For its latest edition, Nuart Aberdeen shifts its focus toward poetry and text-based works, placing language at the center of public space. As far as the team can determine, this is one of the first street art festivals to foreground text as its primary medium.
In recent years, large-scale figurative murals have come to dominate the scene. While impactful, they often require significant resources, making them less accessible to most. This year, Nuart turns its attention to more democratic forms of expression such as stencils, paste-ups, interventions, and text-based works that invite wider participation.
As curators and producers, the Nuart team sees its role as not only showcasing strong contemporary work but also supporting the long-term development of the culture. A key part of that mission is accessibility. Encouraging people without formal training or resources to engage creatively with the city remains central to the festival’s ethos.
Nuart has consistently aimed to inspire new generations of artists. While monumental murals can impress, it is often the smaller, human-scale works that resonate most directly. These forms offer an entry point into street art, making it easier for individuals to experiment and participate.
The influence of stencil culture, widely associated with artists like Banksy, highlights this accessibility. With simple tools and a clear idea, anyone can create and share work in public space. Over the years, Nuart has seen this effect firsthand, with several participating artists and producers beginning their journey as volunteers within the festival.
This year’s curatorial direction is rooted in two key references. The first comes from the 1968 uprising in Paris, where the phrase “La poésie est dans la rue” captured a surge of creative energy in public space. The second comes from pioneering graffiti writer Mode2, who observed that graffiti became widespread because it required only one basic skill, knowing your ABCs.
Together, these ideas shape an edition focused on text as a universal and accessible form of expression.
With continued support from its partners and the city council, Nuart Aberdeen once again transforms the city into a platform for experimentation, dialogue, and participation.
“I’d like to think this year’s Nuart helped give street art back to the people. It shows that you do not need the skills of an old master, a Mexican muralist, or the privilege of an art degree. You just need your ABCs.
If it inspires someone who never saw themselves as an artist to give it a go, then that spark of possibility is what keeps this culture alive. That is how we continue to prove that poetry is in the streets.”
— Martyn Reed, Nuart Founder and Curator
Nuart Aberdeen 2026 Artists
Alisa Oleva (UK)
Ciarán Glöbel (SCT)
dr.d aka Subvertiser (UK)
HICKS (UK)
James Klinge (SCT)
KMG (SCT)
Molly Hankinson (UK)
Remi Rough (UK)
Robert Montgomery (SCT)
The Rebel Bear (SCT)
The Writing Is On The Wall (UK)
Trackie McLeod (SCT)
V2k (LT / SCT)
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