Southend City Jam street art festival, August 28 to August 30 2026.
Southend City Jam has been running yearly since its first incarnation in 2022. Each year adds to the strong line up of legacy artworks as well as bringing in a host of new temporary additions. 2026 is the fifth year with iconic artworks taking pride of place on the seafront itself.
It’s always tricky to work out when is the best time visit a street art festival. Arrive while the painting is happening and you may be lucky enough to meet some of the artists – but the works won’t be finished. I opted for the second day where most of the art was completed but many of the barriers and scissor lifts were still in place. Leaving it for a couple of weeks isn’t an option either as some of the temporary locations will have gone. I think I timed it about right with a mix of artists still working but the works largely complete. Maybe an overnight stay would be even better!
There are hundreds of artworks to see but everything was in easy walking distance with just a few outlying pieces requiring a little more effort. Here’s a selection of what’s on offer from 2026 and a few from previous years. It’s an incredible variety of work, much of it is permanent making a visit to Southend at any time well worth while for street art admirers.
Left to right – Sofles (Aus), Rocket01 (UK), Jeks USA) in the standout location of Southend City Jam 2026Detail from Sofles large scale piece for Southend City Jam 2026Matt White aka @artofpixelicious at Southend City Jam. A pixelated Wile. E. Coyote and (beep beep) Roadrunner feature in this work which also features a nod to SCJ organisers Ekto and Ster. Ansley Randall house at Southend City Jam 2026. A shame about the scissor lift!Jimmer Willmott referenced Southend’s legendary seagulls in his work. As with many seaside towns, the gulls have adapted their eating habits to watch for and target those eating chips, hence the phrase ‘Seagulls Stole My Chips’Being Creative – ‘Stope Being a Hermit’ stencil and paint work at the Southend City Jam 2026. ‘Zero Sum’ by Jack lack for Southend City Jam. A firm favourite for many of this years attendees judging by the comments online.Scottish based KMG is a street artist inspired by Celtic folklore. This may look a little odd here. Dais created a stop motion painting for 2026. If you want to see the results you can on his @dais_uk instagram profile.JXC for Southend City Jam, near Southend Victoria station, a beautiful rendition of an insect.Mul on a rocket for Southend City Jam 2026Mul on temporary hoardings in Warrior Square, Southend, Prefab77 stencil work in an archway as part of Southend City Jam. Always rewarding to spend time looking at all the little details in Prefab77’s worksSouthend City Jam saw Roo Art taking over a large scale wall with her colourful creature art, creating an unmissable addition to the streets of SouthendMonstrous 3D alligator by SCAF ONER in a car park at Southend City Jam Smug at the foot of a tower block by Southend Central station. A legacy work from a previous year.Stocks going larger all the time these days. The West London artist often features urban transit scenes in his artworksOutta Gram (@outta_gram) for Southend City Jam 2026Tech Moon’s piece is a little walk out of the city centre and located in a quiet side street but oh so worth the effort.Jenks art on temporary hoardings in Southend City CentreWarrior Square artwork, apologies but I didn’t make a note of the artist(s) so if you know please pass on so it can be properly credited.Vlad at Southend City Jam 2026 – see more on @vladrealart Elrond and Nacho Mawe at the Southend City Jam 2026.Pring does art in Warrior Square as part of Southend City Jam 2026Dan Leo’s huge turtle on the sea front is a legacy artwork from a previous year of the Southend City JamVoyder’s incredible cut away artwork remains from a previous incarnation of the Southend City JamAndy Downes created this striking tribute mural to Wilko Johnson (Dr Feelgood) in a car park in the city centrePhotorealistic food illustration on an epic scale with no explanation. Woskerski in Southend in a previous years version of the City JamSouthend and cat by Woskerski for Southend City Jam. Always different and always exceptional detailing from Woskerski‘Congestion’ on temporary hoardings for Southend City Jam 2026le Gepso from Madrid for Southend City Jam 2026Smug One for the 2024 edition of Southend City Jam Southend City Jam is a huge undertaking. It seemed very well organised with artist hubs, maps and carefully thought through locations with barriers for the artists to work behind. Most artworks are within a relatively short walking distance.
Remember, even though the live part of the festival is over, you can visit any time of the year and see the ever expanding collection of legacy artworks – and enjoy an ice cream and fish and chips too!
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