The Glass Art Society is excited to be leading the 2026 International Festival of Glass! Founded over two decades ago and originally based at Stourbridge, UK, 2024 saw the transfer of ownership of this flagship Festival, which celebrates all things glass, to GAS.New leadership has created the opportunity for a new location, and we’re proud to be bringing the Festival to St Helens, in the North West of the UK. St Helens has a long history of glass manufacturing, with roots dating back to the Industrial Revolution, to the creation of float glass by Pilkington in the 1950s, through to modern efforts for sustainability by Glass Futures. It is also home to The World of Glass Museum, which will act as a hub for the many activities taking place over the August UK bank holiday.
The Festival will be open to the public from Friday, 28th August to Monday, 31st August. Visitors can expect to see several major exhibitions, all celebrating glass art and supporting glass artists. This includes the British Glass Biennale, which showcases the best of British glass art happening in the UK today, and is the largest-selling show of contemporary glass art. Also included are the International Bead and Jewellery Exhibition (2026 marks the first year that this exhibition will include jewellery), which features creations that are predominantly made of glass, and the International GAS Member exhibition, which showcases a range of styles and techniques from across the globe. These three exhibitions provide opportunities for both British and international artists at different stages of their careers to share their work with a wider audience. There is also the opportunity for artists to further develop their practice through the generous provision of awards by a range of organisations and individuals supporting glass art and glass techniques.
More information on these awards will be available soon, and for artists wanting to take part in any of the three exhibitions, there is still time to get your submissions in – the closing date is 1st March 2026. All submissions to the three exhibitions will be juried by a renowned international panel, made up of glass artists, craft specialists, and curators. The 2026 panels include individuals such as Laura Simone, President of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB), United States; Jeff Sarmiento, Artist and Educator at the Australian National University, Australia; and Rajesh Gogna, an award-winning British artist and an academic working in the field of Contemporary Design & Craft. A full list of jurors for each exhibition is available on the GAS website, and a big thank you for their time, support, and insight.
In addition to these three exhibitions, the public will also have the opportunity to see selected works from organisations such as the Contemporary Glass Society and others.
As well as the opportunity to view the exhibitions, learn more about contemporary approaches to glass art, and buy that special something for your own home, the Festival will celebrate the history of glass through a series of presentations and activities suitable for all ages. A series of fun events is planned, including our famous Goblet Grab.
For those artists wanting to learn new skills, there will also be masterclasses taking place in the run-up to the Festival. GAS is proud to be partnering with Manchester Metropolitan University to deliver these classes. Spaces will be limited, so we recommend early booking to avoid disappointment. More information will be released soon through our newsletters, social media, and on our website.
GAS is incredibly excited to take over the running of this flagship event and to bring it to a wider, international audience. With over 500 artists, glass specialists, and glass enthusiasts represented, there will be something for everyone.