Shambala Festival 2026

For over 15 years, Ishtiaq Hussain has been captivating audiences with the art of Visual Vernacular (VV) — a powerful and visually stunning performance style that combines facial expression, mime, body movement and cinematic storytelling to bring stories to life without spoken words.

His performances transport audiences into imaginative worlds filled with emotion, humour and drama, creating unforgettable experiences that connect with people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds through the universal language of visual storytelling.

Beyond the stage, Ishtiaq is passionate about sharing his expertise and supporting artists and creatives to explore the possibilities of Visual Vernacular and visual storytelling within their own work, helping to promote creativity, accessibility and inclusion through the arts.

In 2026, Ishtiaq will bring his unique Visual Vernacular performances to Shambala Festival, sharing the beauty and power of visual storytelling with festival audiences from across the UK and beyond.