The British Ceramics Biennial is back, invading Stoke-on-Trent from 6 September to 19 October 2025, with a jam-packed programme of free exhibitions, screenings, talks, and events dedicated to… clay. Yes, clay. Stoke-on-Trent, which is somehow now a World Craft City (that’s a thing?), is also celebrating its centenary in 2025, so expect a lot of self-congratulation alongside the pottery.
British Ceramics Biennial 2025
This year’s edition promises to shove ceramics into historic buildings and random corners of the city, with works from top-tier ceramicists and some fresh faces who, presumably, have also figured out how to make art from mud. It’s all billed as a tribute to Stoke’s industrial grit and creative spirit—or, as the organisers probably say, “resilience.”
But it’s not just about the Biennial itself. Apparently, the organisers have been busy year-round, commissioning artists, running education projects, and trying to use clay to solve society’s problems. Because who needs major policy shifts when you have pottery?
Details about where all this ceramic magic will happen remain elusive until spring 2025, but rest assured, the event will once again plant Stoke-on-Trent firmly on the cultural map (or at least the map of places where clay gets its moment in the spotlight).
Want more?
For a deep dive into Stoke-on-Trent’s obsession with the potteries, check out Fairies, Poppies and a World of Wedgwood over on Travel Begins at 40. Or relive the glory days of the first Biennial back in 2009—because, really, what else were you doing in 2009?
Key info on the festival
- When? 6 September to 19 October 2025
- Where? Stoke-on-Trent (where else?)
Mark your calendars—if ceramics are your thing, this is your Super Bowl.
