A spectacular international street art phenomenon is set to bring a dazzling explosion of colour and world-class talent to the streets of Wales for the first time this summer. The iconic Meeting of Styles Cymru Festival will see more than 100 acclaimed artists from across the globe collaborate alongside talented Welsh creators to transform the urban landscape of Grangetown, Butetown, and Central Cardiff into an open-air masterpiece.
Led by renowned Welsh artist Amelia Thomas, also known as 'Unity', on behalf of the Cathays Central Youth and Community Project, the ground-breaking event aims to challenge negative stereotypes surrounding graffiti, celebrating it instead as a powerful, unifying art form that brings diverse communities together.
The vibrant, four-day 'paint jam' will take place over the weekend of July 2 to July 5, 2026, placing Wales on a prestigious global stage that has previously featured host countries such as Germany, Finland, Sweden, Indonesia, and the Philippines since the festival's inception in 1997.
Artist Amelia Thomas said: 'We want this festival to raise awareness of graffiti as an art form, changing the often negative narrative behind it and really show how HipHop culture can bring communities together.'
Meeting of Styles is an international street art and graffiti festival that celebrates creativity and cultural exchange among artists from around the globe. Wales will join host countries including Germany, Finland, Sweden, Indonesia and the Philippines since the festival began in 1997.
It's free to attend and the festival hub is stationed at Canopi. Visitors will be able to buy a walking tour ticket, organised by The Wallich, where people who have experienced homelessness will guide you through art in the local area. Leading up to the event, a series of community workshops will teach painting skills with local groups including homelessness charity The Wallich and She Paints Our Streets.
Sean, who has been working with The Wallich, is taking part in the Meeting of Styles graffiti workshops. They said: 'I found it quite therapeutic when listening to music and just losing myself in the art.'
Festival line-up highlights
- Live painting: 100 artists from around the world will add colour to the walls of Caerdydd all day.
- Art sites include Sevenoaks Park celebration with live music and Millennium Walkway at the Principality Stadium, Wood Street, Schooner Way and Callaghan Square.
- Wales v The World BBOY BATTLE, beatboxing and breaking.
- Live music throughout the weekend.
- Afterparty at Canopi.
- An exhibition from Welsh 'wild-style' graffiti artist Sadsak and collaborators.
- 'WHOLETRAIN' - screening of a German graffiti feature film by Florian Gaag.
- Invisible Cities Cardiff graffiti walking tour with The Wallich.
Lou Lockwood established Cardiff's first and largest open graffiti wall at Sevenoaks Park, in memory of her son Roxe - Bill Lockwood. Lou painted until her sight loss no longer allowed it. She enjoys going to the wall, which is still looked after by the community, and having it described to her.
The festival has been made possible by partners, including paint sponsor Loop, and funding from Arts Council Wales, Community Foundation Wales and FOR Cardiff. Carolyn Brownell, executive director of FOR Cardiff said: 'We are thrilled to support the Meeting of Styles event coming to Cardiff. Public art is a vital ingredient in making places that people want to spend time in and this event's combination of bringing world class talent to the city and developing local artists. We can't wait to see what new artwork is produced throughout the event.'
'We hope that the festival will inspire up and coming artists, as well as local people who will gain an insight into the strength of community in creating together.'
This year's theme, 'Togetherness,' resonates deeply here in Wales. In Welsh, 'Cymuno' speaks of many people coming together and echoes the idea of community, while 'Unoliaeth' stands for unity and unification.
