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July 10-12 |
Chew Valley, SomersetWHAT’S ON:
SISTALAND FESTIVAL 2026
We're building something bold, beautiful, and completely unlike anything the industry has seen. Here’s a glimpse into the zones and sessions that will shape this years festival, all designed to feed your creativity, fuel your next move,
and connect you with your people.
A SNEAK PEEK
INSIDE THE FESTIVAL
DAY ONE (FRIDAY) THEME:
THIS INDUSTRY WASN’T BUILT FOR US ❌
Identity, Access, Truth-Telling
🎤 MAIN STAGE (11:00) - WHO GET’S TO BELONG HERE
A panel discussion with Q&A
The creative industries love to talk about inclusion, but who actually gets through the door?
This panel explores access, gatekeeping and the reality of trying to build a creative career without the “right” connections. From class and background to confidence and visibility, we’re asking what it really takes to belong, and how we start changing the system from within.
🎤 MAIN STAGE (13:00) - SHOW YOUR WORK. GET PAID
A panel discussion with Q&A
You can be talented, experienced and still overlooked, so how the fuck do you actually get seen?
This conversation breaks down the link between visibility and income. From pitching and personal branding to building your own lane, we’ll explore how to stop waiting to be chosen and start creating opportunities that pay.
🎤 MAIN STAGE (15:00) - THIS INDUSTRY WILL BURN YOU OUT IF YOU LET IT
A panel discussion with Q&A
Long hours. Unpaid passion projects. Constant pressure to prove yourself.
Burnout isn’t a personal failure, it’s often built into the way this industry operates. This panel opens up an honest conversation around boundaries, sustainability and what it really looks like to build a creative career without losing yourself in the process..
DAY TWO THEME:
SO WE BUILD DIFFERENT 💥
FIND YOUR VOICE, YOUR POWER, YOUR WAY.
A panel discussion with Q&A
No one teaches you how to price your work, but it shapes everything.
This panel gets into the reality of freelance finances, from setting your rates and negotiating confidently to understanding your value beyond just getting the job. Expect honest conversations, practical advice and the tools to start charging in a way that actually supports the life you want and deserve.
🎤 MAIN STAGE (11:00) - THE MONEY TALK WE WEREN’T TAUGHT
🎤 MAIN STAGE (13:00) - THE INDUSTRY IS CHANGING. NOW WHAT?
A panel discussion with Q&A
AI, shifting budgets, new pathways, the creative industries are evolving fast.
So where does that leave you?
This conversation explores how to adapt, stay relevant and find opportunity in a changing landscape. From emerging tools to new ways of working, we’re looking at how to move with the industry, not get left behind by it.
🎤 MAIN STAGE (15:00) - THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU
A panel discussion with Q&A
Too emotional. Too distracted. Too sensitive. Too much.
For many creatives, especially those navigating ADHD, neurodivergence, hormones or motherhood, the industry can feel like it wasn’t built with us in mind.
This panel reframes the narrative. Not as something to fix, but something to understand, support and work with, on your own terms.
DAY THREE THEME:
TAKE YOUR POWER, NOW RUN WITH IT ⚡
LEAVE LIGHTER. MOVE YOUR WAY.
CARRY IT FORWARD.
🎤 MAIN STAGE (13:00) - WHAT ARE YOU LEAVING WITH?
Closing panel with Q&A
It’s easy to feel inspired in the moment. The real question is what happens when you leave.
This closing conversation is about turning reflection into action. What have you learnt about yourself, your work and the way you move through this industry, and what are you no longer willing to accept?
FESTIVAL ZONES
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💘 SELF LOVE ZONE
The ultimate feel-good space for self-expression,
release and taking your power back! -
🧠 CREATIVE CHAOS MEETS CLARITY
Designed by and for neurodivergent minds, this zone celebrates the beautiful mess of living and creating with ADHD.
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WORKSHOPS (NEW FOR 2026)
Hands-on, small-group sessions designed to give you real tools, from pitching and portfolio building to AI, legal basics and creative skill-building.
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🛒 SPEND WITH INTENTION. SUPPORT YOUR SISTAS
A curated pop-up marketplace featuring female, queer, and non-binary-founded brands.
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💸 MONEY CLINIC
A cosy, shame-free space for getting real about money in creative work. Curl up, swap stories, and find practical support, from drop-in finance clinics (rates, taxes, funding) to 1:1 sessions that meet you exactly where you are.
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🎥 TECH PETTING ZOO
An interactive, play-first space for creatives to get familiar with the tools of the trade - no judgment, no gatekeeping.
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📸 HEADSHOT BAR
Returning to 2026 by popular demand. A drop-in portrait space offering professional headshots with creative flair - think less stiff corporate, more real-you-but-polished.
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POP-UP CREW MARKETPLACE
A live, interactive networking zone where attendees can post upcoming projects or browse open call-outs for collaborators. Think creative classifieds meets job board meets vision board - IRL.
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📖 THE STORY EXCHANGE
Bring your ideas, your half-finished scripts, your notes app thoughts. This is a relaxed, drop-in space to write, share and swap stories with others.
NEW TO 2026
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🎭 POP-UP THEATRE
From short performances and spoken word to script readings and experimental work, The Stage is where ideas are tested, voices are heard and stories are shared in real time.
Raw, playful and sometimes unexpected, this is where creativity steps off the page and into the room (well a field).
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THE MOTHERHOOD ROOM
A space for mothers, caregivers and those navigating it. This space is here to support those navigating creative careers alongside caring responsibilities. Whether you need a moment to pause, feed, reset or connect with others in a similar position, this is your space.
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🌙 AFTER DARK AT SISTALAND
As the sun goes down, the festival shifts.
From films under the stars to late-night hangs in your comfiest clothes, our evenings are all about unwinding, connecting and letting go. No pressure, no performance, just good energy, shared moments and space to be yourself! ✨