Cirencester history festival

RETURNING 23 OCT – 1 NOV 2026!

First headliners are now live, with lots more brilliant names to follow in the coming weeks. Stay tuned – full programme is announced and tickets go on sale on 4 September!

ROBERT HARRIS

ALICE LOXTON

simon sebag montefiore

kate williams

ronald hutton

philippa langley

ben macintyre

orchestra of the age of enlightenment

‘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.

Download PDF

2024 Programme

Download the full 2024 programme as a PDF.

Download 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.

Email Di

With Huge thanks to our patrons & Sponsors

This festival is a true Cirencester collaboration, created by over 40 organisations with a shared vision for our town. Making it all possible are our patrons and sponsors, whose overwhelming, and ever-growing, support shows the true strength of our community.

Thank you all – we couldn’t do it without you.