Festivals

Cheltenham is the home of Festivals, from jump racing to food, literature, science, music and jazz. We are known as The Festival Town, and while there is so much going on here year round, we are particularly proud of our annual Festival calendar.

As well as the nationally and internationally acclaimed festivals, we have some lesser-known, but still high calibre events including Cocktail Week, The Wine Festival, a Poetry Festival and a Street Chilli Fiesta, which are all worth a visit!  

Offering a fantastic Festival calendar throughout venues across Cheltenham these Festivals are extremely popular, so early booking is advised for both the event and your accommodation should you wish to stay...

Cheltenham Music Festival kicks off the summer  every year with a fortnight of fantastic music and entertainment at various indoor and outdoor venues across Cheltenham. 

The May, June and July are particularly jam-packed with festivals to enjoy, kicking off with the Wychwood Music Festival, which takes place at Cheltenham Racecourse. Cheltenham Science Festival runs at Cheltenham Town Hall, and the Cheltenham Food and Drink Festival  which takes place in Montpellier Gardens and features tastings, demonstrations, lectures and plenty of local produce to take home! The beginning of July is always exciting with the awrd winning 2000 Trees Festival  taking place in nearby Upcote Farm.

Remember to book early to avoid disappointment for any of these events.  You can book your accomodation online via this website, or call our helpful Tourist Information Centre who offer a free accommodation booking service.

For visitors wishing to explore further afield, a popular event at the nearby Royal Three Counties Showground is the RHS Malvern Spring Festival, with four days of horticultural delights, demonstrations, food, drink and trade stands. Use Cheltenham as your base to stay and travel just 40 minutes up the motorway to enjoy the event. You will be sure to spot some famous faces including Monty Don and Carol Klein from BBC Gardener's World, who film there every year. Meanwhile at The Royal Three Counties Agricultural Show is at the Three Counties Showground, showcasing the finest in agricultural, livestock and equine, with many trade stands and activities.

We look forward to welcoming you to Cheltenham, and please keep checking our website for the latest events and up to date event information as it is released.