XMTR AUDIO ARTS FESTIVAL 2026
We’re plotting and planning XMTR Audio Arts Festival 2026.
Save these dates: Friday 25th, Saturday 26th, Sunday 27th September,
This year is set to be even more ambitious, spanning multiple unique and wonderful venues in and around St Leonards-on-Sea, E. Sussex, UK.
Deep diving into the craft of creative audio and sonic storytelling - from powerful and provocative performances, to focused listening and immersive experiences. Above all XMTR Festival is a gathering space for the international creative audio community to inspire, connect and collaborate.
Festival Passes are now on sale with a limited number of early-bird tickets available.
These offer a reduction to an all access weekend festival pass + priority booking for events and workshops with limited space. Jump in quick!
Festival Frequently Asked Questions (Travel and Accommodation)
If you would like to pitch an idea to participate in the festival this year you can apply through our festival open-call.
(Deadline for applications is 22nd May)
For the latest festival updates and news be sure to join our mailing list. (Hit subscribe at the bottom of the page)
See you in September!
XMTR FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS 2025
Take a listen to some of the work featured at
XMTR Festival 2025 »>
ABOUT XMTR AUDIO ARTS FESTIVAL
Over the past decade, Social Broadcasts has been combining community led co-creation, participatory art practice and radio making, to produce place-based audio projects all across the UK. In 2021, sonic storytelling platform XMTR.FM was launched with the ambition to showcase work from both emerging and seasoned independent audio makers from across the globe.
XMTR AUDIO ARTS FESTIVAL combines these two concepts to imagine an audio festival that champions local stories and artists, as well as showcasing audio works from around the world. Established in 2024, we’re delighted to be back for a third year of the festival.
Why St-Leonards-on-Sea?
This seaside area in Hastings has been a popular destination since the 1850s, when the railways arrived from London, Brighton and the Southeast. Today, the town has a thriving artist community and a plethora of historical buildings, intimate spaces and artist-led venues, making it an ideal place for a roving festival.
Why an audio festival?
As the audio and radio making space becomes more digital, in-person, creative and collaborative experiences are ever more important. There are plenty of ‘podcast’ festivals focused on the business of podcasting and the nuts and bolts of audio production, but there’s been very little celebration of the creativity of audio making and radio arts in the UK. Inspired by legendary festivals such as the LUCIA Festival in Florence, Radio Revolten in Halle, Germany and Hearsay in Ireland. We felt it was time there was somewhere for the ever-growing community of creative audio makers (podcast producers, sound artists, radio makers) to gather, collaborate and be inspired. For both already initiated and new audiences, to experience the richness and diversity of creative audio storytelling
Local frequencies
Part of the ethos of this festival is that it’s not top down, but instead deeply embedded in the area and the local community. The aim is to create works featuring historical and contemporary local stories, collaborate with local artists and venues, and co-ordinate audio making workshops for already embedded groups to produce ‘locally sourced’ work to be featured at the festival. This community-led, place-based work lays the foundations for the festival, making it a celebration of place through sonic storytelling.
“Each act of the festival was fiercely individual (they) strive to provide a space to celebrate often isolated creative audio minds. The only disappointment here was too much to see and not enough time. Book early next year.” Jo Hutton, The Wire, December 2025
"A gathering of beautiful nerds, doing weird things with sound.” Lecker Podcast Substack, October 2025. Read the full review
“This was one of the most creative and welcoming festivals I've been to for audiophiles! It's so rare to find a space to geek out on oral storytelling and sound in all its varied mediums, but I certainly found my people. I'll definitely be coming back next year!”
“This festival brings the heart and creative connections back into the sonic space. Bringing together artists from a wide range of genres and disciplines, the common thread is the joy of using sound to tell stories; to gather; to connect. Honestly made me want to drop everything and return full time to working on sound art.”“XMTR Festival was a highlight of my audio year! The programme was packed full of engaging events and installations, and I met so many new, lovely people who are working to make the industry a better place to be. I can't wait till next year!”
Tom Roe’s XMTR adventures: Thee Radio Art Hour Substack
If you have any questions just hit <<get in touch>> below.
