The Wychwood Festival returns to Cheltenham Racecourse this weekend for its milestone 20th edition, running from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May 2026. The family-friendly event features headliners Craig David Presents TS5 on Friday, Kaiser Chiefs on Saturday, and the Levellers closing out Sunday, with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Feeder, and Everything Everything also on the bill. Offering free entry for under-10s and a 10% discount for local residents, the festival provides an affordable half-term option for families across Gloucestershire.
Festival director Graeme Merifield said the anniversary demanded a bold approach. “For our 20th anniversary, we really had to go all-out for our headliners,” he explained. “Craig David brings a whole new dimension to the festival for 2026 with garage and R&B hits.” The weekend also sees the return of the Wychwood Comedy Club on the Garden Stage, delivering six hours of daytime stand-up, alongside more than 100 Village Green activities and workshops ranging from circus skills to samba drumming and laughter yoga. A children’s literature tent rounds out the programme, cementing the event’s reputation after being named Family Festival of the Year in 2025.
The festival site at Cheltenham Racecourse opens its campsite at 9:30am on Thursday for early arrivals, with the Festival Village welcoming visitors from 4pm that day. Regular buses connect the town centre and railway station to the Evesham Road venue, while coaches run from Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, and London. Those driving can pre-book parking, and the campsite closes at midday on Monday 1 June. Residents with any queries during the event can reach the festival team on 07503372169.
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