Awakening curious minds with a stellar lineup of the UK's top historians, broadcasters and authors, Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend returns to the spellbinding Blackfriars Priory this spring.
When is Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend 2026?
Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend takes place from Friday 17 until Sunday 19 April 2026.
Who is on the lineup at Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend 2026?
The theme of this year's Spring Weekend is Power and Protest, with speakers telling the stories of everyone from warring royals to working class radicals across the centuries.
Headliners include TV historian and 'Queen of Classics', Dame Mary Beard, who discusses the surprising connections between our modern lives and ancient Rome and Greece; Britain's top-selling female historian, Alison Weir, with a riveting talk on medieval queens at war; prize-winning author and journalist, Tharik Hussain, exploring Islam's deep European roots; TV art historian, Bendor Grosvenor taking a deep dive into the artists of the English Civil War; and beloved poet, Pam Ayres, reflecting on her love of the Cotswolds.
BBC Radio 4 presenter, Edward Stourton, is discussing Trump's America and the current war in the Middle East; and UK Strategic Command's James Daniel explores Britain's global role in the Cold War, versus today, covering the history-making events happening right now.
And an unmissable event for local history buffs, BBC Coast presenter, Professor Mark Horton, reveals the true story of the Berkeley Pioneers – the Gloucestershire immigrants who are credited with America's first Thanksgiving, but met a grisly end.
There's also a programme of free talks, short performances and music in the Scriptorium, spanning everything from Tudor music and the history of the Three Choirs Festival, to the work of 'The Forest Poet' Catherine Drew and Gloucester's blue plaques.
There are 28 events taking place across the weekend – see the full lineup in this year's brochure at gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk.
How much are tickets to Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend 2026?
A Spring Festival pass providing in-person access to every event – and the same reserved seat – costs £160; with individual event tickets costing from £10 each.
Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend is also being live streamed online, with a Digital Festival Pass costing £50 for all events, or from £7 each for individual events – with the ability to watch again until Monday 25 May 2026.
How to book tickets to Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend 2026
To book tickets, visit gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk.
