Every year, the rugged, intriguing island of Portland in Dorset becomes the stage for b-side’s Big Weekend – a series of events that transform the Island with surprising and thought-provoking contemporary art. From 11th to 14th September 2025, audiences are invited to explore installations, performances, films, and interventions created especially for Portland’s distinctive landscape and communities. The Big Weekend invites everyone to see this place differently, uncovering hidden corners and unheard voices through art that connects people, place, and ideas.

This year, b-side’s Big Weekend honours the spirit of Portland and Weymouth as Towns of Culture 2025, revealing untold stories from the island. With inspirational artists and communities as your guide, discover memories from the armed forces, moments of joy and resilience in LGBTQ+ lives, and heartfelt testimonies from those seeking asylum.

Previous years have seen works hidden in quarries, projected onto cliffs, or popping up in unexpected places, with international artists and local collaborators weaving stories into the stone and landscape of the Island. For 2025 I am told you can expect bold and unexpected contemporary art in unusual places – from open-water synchro swimming in Portland Harbour, to the debut of The Portland Dress stitched with community stories, to Luke Wright’s Pub Grub poems, Tom Marshman’s Section 28 and Me, and the ever-weird and wonderful Parade 2025.

Whether you fancy joining a mass stitching workshop to complete the Portland Dress, or dancing in a boxing ring, come celebrate the extraordinary people, captivating stories, and creative spirit that make Portland truly unique. For full details of the programme click here.