Ipswich Borough Council is calling on all street performers – from musicians and magicians to acrobats, dancers, living statues, poets, puppeteers and more – to apply now for a place in the town’s first‑ever Street Performers Showcase, taking place on Saturday 4 April.
Applications are open from today (9 February) until 5pm on 6 March, and the Council is encouraging performers of every kind to step forward and show Ipswich what they can do.
This brand‑new event builds on the huge success of Ipswich’s Busking Showcase events held in recent years, which brought energy, colour and creativity to key town‑centre locations including Cornhill, Tavern Street, Buttermarket and Westgate Street. Residents and visitors consistently enjoyed lively crowds, diverse acts and a vibrant atmosphere, with some performances – such as Eko the Sea Giant during the 2024 showcase – drawing large, attentive audiences throughout the day.
Previous showcases also received “fantastic feedback” from the public, helping to increase footfall, support local businesses, and demonstrate the strong appetite for cultural events in the town centre.
This year, the Council is expanding the opportunity far beyond musical buskers, opening applications to all street performers for the first time. Selected acts will be funded to perform and help transform the town centre into an all‑day celebration of creativity.
Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: “We’re inviting all street performers to be part of Ipswich’s newest all-day outdoor event.
“Let’s see the streets come alive with the sound of music, fun, and entertainment - and once again bring an array of acts to delight the crowds. Inspired by the legacy of those well‑loved busking events that our residents and visitors have thoroughly enjoyed year after year, this Showcase promises to be extra special.
“Our town’s got talent – let’s celebrate that and animate the whole town centre on 4 April. Any street performer can apply – we want to hear from street theatre acts, visual performers, poets, spoken‑word artists, jugglers, children’s entertainers and many more. If you want to be part of it - apply now!”
Applications for the Street Performers Showcase are open until 5pm on Friday 6 March 2026.
A panel will review all submissions, with the successful selected performers to be notified by Monday 16 March.