Dundee Play Festival: New festival is set to bring city together with record-breaking football challenge

A new citywide celebration of creativity and community is coming to Dundee this summer as the Dundee Play Festival invites people of all ages to rediscover the joy of play.

Taking place from 11 to 14 June, the festival will feature activities across Dundee’s communities as well as events in the city centre, encouraging residents to explore, imagine and connect through shared experiences.

One of the most ambitious moments of the festival will be an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest number of children playing football at the same time. Every primary school pupil in Dundee is expected to take part in the challenge, creating a unique citywide moment centred around play and participation.

Organised by Celebrate! Dundee’s Play Forum, the festival is part of a growing international movement that recognises play as essential to healthy communities and thriving cities. The programme will highlight how play can strengthen relationships, build confidence and help people feel more connected to the places where they live.

Supported by funding from NHS Tayside Charitable Trust and Foundation Scotland, the Dundee Play Festival will include a wide range of hands-on activities, interactive performances and creative experiences. These will span sport, drama, music, dance, digital activities and board games, with events taking place both indoors and outdoors.

Organisers say the festival is built around a simple idea – play is for everyone. By bringing together children, families, individuals and community groups, the event aims to show how play can create welcoming spaces where people of all backgrounds and generations can take part.

Residents and visitors are now being invited to join the celebrations in June, as Dundee comes together to share in the imagination, creativity and fun that play can bring to everyday life.