CANTERBURY FESTIVAL 2026 - Line-up
More than 130 events will take place across the city this October
The famous Canterbury Festival returns this October (16 – 31 October) with a bold and exciting new programme crammed with world-class performances, bestselling authors, celebrated musicians, comedians, household names and internationally acclaimed performers.
With more than 130 events taking place, the festival presents everything from classical concerts and gigs to comedy, cabaret, talks, walks, family events and free activities for all ages.
First up, classical music (and viral) sensation Anna Lapwood opens the Festival with her first ever concert on the Canterbury Cathedral organ (16 Oct).
For five nights Canterbury Cathedral will become the stunning setting for Australian circus company Circa’s unmissable show Eternity (20-24 Oct).
Step inside the Empathy Museum’s giant shoebox for A Mile in My Shoes, which has travelled all over the world collecting shoes and stories and now comes to Kent for the very first time (16-31 Oct).
Renowned vocal ensemble The Gesualdo Six present Death of Gesualdo, an exceptional multi-media concert featuring puppetry, dance and tableaux vivants (19 Oct).
Lie back and experience the Surround Sound Playlist; world-class music from every angle in a relaxed and immersive performance with Britten Sinfonia and Tenebrae at Canterbury Cathedral (27 Oct).
Comedy lovers won’t want to miss Paul Merton & Suki Webster’s hilarious improv show (30 Oct), Adam Kay’s This Is Going To Hurt, or a live recording of hit comedy podcast Drunk Women Solving Crime.
Music forms the beating heart of the Festival, with performances from folk-rock legends Lindisfarne (17 Oct), Braimah Kanneh-Mason (21 Oct), the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club (27 Oct), BRIT-nominated singer-songwriter Rumer (31 Oct) and soul icon Ruby Turner (23 Oct).
Readers and curious minds will delight with a programme featuring bestselling novelist Elif Shafak (20 Oct), Poet Laureate Simon Armitage (31 Oct), historian Simon Sebag Montefiore (28 Oct), entrepreneur Mary Portas (16 Oct), economist and AI expert Daniel Susskind (12 Oct), actress Celia Imrie (18 Oct), Turner Prize Nominee David Shrigley (27 Oct), actress Caroline Quentin (17 Oct) and acclaimed historian Dan Jones (17 Oct)... plus much, much more.
Canterbury Festival
Friday 16 October – Saturday 31 October 2026
canterburyfestival.co.uk
