Spot the window piece at St David’s Dewi Sant , Iris Prize is opening its first public pop-up to showcase LGBTQ+ short films, artists and archive favourites ahead of the 20th anniversary festival in October, bringing screenings, art and festival teams into the city centre.

Essential Takeaways

  • First-time public space: Iris Prize opens a pop-up in St David’s Grand Arcade to reach new, everyday shoppers.
  • Art and archive films: A World Map installation by Jenna Murphy will update fortnightly, alongside a mini cinema showing curated shorts and Dylan Lewis Thomas’s Pink Portraits Revisited.
  • Meet the team: Festival staff will be on site to answer questions and reveal special events in the run-up to the festival.
  • Festival timing: Iris returns for its 20th edition from 12–18 October 2026, with the full programme out on 5 September.
  • Accessible and local: Located near John Lewis on the lower level, the pop-up aims to be approachable, informative and visually striking.

Why a pop-up matters: bringing Iris to shoppers’ routes

Putting a pop-up in St David’s is a neat bit of urban theatre , it places Iris Prize where people already flow, with a bold, visual hook in the shopping centre window. According to St David’s Centre Director Helen Morgan, the centre has backed Iris since its early days and this move is about reaching new audiences who might not yet know the festival exists.

Festival directors say it’s a chance to demystify the programme and invite conversation. If you’re passing by, you’ll notice a mixture of colour, photography and film that feels less like a ticketed event and more like a cultural pit stop.

The creative draw: Jenna Murphy’s World Map and the portrait exhibition

Local artist Jenna Murphy will build a World Map that’s updated every two weeks with filmmakers and guests who’ve confirmed attendance , a simple, tactile way to show the festival’s global reach. The map promises quiet delight: names popping up, countries connecting, a visible sense of community growing as October approaches.

There’s also Dylan Lewis Thomas’s Pink Portraits Revisited, a photographic series that gives the installation an emotional, human centre. For anyone who likes art with a backstory, the display is both accessible and resonant.

Mini cinema and screenings: shorts in a compact setting

The pop-up includes a mini cinema showing highlights from the Iris archive, giving passers-by a taste of the festival’s short-film programme. That’s smart programming , shorts are low-commitment, high-impact, and perfect for catching attention between errands.

Festival director Berwyn Rowlands has said the team will screen films at the site and host special events with partners, so keep an eye out for pop-up screening slots and Q&A moments. If you want to sample the festival without booking a full session, this is your gateway.

How this fits into the wider Iris Prize comeback

This pop-up is timely: Iris moves to Cineworld for the 20th anniversary and has reported record open submissions, with a broad international spread and an access strategy that aims to be inclusive. Announcing the full festival programme on 5 September, and revealing the Best British shortlist on 22 August at Scene Festival, Manchester, the team is building momentum.

For Cardiff, it’s a bright reminder that the festival isn’t just for insiders , it’s a public, civic celebration of short filmmaking and LGBTQ+ stories. The retail setting also signals a trend: cultural organisations using pop-ups to make their work visible and conversational.

Practical tips for visitors and festival-goers

If you plan to pop in, go during quieter weekday periods for a leisurely look and a chance to speak to the festival team. Check for updated map entries every two weeks if you’re tracking guests, and watch the mini cinema schedule for short screenings that fit around your day. For full programme details, note the 5 September reveal and the festival week dates, 12–18 October.

Accessibility is a stated priority for Iris, so ask the team about access options or schedule details if you need them , festivals are more welcoming when organisers share plain info upfront.

It's a small change that can make every visit feel like the start of something bigger.

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