ARTS and LITERARY FESTIVALS 2026
Please check the festivals’ websites for the latest information.
Updated 19th January 2026
Some of 2026’s dates have not yet been announced. The events and festivals that are scheduled, but have not yet announced dates, are marked in red
JANUARY
21st to 26th January 2026
Shaftesbury, Festival of Baroque www.shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk
Bradford (on Avon) Roots Music Festival www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk Fallow Year
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FEBRUARY
4th to 8th February 2026
Bristol Slapstick Festival, www.slapstick.org.uk
19th to 21st February 2026
Bath Bach Festival, www.bathbachfest.co.uk
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MARCH
13th and 14th March 2026
Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival www.budlitfest.org.uk (and 23-27 September)
20th to 22nd March
Shaftesbury Book Festival – Reading the Land www.shaftesburybookfestival.com
Teignmouth Poetry Festival, www.poetryteignmouth.com 2026 dates tba
Curious Minds, Bath, various venues www.batharts.co.uk 2026 dates tba
Bristol Bluegrass and Americana Festival, www.bristolfolkhouse.co.uk 2026 dates tba
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APRIL
22nd to 26th April 2026
From Page to Screen, Bridport, www.bridport-arts.com
30th April to 7th May 2026
Sherborne Abbey Festival www.sherborneabbeyfestival.org
Bath Comedy Festival www.bathcomedy.com 2026 dates tba
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MAY
1st to 3rd May 2026
Bristol Folk Festival www.bristolfolkfestival.co.uk
4th to 10th May 2026
Swindon Festival of Literature, www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk
9th to 17th May 2026
Wedmore Arts Festival, www.wedmorefestival.co.uk
15th to 17th May 2026
Dart Music Festival, www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk
21st to 24th May 2026
Shindig Weekender Charlton Park, Wiltshire, music & comedy, www.shindigfestival.co.uk
22nd to 24th May 2026
The Cursus Cider and Music Festival, Canada Farm Sixpenny Handley www.cursusfestival.com
22nd to 25th May 2026
Sidmouth Jazz and Blues Festival www.sidmouthjazz.com
Chippenham Folk Festival, www.chippfolk.co.uk
22nd May to 7th June 2026
Bath Fringe Festival, inc Bedlam fair. www.bathfringe.co.uk
23rd and 24th May 2026
Love Saves the Day Ashton Court, Bristol www.lovesavestheday.org
23rd to 25th May 2026
Dunster Festival www.dunsterfestival.co.uk
23rd May to 7th June 2026
Dorset Art Weeks www.dorsetartweeks.co.uk
Purbeck Art Weeks open studios, music, literature: www.purbeckartweeks.co.uk
24th May to 8th June 2026
Salisbury International Arts Festival www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk
30th and 31 st May 2026
Wessex Folk Festival, Weymouth, www.wessexfolkfestival.com
30th May to 7th June 2026
Bath International Music Festival, www.bathfestivals.org.uk
Wylye Valley Art Trail, biennial event, open studios, workshops etc www.wvat.co.uk Fallow Year
Ultimate Tribute Festival at Upton Country Park www.uptoncountrypark.com 2026 dates tba
Devizes Arts Festival multi arts festival, www.devizesartsfestival.org.uk 2026 dates tba
Od Arts Festival, West Coker www.odartsfestival.co.uk 2026 dates tba
Yarlington Fringe music, crafts, art, opera, barn dance 2026 dates tba
Bridport Dance Festival www.bridportdancefestival.org.uk 2026 dates tba
Sturminster Newton Literary Festival www.sturlitfest.com 2026 dates tba
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JUNE
Ilminster Literary Festival ilminsterliteraryfestival.org 2nd to 8th June 2026
12th to 14th June 2026
Wimborne Minster Folk Festival, www.wimbornefolk.co.uk
Chilthorne Domer Home Farm Fest, fund-raiser for Piers Simon Appeal, www.homefarmfest.co.uk
13th and 14th June 2026
Lyme Regis Fossil Festival www.fossilfestival.co.uk
18th to 21st June 2026
Isle of Wight Festival, www.isleofwightfestival.com
20th June 2026
Petherton Folk Fest South Petherton, www.pethertonfolkfest.org.uk
22nd to 28th June 2026
Chalke History Festival talks, discussions, debates, living history encampment, air show, celebration of history, writing, www.chalkefestival.com
26th June to 4th July 2026
Budleigh Salterton Music Festival www.budleighmusicfestival.co.uk
27th June to 5th July 2026
Beaminster Festival www.beaminsterfestival.com
Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk Fallow Year
Upton House Food and Music Festival www.uptoncountrypark.com 2026 dates tba
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JULY
1st to 5th July 2026
New Forest Folk Festival Plaitford nr Romsey, Powells Farm, www.newforestfolkfestival.co.uk
3rd to 12th July 2026
Frome Festival inc world food, open studios, music, etc www.fromefestival.co.uk
10th to 12th July 2026
Priddy Folk Festival www.priddyfolk.org
Swanage Jazz Festival www.swanagejazzfestival.co.uk
17th and 18th July 2026
Godney Gathering, music, etc, www.thegodneygathering.com
17th to 19th July 2026
Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival, music, theatre, talks, debates, processions www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk Shaftesbury Fringe Festival www.shaftesburyfringe.co.uk
21st to 25th July 2026
Dorset Opera Festival, Coade Hall, Bryanston, www.dorsetopera.com Sampson and Dalila and L’Elisir d’Amore.
