Happy Rooms 2026
Middlesbrough Town Hall, 27 July – 30 August 2026
In summer 2026, we transformed Middlesbrough Town Hall into a playground of creativity and imagination as Happy Rooms returned for its second edition.
Across 12 interactive rooms, thousands of visitors were invited to build, dance, play, make music, experiment with light and technology, curl up with a story – and even disappear beneath a cloud of confetti!
At the heart of Happy Rooms is a simple idea: creativity should feel welcoming, playful and open to everyone. There are no expectations about how to experience it and no special knowledge required. Audiences are encouraged to get involved, follow their curiosity and experience contemporary art and creativity together.
The 2026 edition brought together original Stellar Creates installations with work by invited artists, combining visual art, digital technology, light, sound, storytelling and open-ended play. Spread throughout Middlesbrough Town Hall, each room offered a completely different experience – from moments of high-energy collective fun to quieter spaces for imagination and connection.
Designed for children, grown-ups and everyone in between, Happy Rooms created a place where families and friends could spend time together, make things together and most importantly, play together.
