Edinburgh’s pop-up arts festival Hidden Door has confirmed it will return next year, following a major multi-year funding commitment from Creative Scotland. The volunteer-run festival will take place from Wednesday 3–Sunday 7 June, with the new funding securing the festival's future through to 2027, and giving the organisation the ability to plan ahead on a larger scale.

Following this year’s transformation of The Paper Factory into a temporary arts hub, the festival organisers have invited visual artists to apply for the 2026 programme. Further opportunities for poets, dancers, theatre-makers and other creatives will open in the new year.

Hazel Johnson, director, said: ‘This support from the Creative Scotland Multi-Year Fund is truly transformative for Hidden Door. As a volunteer-run organisation, securing funding for 2026 and 2027 gives us the stability and freedom to be more ambitious than ever, allowing us to focus entirely on finding and championing incredible emerging Scottish talent.

‘We are so excited to immediately open our visual art open call and to welcome the innovative ideas that will define our next chapter. We look forward to working with artists to turn another forgotten space into a vibrant cultural hub.’

Since launching in 2010, Hidden Door has built a reputation for turning disused or forgotten spaces into immersive, multi-arts venues, while also committing to fair pay for artists. Funding from Creative Scotland, alongside ticket sales, donations and sponsorship, has supported paid opportunities for thousands of artists and performers over the years.

The location for the 2026 festival will be revealed in the new year, together with a full programme.

Hidden Door, Edinburgh, Wednesday 3–Sunday 7 June; main picture: James Duncan.