At a Glance
- The Kite Festival – Southend’s Alternative Airshow returns for 2026.
- The event takes place along Eastern Esplanade, between the Roslin Beach Hotel and Billy 100’s.
- Running from 11:45am to 5:00pm, the festival will feature professional kite flyers, Essex Kitesurfers, and local kite clubs.
- Visitors are encouraged to use public transport and support local seafront businesses.
Project Southchurch is delighted to announce that The Kite Festival – Southend’s Alternative Airshow is officially returning for 2026, bringing a spectacular burst of colour back to the seafront.
This year’s festival invites residents and visitors to watch the sky come alive with kites of every shape, size, and design. The event will take place along Eastern Esplanade, between the Roslin Beach Hotel and Billy 100’s, offering the perfect backdrop for a vibrant day by the sea.
Running from 11:45am to 5:00pm, the festival will feature at least seven professional kite flyers, displays from Essex Kitesurfers, and participation from several local kite clubs, ensuring a full afternoon of visual excitement and family friendly entertainment.
Project Southchurch encourages attendees to make the most of the excellent restaurants, bars, cafés, and hotels along the Eastern Esplanade, supporting the many independent and local businesses that help make Southend unique.
Travel & Accessibility
As always, Project Southchurch strongly encourages the use of public transport.
- Main Sponsor c2c Rail provides the nearest station, Southend East, where visitors can enjoy the independent traders along Southchurch Road and Woodgrange Drive before heading down to the seafront.
- Visitors may also alight at Southend Central and take the Route 99 bus, operated by partners Ensign Bus Company.
- Visitors may also choose to use our local operator Arriva Bus Company via their Number 9 route which can drop just by the Roslin.
- Alternatively, those arriving via Thorpe Bay can enjoy a scenic walk along part of Southend’s 7 miles of coastline.
Community & Safety
A reminder to all attendees: Please respect the water, beaches, and local wildlife. Stay safe, dispose of rubbish responsibly, and take waste home if bins are full.
A Day of Colour, Community, and Coastal Spirit
Join us for a joyful celebration of creativity, community, and Southend’s iconic coastline as kites once again fill the sky for this much loved event. Either by watching or participating in with your own kite or some that will be available on the day.
Our Main Sponsor c2c Rail’s Christopher Nice Communications Manager had this to say
“c2c is delighted to once again be the main sponsor of this year’s Southend Kite Festival – the city’s alternative airshow – hosted by our friends at Project Southchurch on Thorpe Bay seafront.
“We would like to congratulate Rob, Beth, Zoë and their team on bringing this much-loved event back following its success in 2025.
“We look forward to welcoming families, residents and visitors for a spectacular afternoon of world-class kite flying right in the heart of our community.”
Project Southchurch extends heartfelt thanks to all 2026 sponsors: c2c Rail, KT Plant Hire, Roslin Beach Hotel, Luna Grace Hair, Chiddicks Homes, and Amber Mortgage Solutions.
—