SWG3 has announced the return of its Yardworks Festival, a celebration of graffiti and urban arts. Taking place on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May, tickets are now available.

Having grown to become one of Europe’s biggest street art events, Yardworks transforms the Glasgow venue into a colourful hub of large-scale murals, live painting and general creativity. The festival will also celebrate Glasgow 850, a year-long programme celebrating the city's 850th birthday, by exploring Glasgow's rich history of graffiti, street art and hip-hop culture.

Every year since 2017, Yardworks Festival has attracted an array of internationally renowned artists, emerging talent and local pioneers. This year’s line-up features Australia’s Sofles, a graffiti artist famed for his intricate large-scale murals and the viral videos Limitless and Infinite; Canadian artist Bacon with his hyper-realistic murals featuring detailed animals and natural elements; Zurik, from Colombia/Spain, with her WildStyle-inspired graffiti, blending intricate lettering with bold 3D effects; and Portugal’s Nuno Viegas, who merges graffiti culture with fine art.

Also on the roster is Jeks, a self-taught US muralist known for hyper-realistic portraits; Belgium’s Kitsune, whose emotionally driven style incorporates mythology, folklore and nature into striking murals; Peachzz, from the UK, who is set to showcase her blend of organic textures with bold urban aesthetics; and Smug, one of Scotland’s most lauded street artists, who is known for hyper-realistic works such as Saint Mungo and The Swimmer.

Following a brief hiatus last year, Mia McGregor returns with The Cube, an ever-evolving, multi-dimensional graffiti installation; and visitors will have the opportunity to engage with an interactive graffiti wall and take part in a world record attempt to beat Instagram sensation Mr Doodle’s 203-metre doodle record. Other events include a spray can upcycling workshop, live broadcasts from Sunny G community radio, and plenty of street food, craft cocktails and market stalls.

The festival has joined Street Art Cities, the world’s largest street art platform, in a partnership that will map its public artworks and create walking routes through Glasgow, further cementing the city’s place on the global street art scene.

SWG3 studio director and Yardworks co-founder, Gary Mackay aka Gaz Mac, said, ‘Every year, Yardworks brings together an incredible mix of artists, from pioneers of the graffiti scene to fresh new talent pushing the artform forward. This year’s festival is shaping up to be one of our most exciting yet, with an expanded artist lineup and new workshops that celebrate not just graffiti and street art, but the wider creative culture that surrounds it. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to SWG3 and see these incredible artists bring the venue to life once again."

Yardworks Festival, SWG3, Glasgow, Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May