The Peter Rabbit: Tales on the Tyne art trail officially launched on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, with the unveiling of the 96th and final sculpture at Newcastle Civic Centre. The free, family-friendly trail spans nine weeks, concluding on Monday, September 14, and features sculptures across Newcastle city centre, the Quayside, Ouseburn, Jesmond, Gosforth, Tynemouth, Whitley Bay, Cullercoats, North Shields, and Wallsend.
Final Sculpture Unveiled by Young Artists
The final sculpture, named Golden, was designed by young people from The Bostey Community Youth Centre in Walker, working with artist Tommy Anderson. Charlie Langhorne, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Wild in Art, joined pupils from St Aidan's Catholic Primary School in Wallsend to officially declare the trail open.
Steph Edusei, Chief Executive of St Oswald's Hospice, said: "After months of hard work behind the scenes, we are delighted to finally unveil our wonderful 'fluffle' of sculptures to the region. Our artists and young people have done a magnificent job, and we can't wait to see the reaction from our communities."
Charity Auction and Community Impact
Most of the large Peter Rabbit sculptures will be auctioned off to raise funds for St Oswald's Hospice. The trail follows previous successful installations: Great North Snowdogs in 2016, North Parade in 2019, and Shaun on the Tyne in 2023.
Charlie Langhorne added: "It's been a privilege to partner with St Oswald's and Penguin to create this art trail for Newcastle upon Tyne and North Tyneside. We're incredibly proud to see Peter Rabbit: Tales on the Tyne come to life across the city."
How to Participate
Families can enhance their experience with a dedicated app, and printed trail maps and sticker books are available at St Oswald's Hospice shops. Cllr Austin, Cabinet Member for Culture, Communities and Youth Services at Newcastle City Council, said: "We're delighted to be supporting St Oswald's Hospice as the headline partner of the 2026 Tales on the Tyne sculpture trail. It's a fantastic opportunity to bring families together over the summer holidays with a free, fun and accessible activity that encourages people to explore Newcastle, discover our cultural venues and spend time outdoors."
