Organised by the French Institute in London, the South Ken Kids Festival is back for its 28th edition from 16 to 24 March 2026. Under the patronage of Quentin Blake, the Festival promotes the best of children’s literature from both sides of the Channel.
The festival will welcome Axel Scheffler, Michael Rosen, Guillaume Gallienne, Charlotte Gastaut, Olivier Tallec, Lucie Brunellière, Luke Pearson, Bethan Woollwin, Grace Easton, Joe Todd-Stanton, Yuval Zommer, Joséphine Seblon, Robert Sae-Heng, Clémentine Beauvais, Lucie Arnoux and more.
They will take part in a great range of activities with schools and in public events held at the French Institute, from workshops, talks, live drawing and storytelling, to films, performances and book signings.
Public events highlights include a live drawing session with Axel Scheffler and Grace Easton, an exclusive performance mixing poetry and hip hop with Michael Rosen and Michael Vidon, and Impro!, a giant multi-handed live drawing session with the guest-illustrators accompanied by trumpeter Olivia Cuttill.
This year’s festival puts comics centre stage. Cartoonist Luke Pearson, creator of the beloved Netflix and comic-book heroine Hilda!, will guide children through the process of inventing their own magical creature, while Sarah Ardizzone, award-winning translator of Joann Sfar’s comics art version of Saint-Exupéry’s classic fable The Little Prince will embark readers of all ages. Alex Barrow and the team behind Kurio Magazine will also give a brilliant comic-creating workshop.
The film programme features the sensational Arco, produced by Natalie Portman, which is shortlisted for the BAFTA (Best Children’s Family Film), the Academy Awards (Best Animated Feature) and the Cesars (Best Animation Film), alongside the UK premiere of My Life in Versailles and the all-time classic The King and the Mockingbird. Fans of Asterix will be treated with a special screening of Asterix & Obelix: God Save Britannia which will be followed by a Q&A with actor Guillaume Gallienne aka Jolitorax.
Last but not least, ahead of the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration opening next May, the French Institute presents Quentin Blake’s Fantastic Journeys and Clown in a colourful exhibition of prints specially curated for the festival, from 25 Feb to 31 March.
The South Ken Kids Festival benefits from the generous support of the Bressler Foundation
Ages: from 3+, for the whole family
Venue
Institut français, 17 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2DT | 020 7871 3515
Info, programme & booking: www.institut-francais.org.uk/south-ken-kids-festival
Press contact
Natacha Antolini: natacha.antolini@institut-francais.org.uk / 020 7871 3520
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