This autumn, the historic pottery heartland of Stoke-on-Trent will once again become a stage for clay in all its forms, as the British Ceramics Biennial 2025 returns from 6 September to 19 October 2025. Taking place across the atmospheric spaces of the former Spode factory, the Biennial is the UK’s largest festival of contemporary ceramics—and one of the most imaginative cultural events in the country.
Now in its ninth edition, British Ceramics Biennial arrives at a particularly celebratory moment. Stoke-on-Trent has recently been named a World Craft City, one of only a handful worldwide, and 2025 marks the city’s centenary. The Biennial embraces both milestones, inviting visitors to discover not only the region’s rich industrial heritage but also the new energy shaping ceramics today. Expect six weeks of exhibitions, installations, film screenings, performances and hands-on activities, all free to attend.
A City of Clay
Stoke-on-Trent, affectionately known as The Potteries, has long been synonymous with ceramics. From Wedgwood to Spode, its factories shaped British design and industry. Today, the British Ceramics Biennial honours that legacy while giving it a decidedly 21st-century twist. Walking through the cavernous Spode site, visitors encounter monumental clay sculptures, experimental architecture, and community-led projects that reveal clay’s potential as both a traditional craft and a material of the future.
Clare Wood, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of British Ceramics Biennial, describes the Biennial as “a true celebration of clay’s creative potential, both for making beautiful objects and for tackling some of the most pressing issues of our time.” This year, more than 60 international artists will be featured, animating Stoke with ideas that range from environmental sustainability to identity, storytelling, and play.
British Ceramics Biennial 2025 Programme Highlights
At its core is Award, the Biennial’s flagship exhibition and the UK’s leading platform for contemporary ceramics. Ten artists have been selected to showcase new work and compete for the coveted £10,000 BCB Award Prize. Expect plant-dyed ceramics from Jane Perryman that chart her decades-long rewilding project, alongside sculptural explorations of the human condition by Daniel Silver. Other shortlisted names include Kyra Cane, Fernando Casasempere, Leah Jensen, Alison Rees and Jo Taylor, promising an exhibition that pushes the boundaries of what clay can be.
Equally exciting is Fresh, which shines a spotlight on 25 emerging artists from across the UK and Ireland. Selected from over 380 applicants, the 2025 line-up ranges from figurative ceramic forms to bold architectural structures. Among them are Nibras Al-Salman, Ekta Bagri, Camille Biddell, Grace Carter, Miae Kim and Kate O’Neill, all part of a generation redefining what it means to work in clay today. Fresh is presented in partnership with Ceramic Review, with four artists set to win Fresh Talent Prizes during the festival—prizes that offer coveted residencies and future exhibitions at BCB 2027.
Another new addition is Clay Films, the Biennial’s inaugural film strand. Six Global Majority artists explore clay through the lens of moving image, with works ranging from stop motion animation to experimental documentary. Highlights include Majid Asadi’s Brother’s Horn (Iran), Valentina Alvarado Matos’s arrojalatierra (Spain), and Marius van Rensburg’s iThongo (South Africa). Together, they demonstrate how clay can be as much about narrative and sound as about touch and form.
Other headline projects include:
Playscape – An experimental rammed-earth children’s play area, built from construction clay spoil, in collaboration with Tuckey Design Studio and Staffordshire University students.
The Chimney Princess – A striking five-foot-high clay goddess created by artist Josie KO, celebrating the overlooked histories of Black women in Stoke-on-Trent.
Slip Tales – A reimagining of Staffordshire’s slipware traditions, created with local communities.
Raverina’s Dance Floor – A sensory installation from Portuguese artist Carolina Garfo, blending sound, film, and ceramic traditions of the Algarve.
Why Go to British Ceramics Biennial 2025?
For travellers, the British Ceramics Biennial offers more than just exhibitions. It’s an invitation to explore a city whose identity is deeply tied to craft, where history and innovation meet. Visitors can wander the historic kilns of Stoke, meet artists in residence, join clay workshops, or simply marvel at how a humble material has inspired generations.
The Biennial also prompts timely reflection: through its Clay Conference on 2 October, it will host a major discussion on re-using clay waste, showing how traditions of making can respond to urgent environmental challenges.
British Ceramics Biennial 2025
The British Ceramics Biennial 2025 runs from 6 September – 19 October at the Spode factory site in Stoke-on-Trent. Admission is free.
How to Visit
📍 Where: Spode Works, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
🚆 Getting There: Stoke-on-Trent is 90 minutes by train from London Euston, 50 minutes from Birmingham, and just over an hour from Manchester. Spode Works is a short walk from Stoke station.
☕ Where to Eat & Drink: Pop into The Quarter Café in Hanley for artisan coffee and cakes, or try The Glost House for a hearty brunch surrounded by industrial heritage. Craft beer lovers should head to BottleCraft for local brews.
🛍️ Don’t Miss: Explore the city’s other ceramic attractions, including the Gladstone Pottery Museum and Middleport Pottery, or browse contemporary ceramic design at Emma Bridgewater’s factory and café.
🌿 Day Trips: Combine your visit with a stroll in the landscaped grounds of Trentham Gardens, or venture out into the dramatic ridges of the nearby Peak District.
More details at: www.britishceramicsbiennial.com