Young Creatives Invited to Illuminate Glow Wild 2026
East Sussex College is inviting young creatives to help shape one of the South East’s most spectacular winter events, as it partners with Kew Wakehurst and Southern Rail to launch a unique design competition for Glow Wild 2026.
The annual lantern trail, running from 26th November 2026 to 2nd January 2027, attracts visitors from across the region, transforming Wakehurst into a glowing landscape of light, colour and imagination. Submissions must be made by Friday 5th June 2026.
Now, young artists have the chance to see their ideas become part of the trail itself, as illuminated willow and paper sculptures brought to life for thousands to experience.
The competition challenges students to respond to the theme: ‘What would nature look like if it glowed?’. Inspired by ecosystems, plants, wildlife and natural movement, entrants are encouraged to reimagine “nature’s gifts” as bold, imaginative lantern designs that capture the magic of light in the natural world.
Open to two age categories, 13-15 and 16-19 year-olds, the competition is free to enter and offers a rare opportunity for young people to take their creativity beyond the classroom and into a professional festival environment.
Prizes include:
- First Prize (one in each category): The opportunity to work with Wakehurst professionals to transform a winning design into a finished lantern featured on the Glow Wild trail, plus a £150 Amazon voucher and an individual Southern Rail train ticket
- Runner-Up Prizes (five in each category): A place on a professional lantern-making workshop at Wakehurst (30th June – 3rd July 2026) and a £25 Amazon voucher
Nigel Ryan, Creative Futures Lead at East Sussex College, said: “This partnership with Wakehurst gives young people a brilliant opportunity to take their ideas beyond the classroom and into a real professional setting. We’re not just looking for a drawing - we’re looking for imagination that can be turned into something built in light and structure. It’s incredibly exciting for students to see their work brought to life on such a large scale, and we can’t wait to see how they interpret the ‘gifts of nature’.”
Katherine Morton, Creative Co-ordinator for Glow Wild at Wakehurst, said, “The team at Wakehurst are so excited to see what inspires the students about the curiosities and beauty of the natural environment and what in turn sparks their imagination for a lantern design.”
To enter, participants should submit up to two lantern design ideas - these can be sketches, paintings or digital artwork - along with a short description of their concept.
Entries should be emailed to: Kew-WakehurstComp@escg.ac.uk
Key dates:
- Submission deadline: Friday 5th June 2026
- Winners notified: Tuesday 23rd June 2026
This is an exclusive chance for young artists to bring their creativity to life on a spectacular public stage - don’t miss the opportunity to help light up the winter nights at Wakehurst this winter.
