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Welcome to Cheltenham Festivals Changing lives through culture

Literature for Schools 2026 Tickets Now on Sale
Join us from 9–18 October for inspiring events with Michael Rosen, Katherine Rundell, Nadia Shireen, Nathanael Lessore and many more.
This year's programme offers something for every age group, with events designed to spark imaginations, nurture creativity and inspire a lifelong love of reading and writing.
Book Your PlaceWe believe in a world where everyone can explore and create culture
Our charity brings joy, sparks curiosity, connects communities and inspires change year-round through four world-class Festivals in Jazz, Science, Music and Literature and projects for education, community and talent development
What's On What's on

Astatine Trio
BBC New Generation ArtistThe award-winning Astatine Trio has emerged as one of the UK’s most exciting young ensembles and opens this year’s series of recitals by current BBC New Generation Artists. From 2022–25 the trio benefited from the…

Za Górami
Vocalist and violinist Alice Zawadzki, pianist Fred Thomas and bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado present a rare alchemy, fusing folk idioms from a multitude of sources with free-flowing interplay and fluid structures. Inhabiting their own…

Verdi's Requiem
Verdi poured all his skill into depicting the extremes of human emotion in his Requiem. Already the grand master of Italian opera, Verdi borrowed his experience dramatising heartache, grandeur, violence and intense beauty to create perhaps…

Opus13
First Prize winners at the 2025 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition, Opus13 is rapidly emerging as a leading voice on the international chamber music scene. Named after Mendelssohn’s String Quartet in A minor, Op. 13 —…

Vision String Quartet
Returning to Cheltenham after a spectacular recital in 2025 which demonstrated their precocious artistry, Vision String Quartet play pieces from every corner of the quartet repertoire with one signature difference: there are no music…

Mixtape x Squidsoup
Mixtape returns in 2026, refreshed by a brand new collaboration with world-leading arts collective Squidsoup, masters of beautiful immersive lighting design. Grab a drink, sit, stand, or lie back and get lost in the magical interplay of…

It's time for the Next Chapter
Since 1945, thanks to your support, we've been changing lives through culture. And now it's time for the Next Chapter. Read all about our Five Year Strategy today.
Keep up to date with Festival news See all news

The Big Read 2026
Tuesday 16 June 2026The Big Read 2026One book. One community. One Big Read.
The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival Announces Women's Prize for Fiction Winner 2026 ‘Big Read' Title
Tuesday 16 June 2026The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival has today announced Women’s Prize for Fiction winner Virginia Evans’ and The Correspondent as this year’s Big Read title, launching a celebration of reading ahead of the Festival…
Inspiring the Next Generation of Curious Minds
Friday 12 June 2026Last week our Festival Village sparked the curiosity of thousands of Festival-goers with over 100 vibrant talks, explosive demos and creative workshops during Cheltenham Science Festival 2026.


