A colourful collage of Cheltenham Festivals

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Cheltenham, The Festival Town

  1. The Marketing Cheltenham team
    Visit Cheltenham team’s top picks of the festival season

    The festival season is officially underway in Cheltenham, The Festival Town, and this year promises an exciting lineup of events to kick off the summer. Check out a few top picks we're excited for.

  2. Cheltenham Festivals & Major Events Guide 2025
    What's on guide - Cheltenham festivals & major events
    Your guide to Cheltenham festivals and major sports events in 2025, from Cheltenham Festival in March, to Cheltenham Jazz, Science, Music and Literature Festivals, Wychwood, 2000Trees and many more.
  3. Collage of images featuring 25 reasons to visit Cheltenham in 2025
    25 reasons to visit Cheltenham in 2025

    Cheltenham is gearing up for an unforgettable 2025, with a year packed full of exciting events, landmark anniversaries, and new experiences. The Festival Town is set to shine with a series of unmissable moments.

  4. The insider’s guide to Cheltenham: The Festival Town
    The insider’s guide to The Festival Town
    Come for the festivals and stay for the fun, food and fabulous hospitality: indulge your passions and experience so much more in Cheltenham.
  5. Crowds at Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2024.
    Cheltenham Jazz Festival
    Cheltenham, The Festival Town, is home to one of the country’s best-loved jazz festivals, attracting over 20,000 music fans annually. The popular annual event will next take place 29 April - 6 May 2026.
    1. 29 Apr 20264 May 2026
  6. People stood next to big JAZZ sign.
    Cheltenham Jazz Festival... around town free music
    Keep Wednesday 29 April to Monday 4 May 2026 clear in your calendar to enjoy six days of free music, part of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival.  Featuring the best of local talent performing at venues across Cheltenham - completely free of charge, thanks to the support of Cheltenham BID.
    1. 29 Apr 20264 May 2026
  7. Cheltenham Poetry Festival
    Cheltenham Poetry Festival
    Cheltenham Poetry Festival offers an annual 10-day programme of exciting live literature events each spring and a year-round online programme of workshops and poetry lounges. The 2025 Cheltenham Poetry Festival will take place 7 - 17 May at venues across Cheltenham.
    1. Race Night at Cheltenham Racecourse
      Race Night ft. Hunter Chase Racing
      The curtain comes down on the racing season with Cheltenham’s only evening fixture. The evening hosts a fun vibe from start to finish, you can feel the party atmosphere as soon as you walk through those gates onto the sacred grounds of Cheltenham Racecourse. Following fierce competition on the track, continue the celebrations into the evening with an afterparty trackside.
      1. 1 May 2026
    2. Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts
      Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts
      Cheltenham's oldest festival, set up in 1926! The annual Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts is packed with performances in music, dance and drama by children from local schools, theatre groups, dance schools and music clubs...
      1. Pride in Cheltenham
        Celebrate the spirit of inclusivity and love at Pride in Cheltenham 2025! This annual event features fun inclusive activities for all ages. Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community or a supportive ally, join us on Saturday 17 May to share in the joy and unity of this special day.
        1. Cotswold Festival of Steam
          Cotswold Festival of Steam
          Get ready to embark on a journey through time, where the past comes alive and the heritage of steam locomotives is celebrated in all its glory. Join for a long bank holiday weekend filled with the magic of steam, picturesque landscapes, and the rich history of the Cotswolds.
          1. 24 May 202526 May 2025
        2. Summer Jam 2019
          Summer Jam: The Lakefest Warmup
          The popular free music festival at The Brewery Quarter returns to kick start the summer holidays.
          1. 25 Jul 202527 Jul 2025
        3. Wychwood Festival
          Wychwood is an annual summer family festival which takes place at Cheltenham Racecourse. Nominated Best Family Festival at the UK Festival Awards, there is so much for all ages to enjoy and take part in. Wychwood Festival 2025 will take place 30 May - 1 June.
          1. 30 May 20251 Jun 2025
        4. Cheltenham Science Festival
          From 3–8 June, Cheltenham Festivals will bring together the brightest minds and boldest ideas — including Brian Cox, Tim Peake, Maddie Moate, Big Manny, Daze Aghaji, Maya Raichoora and Gordon Buchanan. Expect inspiring talks, hands-on experiments and exciting new additions including a Jetstream free stage, VOICEBOX takeover and a celebration of 20 years of FameLab.
          1. 3 Jun 20258 Jun 2025
        5. Cheltenham Music Festival
          Cheltenham Music Festival returns for its 80th birthday celebrations, 4 - 18 July 2025, for eight days of incredible music.
          1. 4 Jul 202512 Jul 2025
        6. Cheltenham Ladies College
          Cheltenham Heritage Open Days
          10 days of Cheltenham heritage free to explore! Discover Cheltenham and its heritage as buildings throw open their doors to the public with a full programme of exciting walks and fascinating talks.
          1. 12 Sep 202521 Sep 2025
        7. Cheltenham International Film Festival
          Cheltenham International Film Festival has brought together: filmmakers, guest celebrities, emerging talent and audiences to celebrate the best in world cinema.
          1. 19 Sep 202528 Sep 2025
        8. Cheltenham Literature Festival
          Cheltenham Literature Festival, 10-19 October, promises a feast for the mind. As the world’s longest-running literature festival, the annual event leads the way in celebrating the written and spoken word, presenting the best new voices in fiction and poetry alongside literary greats and high-profile speakers.
          1. 10 Oct 202519 Oct 2025
        9. The Showcase at Cheltenham Racecourse
          The Showcase
          The Showcase raises the curtain to the 2025/26 Cheltenham season, once again, the thundering hooves, eager participants and excited fans will return to the Home of Jump Racing on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 October 2025.
          1. 24 Oct 202525 Oct 2025
        10. Ladies weekend in Cheltenham and Gloucester
          Your guide to summer in Cheltenham
          A line up of the 100+ best events taking place over the summer in Cheltenham 2025 including festivals, Lions at Large free public art trail, live music, theatre performances, free events & much more!
        11. Live shows in Cheltenham 2024
          Live performances in Cheltenham
          Our guide to the best live performances in Cheltenham 2025, featuring comedians, music megastars and unmissable theatre shows.
        12. Cheltenham weekend breaks
          Cheltenham weekend breaks
          Our round up of the best 2023 Cheltenham weekend breaks, covering all budgets from luxurious town centre hotels, indulgent countryside retreats and budget friendly hotels offering great value for money…
        13. 48 hours in Cheltenham & the Cotswolds - suggested itinerary
          Weekend in Cheltenham & the Cotswolds
          Our suggested itinerary for a weekend in Cheltenham and the Cotswolds. Discover and explore this lesser known cool, cosmopolitan corner of England. Explore at your own pace and uncover some of the locals’ best kept secrets.
        14. Free events in Cheltenham
          Free events in Cheltenham
          As well as providing a fabulous backdrop, packed full of things you can see, feel, explore, discover and enjoy, absolutely free, there is also a regular rotation of free events that you can pop along and take part in...

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