The city of Winchester hosts a multitude of festivals throughout the year that inspire, intrigue and enchant thousands of visitors every year ensuring there’s always something to look forward to.

Come and immerse yourself in Winchester’s festival scene and you’ll find the city it at its vibrant best – showcasing an ever-changing kaleidoscope of colourful events. With more events being added to our already diverse and busy calendar there is bound to be something up your street happening on one of ours!

Spring into festival season

Kick off the year with RAW - Winchester's Contemporary Performance Week which showcases exciting and extraordinary contemporary performances across the city. In Spring you can also enjoy the Winchester Books Festival for all things literature, Alresford Watercress Festival for a celebration of local produce, and Winchester Chamber Music Festival, perfect for classical music enthusiasts.

Summer Sizzlers

As we move into summer we have The Grange Festival, which showcases exceptional opera, dance, jazz and more and the vibrant Winchester Hat Fair, a beloved street theatre festival that transforms the city into an open-air stage with performances, music, and arts. The summer months are filled with celebrations of food and drink in Winchester with the Sausage and Cider Festival, Foodies Festival, Cheese & Chilli Festival and Winchester Beer and Cider Festival bring culinary delights to the city. Winchester also hosts the popular Boomtown, a fully-immersive theatrical and music festival experience!

Autumn delights

Autumn brings Heritage Open Days to Winchester, where visitors have the opportunity to experience places and activities which might not usually be available. The Winchester Film Festival is a treat for cinephiles, showcasing independent films and hosting engaging Q&A sessions with filmmakers. Whilst Winchester Poetry Festival celebrate and champion great local, national and international poetry.

Winter wonders

In winter, the Winchester Christmas Market provide a magical holiday experience, complete with festive stalls and seasonal treats.

More information and listings can be found below and please check our What’s on pages for even more great events! Remember to check out the website of the event before you plan your trip. You can also sign up to our Visit Winchester e-newsletter for event news and top tips for great days out.