23rd to 26th July 2026
Womad, Neston Park, north Wilts, www.womad.co.uk
30th July to 2nd August 2026
Camp Bestival, Lulworth Castle, www.campbestival.net
31st July to 2nd August 2026
Poole Harbour Festival www.pooleharbourfestival.com
Valley Fest, (Bristol Food and Music Festival) Chew Magna, music and food, www.valleyfest.co.uk
31st July to 7th August 2026
Sidmouth Folk Week, www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk
Southern Cathedrals Festival, ? Cathedral, music, www.southerncathedralsfestival.org.uk 2026 dates tba
Bridport Folk Festival www.bridportfolkfestival.co.uk 2026 dates tba
Somerton Music and Arts Festival includes Somerstock Weekend (11th and 12th July) www.somertonartsfestival.co.uk 2026 dates tba
Bristol Harbour Festival, street theatre, music, circus, food, historic ships, etc www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk 2026 dates tba
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AUGUST
1st August 2026
Dorset Food & Arts Festival, Great Field, Poundbury, Dorchester, www.dorsetfestival.org
6th to 16th August 2026
IfOpera Festival, (formerly Iford Arts), Church Farm, Wingfield. www.ifopera.com Carmen, The Chocolate Soldier, A Toast to the Tavern and picnic prom
7th to 9th August 2026
International Balloon Fiesta, balloons, music, food etc www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk
14th to 16th August 2026
Jurassic Fields Music Festival Bridport www.jurassicfields.com
15th to 23rd August 2026
Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Art www.burtonbradstockfestival.com
19th to 22nd August 2026
ArcTangent Fernhill Farm nr Bristol https://arctangent.co.uk/
20th to 23rd August 2026
Purbeck Valley Folk Festival www.purbeckvalleyfolkfestival.co.uk
21st to 23rd August 2026
Beautiful Days, Escot Park, Ottery St Mary, www.beautifuldays.org
23rd to 30th August 2026
Edington Festival of Music within the Liturgy, choral and sacred music from 16th to 21st century, www.edingtonfestival.org
28th to 30th August 2026
Victorious Festival, Portsmouth, indie rock fest, www.victoriousfestival.co.uk
28th to 31st August 2026
Lyme Regis Folk Weekend, www.lymefolk.com
Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza, www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/information/glastonbury-abbey-extravaganza Fallow Year
Weston-super-Mare Sea Shanty and Folk Music Festival www.wsmshantyfest.com 2026 dates tba
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SEPTEMBER
3rd to 6th September 2026
End of the Road Festival www.endoftheroadfestival.com
Purbeck Chamber Music Festival www.picmf.org
4th to 6th September 2026
Didmarton Bluegrass Festival www.didmarton-bluegrass.co.uk
11th to 13th September 2026
Swanage Folk Festival www.swanagefolkfestival.com
11th to 20th September 2026
Jane Austen Festival, Bath, 25th anniversary fest, www.janeaustenfestivalbath.co.uk
12th to 20th September 2026
International Agatha Christie Festival Torbay, www.iacf-uk.org
19th September to 4th October 2026
Somerset Art Weeks Festival www.somersetartworks.org.uk
23rd to 27th September 2026 Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival www.budlitfest.org.uk
24th to 27th September 2026
Marlborough Literature Festival, www.marlboroughlitfest.org
26th September to 4th October 2026
Bath Children’s Literature Festival www.bathfestivals.org.uk/childrens-literature
Bridport Hat Festival www.bridporthatfest.org 2026 dates tba
B-Side, Portland, multi media arts festival, www.b-side.org.uk 2026 dates tba
Arts by the Sea, various venues, www.artsbythesea.co.uk 2026 dates tba
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OCTOBER
1st to 4th October 2026
Swanage Blues Festival www.swanage-blues.org
12th to 18th October 2026
Mere Literary Festival www.mereliteraryfestival.com
16th to 24th October 2026
Wells Festival of Literature www.wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk
16th October to 1 November 2026
Purbeck Film Festival, Rex Cinema and other Purbeck venues, www.purbeckfilm.com
17th to 24th October 2026
Dorchester Literary Festival www.dorchesterliteraryfestival.com
20th to 22nd October 2026
Salisbury Literary Festival www.salisburyliteraryfestival.co.uk (TBC)
Yeovil Literary Festival www.yeovilliteraryfestival.co.uk 2026 dates tba
Two Moors Festival, www.twomoorsfestival.co.uk 2026 dates tba
Celebrate Voice Salisbury, www.celebratevoice.co.uk 2026 dates tba
Purbeck Film Festival Rex Cinema and other Purbeck venues, www.purbeckfilm.com 2026 dates tba
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NOVEMBER
13th to 21st November 2026
Bath Mozart Festival, www.bathmozartfest.org.uk
FilmBath Festival various venues, www.filmbath.org.uk 2026 dates tba
Bridport Literary Festival www.bridlit.com 2026 dates tba
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DECEMBER
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