SWG3 announces return of Yardworks Festival

SWG3 has announced the return of Yardworks Festival, Scotland’s festival of graffiti and urban arts.

The event, which has become one of Europe’s biggest and best celebrations of street art and creativity, will transform the venue in Eastvale Place over the weekend Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May 2025.

Large-scale murals, live painting and artwork spanning walls and stacked shipping containers will feature alongside a dedicated programme of free workshops and talks celebrating Glasgow 850—exploring the city's rich history of graffiti, street art, and hip-hop culture. 

As in previous years, Yardwarks will host internationally acclaimed artists and the first line-up announcements include Sofles (Australia), a globally celebrated graffiti artist known for his intricate large-scale murals and viral videos Limitless and Infinite. 

Celebrated

Bacon (Canada) creates hyper-realistic murals featuring detailed animals and natural elements, showcasing a masterclass in aerosol techniques, and Zurik (Colombia/Spain) is celebrated for her WildStyle-inspired graffiti, blending intricate lettering with bold 3D effects. 

• One of Europe’s biggest and best celebrations of street art and creativity. Photo: Michael C Hunter

Nuno Viegas (Portugal) merges graffiti culture with fine art, known for his photorealistic depictions of masked figures and draped fabrics, and Jeks (USA) is a self-taught muralist recognised for his hyper-realistic monochrome and full-colour portraits. 

Smug (Australia/Scotland), one of Scotland’s most esteemed muralists, has transformed Glasgow’s streets with hyper-realistic works such as Saint Mungo and The Swimmer.

Yardworks Studio - Scotland’s first purpose-built home for street arts - will host a spray can upcycling workshop, giving visitors the opportunity to create their own unique artwork using repurposed cans from the festival and previous Yardworks projects.

Throughout the weekend, Sunny G community radio will be broadcasting live, capturing the energy of the festival and highlighting the artists and stories behind the work.

Festival-goers can take a break to enjoy street food from some of the city’s best vendors, craft cocktails from Monkey Shoulder, and a carefully curated selection of market stalls, offering original artwork, limited-edition prints, and exclusive Yardworks merchandise.

This year’s festival is shaping up to be one of our most exciting yet, with an expanded artist lineup and new workshops that celebrate not just graffiti and street art, but the wider creative culture that surrounds it.

Gary Mackay

In an exciting new development, Yardworks is now part of the world’s largest street art platform, Street Art Cities. This partnership will see a dedicated Yardworks site launched, mapping all of its public artworks and creating street art walking routes through Glasgow, giving visitors the chance to experience the city's vibrant urban art scene year-round.

Gary Mackay aka Gaz Mac, SWG3 Studio Director and Yardworks co-founder, said: "Every year, Yardworks brings together an incredible mix of artists, from pioneers of the graffiti scene to fresh new talent pushing the artform forward.

“This year’s festival is shaping up to be one of our most exciting yet, with an expanded artist lineup and new workshops that celebrate not just graffiti and street art, but the wider creative culture that surrounds it. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to SWG3 and see these incredible artists bring the venue to life once again."

SWG3 is a GRID partner and a key anchor within the innovation district. The venue draws thousands of people to concerts, live events and exhbitions every year.

• Yardworks Festival is a family-friendly event, with drop-in workshops and exhibits free to access, alongside ticketed festival entry. Tickets are available from today (Friday February 21) at 10am here.