Hounslow will be the stage for a new annual international arts festival when Bell Square Calling launches its first edition focused on France later next year. The four-day programme, running from 24–27 September 2026, will present outdoor dance, circus, music and theatre in Bell Square — and all events and discussions will be free for the public.
What to expect in Bell Square
The festival has been put together by Watermans and aims to highlight artists from one country or region each year, creating an opportunity for cultural exchange as well as widening local audiences' experience of outdoor performance. The inaugural line-up brings companies from a number of French creative communities, including Montpellier, Marseille, La Rochelle and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
- Dates: 24–27 September 2026
- Location: Bell Square, Hounslow
- Cost: Free — performances and conversations are open to all
Programme highlights
Watermans has announced a varied schedule, with pieces that range from contemporary dance to acrobatics and theatrical music. Among the works listed for Bell Square are:
| Work | Company | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Fièvre (Fever) | Cie Point.Bart | Contemporary dance |
| Assemblée (Assembly) | Sauf le Dimanche | Site-responsive performance |
| Top Down | La Triochka | Contemporary acrobatics |
| Reflet (Reflection) | Cie Xuan Le | Dance and roller skating |
| CoraSon | Cie Les Rustines de l'Ange | Theatrical accordion performance |
The programme also includes artist Q&As, conversations and audience discussions designed to explore contemporary outdoor performance practice and encourage deeper engagement with the work.
"Bell Square Calling enables us to introduce UK audiences to artists who are shaping the future of outdoor performance in their own countries but remain little known here," said Jan Lennox, Director of Watermans.
Local impact and what it means for residents
By staging an international festival in the heart of Hounslow, organisers aim to create a space where residents can encounter new work without the barrier of a ticket price. The site-responsive pieces, in particular, are intended to respond to Bell Square itself and to the people who use it, creating performances that speak to place and daily life.
Watermans has said the festival will become an annual event, changing its country or region of focus each year. For Hounslow this means the prospect of a recurring programme of free outdoor arts, bringing touring companies to the town and offering local audiences chances to see international work up close.
Further details about times and the full schedule are expected to be published closer to the festival dates. Residents interested in outdoor performance, family-friendly events or free cultural programming should note the September dates and look out for announcements from Watermans and local partners.
