Known as The Festival Town, Cheltenham hosts some of the UK’s most established and best-loved festivals, with a packed calendar spanning literature, music, science, sport and food throughout 2026.
From flagship events like the world renowned Cheltenham Literature Festival to summer highlights including Cheltenham Cricket Festival, in partnership with Visit Cheltenham, SoGlos handpicks the 2026 festivals worth getting in your calendars now.
Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2026
Taking place from Wednesday 29 April to Monday 4 May 2026, Cheltenham Jazz Festival returns with a six-day programme celebrating jazz in all its forms, from classic and contemporary to soul, funk and beyond.
With international headliners, emerging talent and a strong free ‘Around Town’ programme, supported by Cheltenham BID, bringing live music to pubs, bars and pop-up spaces across Cheltenham, it remains one of the UK’s most distinctive and best-loved music festivals.
Visit visitcheltenham.com/cheltenham-jazz-festival for more information.
Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts 2026
It's a special year for Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts, which marks its centenary year with an extensive programme of music, dance and drama at Cheltenham Town Hall in 2026.
Taking place from Wednesday 6 to Saturday 16 May 2026, with hundreds of classes and performances from young talent across the region, alongside professional adjudication and showcase events, it remains one of Cheltenham’s longest-running and most community-rooted festivals.
Visit visitcheltenham.co.uk/festivalofperformingarts for more information.
Pride in Cheltenham 2026
Taking place on Saturday 16 May 2026, Pride in Cheltenham returns with a day of celebration, community and visibility, beginning with a march through the town centre and continuing in Imperial Gardens.
With live performances, community stalls and a welcoming festival atmosphere, it brings people together in a vibrant show of inclusivity and support for LGBTQ+ communities across Gloucestershire.
Visit visitcheltenham.co.uk/pride for more information.
Cheltenham Fringe Festival 2026
Championing independent creativity, Cheltenham Fringe Festival returns from Friday 22 to Saturday 30 May 2026 with a packed programme of performances at Cheltenham Playhouse.
Spanning music, theatre, comedy, film, poetry and more, it provides a platform for emerging artists and diverse voices, with events running throughout the week in an open and accessible setting.
Visit visitcheltenham.co.uk/fringe for more information.
Cotswold Festival of Steam 2026
Few events capture the nostalgia of rail travel quite like the Cotswold Festival of Steam, returning from Saturday 23 to Monday 25 May 2026 at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.
Expect a weekend of heritage locomotives in action, behind-the-scenes access and scenic journeys through the countryside, with an atmosphere that appeals to enthusiasts and families alike.
Visit visitcheltenham.co.uk/festivalofsteam for more information.
Wychwood Festival 2026
A long-standing favourite on Cheltenham’s summer calendar, Wychwood Festival returns to Cheltenham Racecourse from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May 2026 for its 20th anniversary edition.
Blending big-name live music from headliners including Kaiser Chiefs and Levellers in 2026, with comedy, workshops and family-friendly activities across multiple stages, it offers a relaxed, all-ages festival atmosphere that has made it one of the UK’s 'best-loved boutique festivals'.
Visit visitcheltenham.co.uk/wychwood for more information.
Cheltenham Science Festival 2026
Cheltenham Science Festival returns in June 2026 with more than 100 events exploring the ideas shaping modern life – from AI and climate change to health, politics and human behaviour.
This year’s line-up features high-profile names including Jimmy Wales, Alice Roberts and Deborah Meaden, alongside a lively free programme in Imperial Gardens with interactive zones, talks and hands-on experiences.
Visit visitcheltenham.co.uk/science for more information.
Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival 2026
Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival brings a three-day programme celebrating food, drink and live entertainment to Montpellier Gardens from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 June 2026.
With cookery demonstrations, tastings and a wide range of food and drink stalls, it offers a lively setting to sample produce and explore new flavours in the heart of Cheltenham.
Visit visitcheltenham.co.uk/foodanddrinkfestival for more information.
Cheltenham Summer Jam 2026
Bringing festival vibes to the heart of Cheltenham, The Brewery Quarter is hosting Summer Jam: The Lakefest Warmup from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 June 2026 — with three days of music and family entertainment scheduled earlier in the summer than usual this year.
Featuring top talent handpicked from the Lakefest line-up, plus the final of the Road to Lakefest competition, which sees talented local bands battling it out for a place on the main stage, the free event gives visitors a taster of what's to come at the popular music festival at Eastnor Castle in August, plus a chance to visit the bars and restaurants serving up cocktails, craft beers, ciders and tasty takeaway food.
Visit visitcheltenham.co.uk/summerjam for more information.
Cheltenham Music Festival 2026
One of the UK’s longest-running classical music festivals, Cheltenham Music Festival returns from Friday 3 to Saturday 11 July 2026 with an eight-day programme of live performances across the town.
Bringing together world premieres, established performers and emerging talent in venues including Cheltenham Town Hall and Pittville Pump Room, it continues to showcase music from across the classical spectrum in distinctive settings.
Visit visitcheltenham.co.uk/musicfestival for more information.
Cheltenham 7s Festival 2026
Blending sport and live entertainment, Cheltenham 7s Festival returns to Newlands Park in Southam Lane on Friday 31 July and Saturday 1 August 2026 for a high-energy weekend of competition and music.
With rugby, netball and dodgeball tournaments alongside a packed programme of DJs, live acts, food, drink and family-friendly activities, it brings together festivalgoers and sports fans in one of the summer’s liveliest events.
Visit visitcheltenham.co.uk/7s for more information.
Cheltenham Cricket Festival 2026
A highlight of the summer, this is an unmissable opportunity for any cricket fan to be bowled over by the longest running cricket festival in the world. Kicking off on Saturday 8 through to Friday 24 August 2026, the idyllic setting of Cheltenham College provides the perfect backdrop for cricket at the height of summer.
Continuing a tradition that dates back more than 150 years, with a varied schedule of fixtures scheduled this summer, it offers a relaxed way to watch top-level county cricket – combining sporting heritage with a distinctly social atmosphere.
Visit visitcheltenham.co.uk/cricketfestival for more information.
Tuckwell Open-Air Theatre Festival 2026
Enjoy theatre under the stars at the Tuckwell Open Air Theatre Festival, coming to Cheltenham from 11 August to 23 August 2026 with a packed programme of outdoor performances.
From Shakespeare to family favourites, it’s the perfect way to soak up culture and summer evenings in a beautiful alfresco setting.
Visit visitcheltenham.com/tuckwell-open-air-theatre-festival for more information.
Cheltenham Heritage Open Days 2026
As part of the popular national programme of events, Cheltenham Heritage Open Days returns to celebrate the town’s history, culture and architecture, from Friday 11 to Sunday 20 September 2026.
Organised by Cheltenham Civic Society and run by volunteers, from guided walks and talks to access inside buildings not usually open to the public, all events are free to attend, offering an accessible way to explore Cheltenham from a different perspective.
Visit visitcheltenham.co.uk/heritageopendays for more information.
Cheltenham Literature Festival 2026
One of the UK’s most established cultural events, Cheltenham Literature Festival returns from Friday 9 to Sunday 18 October 2026, bringing a ten-day programme of ticketed talks, free family activities and fringe events to venues across the town.
With leading authors, thinkers and emerging voices exploring everything from fiction and poetry to politics, history and culture, it remains the world’s longest-running literature festival and a defining moment in Cheltenham’s calendar.
Visit visitcheltenham.co.uk/literaturefestival for more information.
