Celebrating Southampton’s stories in a projection trail that will light up the city
Southampton Forward, in partnership with Southampton City Council, has announced a spectacular city-centre event in February 2026 that will celebrate Southampton’s Old Town, historic buildings and diverse communities.
City Reflections: Illuminating Southampton’s Stories, is a physical projection trail that will take place over four consecutive evenings from 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday 18th to Saturday 21st February 2026.
The event will transform six of Southampton’s most iconic heritage buildings in Southampton’s Old Town and city centre with large-scale projections, immersive soundscapes and storytelling inspired by the city’s Art, Maritime and Archaeology collections.
The trail showcases highlights from Southampton’s world-class collections, sharing some of the city’s most fascinating objects and stories as part of the celebrations leading up to the re-opening of Southampton City Art Gallery later in 2026, following its major refurbishment.
The event’s joint creative producers are Light Up Trails, which specialises in creating immersive festive experiences, and Double Take Projections, experts in architectural projection mapping, interactive installations and 3D motion graphics, lighting up buildings from St Paul’s Cathedral to the Sydney Opera House.
What sets City Reflections: Illuminating Southampton’s Stories apart is its commitment to community co-curation. Six Community Curators, each representing a different Southampton community, have worked closely with the creative team to explore the city’s archives, uncover meaningful stories and select rarely seen objects that resonate with both the building they’re paired with and the communities they represent. Their contributions have shaped the content and tone of each projection, ensuring that every experience is rooted in the voices and experience of local communities.
The trail’s themes and locations include:
- King John’s Palace – Trade and Textiles, curated by Rajan Jolly (Indian community)
- Holyrood Church – People and Global Connection, curated by Abdourahman Sanneh (African diaspora)
- The Bargate – Culture, curated by Thelma Bishop Young (Young People, Sport and Disabled communities)
- The Dancing Man Brewery (formerly The Wool House) – Ships and Shipping, curated by Stephen Muldowney-Mizen (Older Isolated People, in partnership with Communicare)
- The Castle Vaults – City Maps and City Walls, curated by Beth Macey-Macleod (Neurodivergent people)
- Southampton City Art Gallery – curated by Ri Baroche (LGBTQ+ community)
The trail offers something for everyone with an interest in art, history and storytelling, including residents, families, students and visitors to the city. The route will be easy to follow, with a digital trail map available online and printed copies available from selected outlets in the Old Town. All six stunning projections can be experienced in a single evening, or visitors can explore the trail over multiple nights at their own pace.
Claire Whitaker CBE, CEO of Southampton Forward, said: “City Reflections: Illuminating Southampton’s Stories aims to shine a light on Southampton’s world-class collections and celebrate the people and stories that shape the city today. It’s a fabulous opportunity to experience Southampton’s rich past through a projection trail that illuminates the stories etched into the city’s buildings and streets. None of this would have been possible without our partnership with Southampton City Council and the commitment and dedication of their amazing collections team, as well as the support from Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and our founding city partners.”
Councillor Alex Winning, Leader of Southampton City Council, said: “We are delighted to be working with Southampton Forward on this inspiring project, which is a great opportunity to engage people with Southampton’s world-class collections ahead of the reopening of the City Art Gallery. We hope it will highlight local pride in the city in an immersive and accessible way.”
Libby Battaglia, Creative Director at Light Up Trails, said: ‘There is so much fascinating history in Southampton’s archives that deserves to be seen and heard. We’re thrilled to be creating this extraordinary trail with Double Take Projections and our Community Curators. Together we’ll produce breath-taking visuals that bring hidden stories to life, connecting people to their past and present in a truly magical way.’
ENDS
Presented by Southampton Forward in partnership with Southampton City Council
Creative partners: Light Up Trails and Double Take Projections
Supported by funding from Arts Council England, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Also supported by Southampton Forward’s founding city partners: Southampton City Council, University of Southampton, Southampton Solent University, GO! Southampton, Paris Smith LLP and Mayflower Theatre
Produced by:
Supported by:
Founding City Partners
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