Canal Dream Art Festival
Where art meets water, community, and heritage.
About the Festival
Canal Dream Art Festival (CDAF) is a pioneering, arts-led festival dedicated to London’s canal network, celebrating art, nature, community, and heritage on the water.
Bringing together vibrant emerging creatives and under-recognised canal communities, CDAF activates historic waterways as living cultural corridors. Each edition takes place across multiple boats and canalside spaces, featuring over 100 artists across visual art, performance art, music, poetry and spoken word, alongside participatory workshops, attracting thousands of visitors.
In collaboration with cross-sector partners and supporters, CDAF operates as a platform supporting emerging creative practice, strengthening community connections, raising environmental awareness, and contributing to canal and waterside regeneration.
Founder’s Note
“CDAF was founded on the belief that art can catalyse canal regeneration and social change.
Our five-year goal is to develop it into a sustainable, linear cultural celebration spanning Regent’s Canal.”
— Chuntian Hu
Founder & Producer of CDAF
Founder & Director, Canal Dream CIC
From Our Festival Partner
“Her professionalism, meticulous organisation, exceptional network, and innate grasp of theatricality made the festival unforgettable for thousands. We wouldn’t hesitate to be part of her next project.”
— Paddy Screech,
Co-founder & Co-director
Word on the Water – The London Bookbarge
(Word on the Water was named one of Britain’s best indie bookshops by The Guardian.)
Supported & Recognised
Winner of the 2025 Match Trading Grant Award
“Chuntian’s journey on the Women’s Enterprise Growth Programme, funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation, has shown her vision, resilience, and the social value Canal Dream is creating. The festival has exciting potential, and we’re pleased to champion her work as it develops.”
— Hind Naciri
Head of Impact and Community Engagement, Europe,
Standard Chartered
“Chuntian was a delight to support through the Women's Enterprise Growth Programme delivered by the School for Entrepreneurs; she is dedicated to making a huge cultural, environmental and social impact on the London canals and is a very well connected, resourceful and personable young woman. Over the year, we saw her intentionally and carefully grow Canal Dream into a financially sustainable, community‑centred organisation, increasing its income, reach and beneficiary impact.
As such, Canal Dream is already making a difference to the artists, the waterways and the local canal community as well as providing joyful cultural experiences to visitors and the wider London community. The festival is a natural next step: creative, community‑centred, and full of potential. We’re excited to see how it continues to flourish and truly believe it can make an even wider difference with the right support.”
— Anna Ling
Director of Programmes and Learning
School for Social Entrepreneurs
The 3rd Canal Dream Art Festival
21-23 AUG 2026
Regent’s Canal, King’s Cross, London
Theme: Innocence & Experience
The theme Innocence & Experience reflects CDAF’s growth in its third iteration, as the festival navigates its evolution from grassroots beginnings toward a resilient, long-term festival model. It advances an integrated cultural, environmental, social and organisational framework, consolidating CDAF’s presence along London’s waterways.
The 3rd CDAF Focus
-
Cultural: Encouraging emerging artists to engage with canal heritage through diverse contemporary art forms, activating historic industrial waterways as dynamic cultural stages.
-
Social: Increasing engagement with waterways among younger generations and culturally diverse communities, fostering inclusive participation and cross-cultural dialogue within waterway contexts.
-
Environmental: Advocating sustainable creative practice and encouraging environmental awareness across the creative lifecycle, from concept to production to responsible afterlife.
-
Organisational: Transitioning CDAF from a volunteer-led structure toward a more stable operating model.
The festival is currently in its planning and development phase. We are seeking:
-
Value-aligned sponsors, partners, and supporters
-
Volunteer advisory board members with experience in fundraising, business development, marketing & PR, social impact strategy, and operations
-
Volunteer creatives to support our fundraising campaigns
Step aboard and help bring the dream back to the canal.
To get involved, please send a short email to:
