Cutting-edge audiovisual art, visionary performances, installations and immersive experiences across iconic Glasgow venues

Sonica Glasgow, Cryptic’s flagship biennale festival, returns for 2026. Showcasing over 170 artists and musicians from 21 countries across the globe in 11 days of cutting-edge audiovisual art, visionary performances, installations and immersive experiences across iconic Glasgow venues. At the heart of Sonica 2026 is The Listening House at Pollok House, a new festival-within-a-festival taking over the grand 18th-century mansion, prior to its reopening following major restoration works since 2023. In another first for Sonica Festival, installations will take over spaces in the city centre’s Buchanan Galleries shopping centre with four artworks that will take shoppers out of their expected reality.

From a new show of audiovisual works from Young British Artist wunderkind Dinos Chapman to a history-making Scottish debut performance from Buchla synthesiser legend Suzanne Ciani, the ninth edition of the biennial festival for curious minds and adventurous spirits promises to ravish the senses.

This year’s festival also includes Sonica’s first-ever commissioned works: Rachel Maclean’s They’ve Got Your Eyes, co-commissioned by FACT Liverpool, and Martin Green’s Folding Songs, co-produced by Cryptic and Perth Theatre and Concert Hall.