Cirencester history festival
RETURNING 23 OCT – 1 NOV 2026!
To celebrate the return of the Bayeux Tapestry to England for the first time in nearly 1000 years, we are creating our very own Cirencester Tapestry, ready to embroider during Festival week. Everyone is invited to submit drawings of Cirencester life, past and present, for a chance to feature on the finished design…
‘Welcome to Cirencester History Festival: a celebration of local, national and global history set in the historic Capital of the Cotswolds every October half term.
Our 2025 festival was another huge hit with stimulating talks, incredible music, family events, community activities and even a train!
Please make sure you sign up to our mailing list (see below) for news and updates about our 2026 lineup, and please do consider supporting us by becoming a friend, patron or even volunteer.
Thank you Cirencester, and hope to see you in the autumn!’
Dame Fiona Reynolds
President of Cirencester History Festival and former Director General of the National Trust
Photograph © Olivia Dale Studio
‘It’s a real privilege to be back as ambassador for my hometown’s History Festival, and I couldn’t be more excited about this year’s line-up.
I’m also really pleased that the £5 ticket scheme for under-22s is back. Encouraging the next generation to explore history is such an important part of what this festival does, and hopefully it inspires a few future archaeologists, historians and storytellers along the way’.
Charlie Cooper
Festival Ambassador, actor, writer and star of the BBC’s This Country and Myth Country
Families
A full programme of family activities including crafting, workshops, cookery classes, storytelling, dressing up and Halloween fun.
Talks
Flagship talks from some of the country’s top historians, thinkers and broadcasters as well as many brilliant local voices.
Walks & Tours
A wide range of guided walks and tours, from the Corinium Museum, Civic Society and Living Memory Historical Association.
Revelry
Music, dining and more from some big names & our creative partners in the town.
Exhibitions
Special exhibitions and museum openings for festival week.
Craft & Cookery
A range of activities from mending to painting, cooking and baking.
Previous Festival Programmes
2025 Programme
Download the full 2025 programme as a PDF.
2024 Programme
Download the full 2024 programme as a PDF.
Join our mailing list
Be the first to hear about programme news in 2026. We promise not to bombard you!
By completing this process you are giving permission for Cirencester History Festival to send you festival news and updates.
Become a Festival Patron
We are looking for businesses and individuals to join our honourable circle of patrons, from £500.
Become a Festival FRIEND
Last year we introduced a Friends’ Scheme for £50.
This funding will go towards extending our community outreach work and making more events free.
To find out more about these schemes, please see our Support Us page and contact Di Cronin.
With Huge thanks to our patrons
Cirencester Society in London
Jeremy Lodwick
Sir Michael McWilliam
Dame Fiona Reynolds
Paul & Vivian Styles
Anna Vaughan
Forever Grateful to our founding patrons
- Arts Society Corinium
- Barn Theatre
- The Bathurst Estate
- Calmsden Farms
- Cirencester Archaeological & Historical Society
- Cirencester Civic Society
- Cirencester College
- Cirencester Community Development Trust
- Cirencester Town Council
- Corinium Hotel
- Cotswold District Council
- Cotswolds Lakes Brew Co
- Cotswold Primrose Trust
- Creation Logics
- Daniel Bingham Foundation
- Friends of Corinium Museum
- Honourable Company of Gloucestershire
- Indian Rasoi
- St James’s Place
- The K D Winstone Charitable Trust
- The Kings Head
- Jeremy Lodwick
- Sir Michael McWilliam
- Richard Mullings
- Dame Fiona Reynolds
- Royal Agricultural University
- Paul & Vivian Styles
- UK Prosperity Fund
- Vanessa Arbuthnott
- Woodroffe Benton Foundation
- Yiangou architects