North East Open Studios 12 - 20 September 2026
Registration Opens 1 - 31 March 2026
Open your studio. Join a shared venue. Be part of a vibrant community and a respected region wide creative event.
Ready to open your creative space?
Watch the video below to see why you should take part in North East Open Studios 2026!
Welcome to North East Open Studios
A Region-Wide Open Studios Event Across the North East of Scotland.
North East Open Studios is an annual open studios event where artists and makers across Aberdeenshire, Moray, Angus and the surrounding areas open their working studios to the public for nine days each September.
Visitors travel from studio to studio, meeting artists, discovering original work and experiencing creativity in the places it is made.
This is not an art fair.
This is not a craft market.
This is open studios.
What Is an Open Studios Event?
An open studios event allows members of the public to visit artists in their own creative spaces.
Instead of viewing work in a commercial venue or exhibition hall, you step inside real working studios, shared venues and creative spaces across the region.
You can:
- Meet the artist
- See work in progress
- Ask questions about materials and process
- Discover painting, ceramics, textiles, printmaking, jewellery, sculpture and more
- Buy directly from the maker
North East Open Studios has been running for over two decades and is one of the largest geographically spread open studios events in the UK.
When Does North East Open Studios Take Place?
North East Open Studios 2026 runs from 12 to 20 September.
Hundreds of artists across the North East of Scotland will open their doors during this nine-day event.
Visitors can explore coastal villages, rural studios, town centres and shared venues, building their own route using our printed directory and interactive online map.
Who Is North East Open Studios For?
North East Open Studios is for:
- Visitors who want meaningful, personal creative experiences
- Art lovers planning a day out in Aberdeenshire, Moray or Angus
- Families exploring creative spaces together
- Artists and makers who want to take part in a respected regional event
- Collectors looking to buy original artwork directly from artists
We are volunteer-led and not-for-profit, working to support artists across rural and urban communities.
What We Do
North East Open Studios:
- Coordinates a nine-day region-wide open studios event
- Produces our iconic yellow printed directory
- Hosts a searchable online artist listing
- Provides an interactive map for visitors
- Runs a coordinated marketing campaign across the region
- Supports artists to present their work professionally
We promote the event as a whole, helping visitors discover artists across the North East of Scotland.
What We Are Not
North East Open Studios is not:
- A one-venue art fair
- A temporary craft market
- Hosts a searchable online artist listing
- A ticketed exhibition hall
- A commercial event run for profit
Each participating artist opens their own studio or chosen venue and engages directly with visitors.
Accessibility and Inclusion
We are committed to making North East Open Studios welcoming and accessible.
Each artist profile includes clear access information to help visitors plan their visit confidently.
We encourage honest, transparent details so everyone can enjoy the event.
North East Open Studios connects artists, makers and visitors across the North East of Scotland.
For nine days each September, studios open, conversations begin and creativity is shared.
Plan your visit.
Discover original work.
Meet the artist.
