Paisley Arts Festival
The first Paisley Arts Festival - from Friday March 27 until Sunday March 29 2026 - is bringing three days of unforgettable live performances, music and visual arts to the town. With a packed programme of events which will uncover hidden histories, new talents and experiences that will surprise you. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it here. Celebrate creativity and open the door to discovery in Scotland’s town of the year.
Supported by Creative Scotland
Tickets go on sale Friday 30 January at 10am
Headliners
Pam Hogg: Style, Defiance and the Art of Being Seen. Hosted by Irvine Welsh
Fri 27 March
Paisley Town Hall, 8.30pm
£15/£13
A reflective conversation by writer and close friend Irvine Welsh exploring Paisley-born designer Pam Hogg's life, legacy and cultural impact.
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Club 69@ Paisley Arts Festival
Sat 28 March
Paisley Town Hall
5pm - 11pm
£28
A high‑energy night of cutting‑edge electronic music featuring Mele, Optimo, Jaguar, Jasper James and Frankie Elyse and an exclusive Club 69 after‑party.
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From Punk To Paolo
Sun 29 March
Paisley Town Hall, 7.30pm
£35 /£33
A live musical celebration hosted by Vic Galloway charting Paisley’s journey from punk to Paolo, featuring Richard Jobson of The Skids, The Rezillos, Kathryn Joseph, King Creosote, Emma Pollock, C Duncan, kitti and LInzi Clark, storytelling and big singalongs.
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Friday 27 March
Stanley Odd
Paisley Arts Centre, 8pm
£15
Rooted in rap and fusing electronic funk, punk and hip hop, Stanley Odd are one of Scotland's most politically charged and distinctive voices.
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The Paisley Sound: Radical
Paisley Town Hall, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm
FREE
Join us for our first-ever Arts Festival with a show-stopping outdoor event that will fill the town with music, light and pure celebration.
Songs of Paisley: Past, Present and Proud
Paisley Arts Centre, 3pm
PWYC £7/£5/£3
A musical celebration of place, people and identity led by Paisley Buddies Evelyn Laurie and Neil Thomson.
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Inspired Art Exhibition
Paisley Town Hall
Fri 27th - Sun 29th March
Various times
Annual art exhibition celebrates 20 Renfrewshire pupils’ identity-focused portraits, inspired by Paisley Museum.
Saturday 28 March
Sub Space Soft Space
Paisley Town Hall, 10am and 1pm
FREE
Multi-sensory sound installation invites young children ages 0-5 and families to explore accessible, immersive music together.
Ancient Paisley: Let's Start at the Very Beginning
Paisley Arts Centre, 10am
PWYC - £7/£5/£3
Paisley’s past bursts to life with fun stories of Romans, saints, kings, monks and magical beasts.
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The Paisley Music Trail: Punk, Paolo and the Poet Weaver
Paisley Town Hall, 11am and 1pm
£15/ £12
A guided walking tour exploring Paisley’s rich musical heritage, iconic artists, punk history, and cultural landmarks.
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The Growing Town: Paisley's Brilliant Buddies
Paisley Arts Centre, 12pm
PWYC £7/£5/£3
Paisley’s busy past bursts with fun stories of clever makers, brave helpers and amazing football wins.
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Punks, Pop and Aliens on the Loose!
Paisley Arts Centre, 2pm
PWYC £7/£5/£3
Paisley zooms into modern times with rockets, music, wild aliens and a super‑fun dance‑off.
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(c) Suzanne Heffron
The Swings
Abbey Close, outside Paisley Town Hall,
11.30am, 12.30am, 2pm, 3.30pm
FREE
A giant swing set with soaring acrobats invites everyone to play, glide and feel wonderfully free.
(c) Sally Jubb
Windbags
Abbey Close, outside Paisley Town Hall
A silly inflatable band whose emotional outbursts create giant shapes, needing help to reunite before performing.
Right2Dance Family Fun
Paisley Town Hall, 1.30pm, 3pm
PWYC - £7/£5/£3
A fun, high‑energy family workshop using games, music and props to spark creativity, build confidence and inspire joyful movement together.
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An Evening with the Artists
Paisley Arts Centre, 6.30pm
PWYC - £7/£5/£3
An immersive evening of performances and discussions exploring Paisley’s creative past, future possibilities, and the role of art in the community.
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Sunday 29 March
Punk, Paolo and the Poet Weaver
The Paisley Music Trail
Paisley Town Hall, 11am and 1pm
£15/ £12
Guided walking tour explores Paisley’s rich musical heritage, iconic artists, punk history, and cultural landmarks.
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Women + Make Noise!
Paisley Arts Centre, 2.30pm
PWYC - £7/£5/£3
Join us for a collaborative music performance celebrating Paisley’s stories, rhythms and lived experience. Experience the sounds of the Women+ Make Noise! Choir with musician Farzané Zamen.
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How to Book
Online
www.oneren.org/paf
By phone
0300 300 1210 (Mon – Fri 9am to 5pm)
In Person
There will be a box office available at Paisley Town Hall and Paisley Arts Centre 1 hour before each event to allow you to purchase any last-minute tickets.
If you have any questions at all please get in touch to: OneRen_boxoffice@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Getting Here
Paisley Town Hall - Abbey Close, Paisley PA1 1JF
Paisley Arts Centre - 15 New Street, Paisley, PA1 1EZ
Both venues have premier locations right in the heart of Paisley town, with various local amenities on our doorstep. It is served by the M8 motorway, just a 20 minute drive from Glasgow City Centre and 8 minutes from Glasgow Airport. Train and bus links are excellent, with Paisley Gilmour Street station just a 5 minute walk away.
Accessibility
It is important to us to make the Paisley Arts Festival as accessible as possible for all participants, audiences, staff and volunteers. We strive to do as much as we can but we are aware that we have limitations and might not always get everything right.
Therefore, it is our goal to have an open and ever evolving dialogue about our commitment to accessibility, diversity and inclusion. If there is a specific access requirement you have, please contact us on OneRen_boxoffice@renfrewshire.gov.uk and we will do our best to meet your needs.
Download the Paisley Town Hall accessibility guide here
For Paisley Arts Centre accessibility features check general Info below
General Info
Paisley Arts Centre accessibility
- Ground floor Level access, automatic doors at main entrance
- Lowered bar counter for w/c users
- Accessible toilets on ground floor and first floor
- Baby change in ground floor male and female toilets
- Single sex toilets and inclusive toilets
- Lift access to 1st floor
- A deaf loop in the auditorium
- Wi-Fi assisted listening in the auditorium available via your own device – via free WaveCAST app
Please note, wheelchair accessible spaces are not available to book online. Please email or call the box office to book a wheelchair accessible space or for any other access requests/advice:
OneRen_boxoffice@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Tel: 0300 300 1210
Paisley Arts Festival offers a Pay What You Can ticket option for a broad range of events. This is to increase the accessibility and affordability of the festival. Please select whatever price you can pay at the point of booking.
Paisley Arts Festival offers a concession ticket for the key headliner events. Concession tickets are available for Under 16’s/Students/Young Scot cardholders/Senior Citizens/Unemployed/Persons with a disability (and carers/friends escorting a customer to a performance)
Please Support Us
As a charity, our services help people live healthy, happy and fulfilled lives. A donation to Renfrewshire Leisure will help us continue to provide charitable services across our communities.