The Royal Docks Team has announced the return of the Royal Docks Originals festival for Autumn 2027, launching a year-long journey of community co-creation, skills development, and artist development. The free biennial arts festival will culminate in a month-long celebration across London’s Royal Docks waterfront in September and October 2027.
Marking the one-year countdown, the festival revealed its flagship commission: an outdoor mass-participation dance work co-produced with English National Ballet. Led by Project Artistic Director Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE and Lead Choreographer Jenna Lee, the promenade production will feature dancers from English National Ballet alongside over 500 local performers across the land and waterscape of Royal Victoria Dock, blending ballet, hip-hop, and contemporary dance.
The festival aims to reflect the evolution of the area into a major hub for creative production and culture. The 2027 edition will engage with local history, identities, and new waterfront developments, including a floating wellness centre at Royal Victoria and the upcoming installation of The Wake by Khaleb Brooks at nearby Canary Wharf.
Supported by the Mayor of London and Mayor of Newham Forhad Hussain, the festival includes significant investment in local creative talent. The new Resident Artists Programme will award grants of £35,000 each to up to three local practitioners to develop new works over the course of a year, supported by a dedicated producer.
Additionally, the Royal Docks Team has opened various call-outs for local artists, community groups, and schools. Opportunities include project commissions ranging from £1,000 to £10,000, grassroots youth projects, local dance group recruitment, public art projects, paid cultural producer traineeships, and creative career initiatives.
The festival continues the transformation of the Royal Docks into a major cultural and creative centre, bringing together world-class artistic institutions, local communities, and diverse creative voices across East London. Full details and application guidelines for the various open call-outs are available via the official Royal Docks website.
Photo credit: Alex Cotterill
