Thornbury Arts Festival has been running for more than 50 years and during that time audiences have been entertained by a host of world class and nationally acclaimed performers.

For 2026 we are delighted to be back in our traditional “home” venue, The Armstrong, moving our dates forward to help celebrate the fantastic achievement of campaigners to bring it back into use.

To mark the occasion, cop-turned-comedian Alfie Moore will launch our festival programme of four evening events, an afternoon science show for families and an ever-popular Sunday morning guided town walk.

Alfie returns to the festival, after his sell-out performance in 2023, with a fun-filled, interactive ‘warm up’ show ahead of recording his next BBC Radio 4 series It’s A Fair Cop. Every show is unique to its audience so come and find out what sort of cop you’d make.

Drama, comedy and the unexpected are promised by Cardiff Cotswold Opera with their concert and audience favourite Murder at the Opera. “It’s not over until the fat lady sings”, they said. “But what if someone’s killed her?”

Think science is boring? Not in Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show, which is designed for children and adults alike and explores the strange and magical properties of matter, with exploding elephant’s toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins and even howling jelly babies!

In the first of what is planned to be a regular feature at The Armstrong, there will be a National Theatre Live screening of the stage play The Audience, starring Helen Mirren as the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The evening events will then come to a lively close courtesy of the Churchfitters, three flamboyant characters whose uplifting and entertaining show is described as Folk Unlimited and features instruments ranging from the conventional to the unusual.

Wrapping up the programme is our Town Walk led by local historian Meg Wise to discover places associated with the life of Handel Cossham, a great benefactor to Thornbury, including a visit to The Armstrong and the Cossham Hall within it.

FULL DETAILS OF EVENTS WILL BE ON THIS SITE FROM MARCH 2nd, WHEN TICKETS WILL ALSO GO ON SALE.

The Thornbury Eisteddfod will take place in March, while the five-day Severn Vale Art Trail will be held over the early May bank holiday.

If you would like to be included in our email newsletter for updates on programme and other news about Thornbury Festival please email your name and address to: newsletter@thornburyfestival.org.uk.

Please note that tickets for our town walk are very limited - if sold out please contact the Thornbury Festival team by email and we will put you on a waiting list. Please email info@thornburyartsfestival.org.uk