A four-day celebration of play, featuring everything from art, music and science to food, pub quizzes and nature, is heading to Dundee next month.
Celebrate! Dundee Play Festival, running from 11-14 June 2026, will see over 30 partners delivering around 50 free play events and activities for all ages across the city. Taking place in more than 10 venues, from community centres and charity hubs to pubs, coffee shops, visitor attractions, and Dundee city square, the festival will transform Dundee into a city-wide celebration of play.
As part of a partnership with Ember, a free shuttle bus will transport people to different events and will also serve as a festival venue, with planned on-board comedy and karaoke for passengers.
The festival, which is funded by NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation, Northwood Trust and Foundation Scotland, is organised by the Dundee Play Forum, which was launched by ScrapAntics in 2024 to support with community wellbeing.
With something for everyone, regardless of age, interests or background, the festival will feature a wide range of activities, from expressive dance, improvisation workshops and creative mapping to banner and cardboard-sculpture making, computer gaming sessions and even a refugee football tournament.
Visitors can also get playful with food at The Roundhouse in Kirkton, take part in a scarf-making workshop at V&A Dundee, enjoy pub quizzes, join Dundee City Council’s ‘Dundee Get Together’ parade celebrating local communities and cultures, and watch specially curated films ‘for tinies’ at DCA.
Sandy Greene, Managing Director of ScrapAntics, said, “Play is transformative and can take many forms. As well as being fun and offering a break from everyday life, it has the power to bring people together and build stronger communities. It’s vital for our physical and mental wellbeing, social inclusion and happiness, creating opportunities for everyone to come together, connect and play.
“Alongside almost 30 partners, we’ve brought together four fun-packed days where everyone is welcome to play, be themselves, use their imagination or simply enjoy time together. Wherever you choose to go, hop on the shuttle bus, play as you travel between events, and share a few laughs along the way. It’s a chance to strike up conversations, discover new places - whether that’s Dundee Science Centre or Dundee Rep, a community centre or a charity on the outskirts of the city - and experience something different.
“Whether you’re coming on your own or with family, friends, children or grandchildren, play is for everyone. We’re excited to shine a light on the many opportunities to play right across the city, in every council ward, both during the festival and beyond.”
The festival partners are Abertay University, Anna Rooney, Boomerang, Cake or Dice, Camperdown Zoo, Cara Rooney, Caroisma, Change Centre, Changemakers Climate Action Hub, Dundee and Angus College, Dundee Carers Centre, Dundee City Council, Dundee Rep, Dundee Science Centre, Dundee Transport Museum, EH9 Espresso, Ember, Infinite Sky, Kidical Mass, MAXwell Centre, Nicemaker CIC, Ninewells Community Gardens, Roundhouse Dundee, Ruby’s Reading Room, Street League, Thirsty Work, University of Dundee, Up & Coming Whitfield, V&A Dundee.
For more information, visit www.scrapantics.co.uk/play-forum
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Abertay University
A modern university with a long history and a clear sense of our distinctive mission, highly regarded for our academic performance in areas with genuine relevance and impact on society and the economy, and with a community of talented students and academics who make us the success we are.
Dundee & Angus College
At Dundee & Angus College, we provide all of our learners with the very best learning experience in an atmosphere of respect and support. We offer fully flexible training options, for businesses and individuals, with many fully funded opportunities available.
Dundee City Council
Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.
Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre Limited
Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre Limited is rooted in making work for and with a diverse local audience while strengthening its national and international reputation. The theatre is a national cultural asset which the people of Dundee feel ownership over and in which they can take enormous pride.
Dundee Science Centre
Dundee Science Centre is a charity and lifelong learning resource dedicated to inspiring curiosity, confidence, and connection through science.
V&A Dundee
V&A at Dundee will be an international centre of design for Scotland. It will celebrate Scotland's historic importance in design and host major exhibitions of outstanding design, helping people understand their own and others' cultural heritage.
