The awards, hosted by MC Paul Wilshaw, highlight the achievements and talent of people from Chester, Cheshire, Wirral and North Wales. Categories for 2026 include Shining Star, Rising Star, Sparkling Star, Shooting Star, Supporting Star, Bright Star and the Constellation Award for a team, business or group, and everyone who is nominated will be celebrated at the event.

There will also be a series of sold-out Podcast Studio Sessions featuring the Autism Wellbeing Podcast, while MC, podcaster, performer, poet and disability advocate Paul Wilshaw returns to Storyhouse to run a special Confidence in Your Voice Workshop.

The fun and relaxed workshop uses theatre-based activities and games to help support learning-disabled, disabled and/or neurodiverse people to find their voice and have the confidence to be heard.

Later on the same day, the Garret Theatre hosts a Dance Able Workshop, an inclusive event specially designed for children and young people aged 11 to 25 with learning disabilities. Led by facilitators from Cheshire Dance, the workshop will explore dance, choreography and games in a fun and supportive environment.

Dance is also on the programme on Thursday, 9 July when Wanna Dance? Creative Jams takes over the Garret Theatre. The group session is a creative space where people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) can come together with dancers and live musicians to explore improvised movement and music.

Meanwhile the Blue Badge Brunch Gameshow, in the Garret Theatre at 6pm, is a hilarious interactive game show where each game represents a different disability, giving people the chance to learn about autism and cerebral palsy among others. Join host Benny Shakes and a panel of comedians battling it out to come up trumps in a show where disadvantage is an advantage.

And the festival concludes on Friday, 10 July with a Market Place and Meet Up in the Garret Bar and Kitchen, involving stalls from 12 different organisations presenting the services they offer plus an interactive activity, before the showstopping Kaleidoscope’s Got Talent.

Taking over the Storyhouse Theatre, this year’s event is back by popular demand and is even bigger and better for 2026.

A series of additional events and activities are also set to take place during the festival week.

The Kaleidoscope Exhibition, running from Friday 3 July – Friday 31 July, is a visual arts display created by members of the Kaleidoscope community, with canvasses along the theatre walkways offering a colourful representation of the theme Do You See Me? taken from the Learning Disability Week Mencap campaign.

Between Monday 6 July and Sunday 12 July you can immerse yourself in the exhibition by picking up an Art Trail sheet in the foyer. Read or listen to questions and prompts to experience the artworks on show.

And from Monday 6 July to Friday 10 July, people visiting or taking part in the festival can also drop in with food to join the Kaleidoscope Lunch Club daily in the Garret Bar, hosted by Storyhouse’s Wellbeing and Inclusion lead Joe Lewis, or take time out in the Quiet Space which will be available each day except Wednesday in the Storytelling Room.

Nicola Haigh, Storyhouse’s Communities Manager, says: “We are very excited for this years festival – we have been busy working with a small team from LIVE Cheshire who have co-curated this year’s festival! A big thanks to Joe, Rick and Ben who have been supported by Senior Support Worker Andrea Thomas Morris. We are delighted to have Award Winning Comedian – Benny Shakes back with his Edinburgh Fringe Show ‘Blue Badge Bunch’ which is back by popular demand on Thursday 9 July at 6pm – one not to miss!”

For more details about the Kaleidoscope Festival visit www.storyhouse.com