The Peterborough Celebrates festival will return to Ferry Meadows in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, on 16–17 May 2026 for its fifth year of free community activities. Organised by the Nene Park Trust in partnership with local businesses, community groups and English Heritage, the event will feature local music, food stalls and heritage displays designed to bring the city together.
Visitors can expect a wide range of entertainment including a main music stage (the festival ‘Big Top’) and a community fair spread across the park grounds. This milestone edition marks five years since the festival first launched in 2022 as a post-pandemic ‘thank you’ to the community.
A special part of the 2026 event will take place at Longthorpe Tower, where Living History re-enactors — including the Medieval Sokemen — will demonstrate aspects of 14th-century life. The tower, famed for its medieval wall paintings, will help connect the city’s long history with the modern festival celebrations.
While the festival remains free to enter, it is funded through a mix of Nene Park Trust reserves, corporate sponsorship, previous grants, parking revenue and donations to help cover production costs. Previous festival weekends have drawn tens of thousands of visitors, providing a boost to local businesses and food vendors.
According to reporting, the festival has become a major part of the local calendar and often finishes with a colourful Holi-style community ceremony. Residents are encouraged to plan their travel early, as parking at Ferry Meadows is a paid service and is expected to fill quickly during the weekend.
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