Festivals are a chance to really see a city shine, and luckily for us Nottinghamshire has them by the bucketful. Whether it's feasting on fine food, fun days out with the family, tasting a plethora of ales, or dancing in the sunshine, there’s sure to be something to tickle your fancy in this rundown of festivals happening in 2026. This is the time to chill out, tune in and make some amazing memories.

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Music Festivals

Nottinghamshire’s acclaimed music scene has thrived in the past ten years. Along with some mighty fun music festivals taking place across the city's finest venues, you can also check out live music in more unique locations throughout Nottinghamshire.

Splendour Festival has just announced its widely anticipated return on Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th July 2026! The popular two-day festival will be back at its home in Wollaton Hall and Deer Park with a brand-new line-up to appeal across the generations, from long-term regulars to families and youngsters.

Wollaton Hall is also set to be the backdrop to an array of other incredible festivals throughout the year, including Love the 90s Festival taking place on Saturday 2nd May, Groovebox in the Park taking place on Sunday 3rd May, Ibiza Orchestra on Friday 29th May and Summer in Nashville taking place on Sunday 31st May.

The Woodland Disco has been renamed to the magical Wonderland Festival as It returns to Nottingham on Saturday 4th July 2026! Submerjed in the fairy tale setting of a majestic Woodland only 10 minutes from Nottingham City Centre, you can expect a fully immersive festival as they enhance the natural surroundings of Newstead Abbey with a vibrant production and dazzling visuals.

Also returning to Newstead Abbey after its success in 2025 is the 2026 rendition of the Could Be Real Tribute Festival taking place on Sunday 5th July. Music lovers are in for a treat with a star-studded lineup celebrating some of the most iconic names in music history. This year’s festival promises to deliver show-stopping performances, blending rock, indie, pop, and timeless classics into a spectacular summer event of amazing tribute acts. Also not to be missed this year is the returning Clubland Live at the Abbey taking place on Friday 3rd July – with non-stop Clubland anthems and top DJs such as Basshunter and DJ Sammy!

Since starting in Nottingham in 2005 Dot To Dot Festival has established itself as the UK’s hottest festival for unearthing the best new talent around, alongside established acts from all over the globe. The festival takes place in Manchester, Bristol, and Nottingham and has put acts such as The 1975, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Mumford & Sons, Florence + The Machine, Ed Sheeran and The XX on the map. This year's festival takes place on Sunday 24th of May 2026 at various venues across the city.

The first-ever Garage Republic Festival is coming to the Notts County Ground! On Saturday 20th June 2026, the Notts County Ground will transform into the epicentre of UK Garage and R&B, as Garage Republic Festival lands with a massive all-day event across three incredible arenas: The Nest, The Concourse, and The Kop.

Binks Yard will host Revolve Fest taking place on the 3rd of May 2026, where you can relive the golden era of pop punk, emo, nu-metal, and alternative rock! The 90's and 00's pop enthusiasts also won't be left out with We Love Pop Fest on Saturday 4th July.

Colwick Park will also be hosting various music festivals in 2026. Some standouts include: Rum & Reggae Festival taking place on Saturday 27th June and GirlyPop Live  on Sunday 28th June.

There's always new festivals being added so be sure to keep up to date with our 'Whats On' Calander.

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Family Festivals

Gloworm Festival returns to Nottinghamshire at Thoresby Park from 7th – 9th August 2026. A wonderful family event set in the beautiful Nottinghamshire countryside, it is a brilliant 2 day festival that has been especially created for grown ups and their little ones. They invite festival goers to come and play in a warm, welcoming and creative place, loose their inhibitions, let their hair down and have some fun.

Nottinghamshire Festival of Science & Curiosity returns for another half-term of free, family-friendly events packed with hands-on fun and mind-blowing discoveries! Designed to spark curiosity and ignite imaginations, the festival invites families to explore the wonders of science in an interactive, engaging, and accessible way. From robot building and slime making to planetarium shows and immersive VR experiences, there’s something to fascinate visitors of all ages. The festival takes place at various venues from Monday 9th - Friday 20th February.

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Food & Drink Festivals

The Nottingham Sausage and Cider Festival is back for 2026 and will take place at Wollaton Hall and Deer Park on the 30th of May. A spectacular day of festival fun which brings together more than 30 flavours of cider and more than 20 different sausages, a number of outstanding tribute acts, as well as entertainment for children. Kick back and relax in the serene surrounds of Nottingham's iconic landmark for one of the region's favourite foodie festivals.

Southwell's best loved food and drink fair returns for its annual autumn slot at Southwell Minster. On the 24th of October the Bramley Apple Festival of Food & Drink will bring dozens of stallholders to Southwell, offering all manner of food and drink including pies, chocolates, jams, chutneys, pickles, sausages and much more.

The Nottingham Independents' Castle Beer Festival is back for 2026, and will see Nottingham’s independent breweries once again taking over the iconic Nottingham Castle for a weekend of great beer, local talent, and unbeatable views across the city. On Friday 24th and Saturday 25th April guests can enjoy Nottingham’s finest independent beers while taking in panoramic views and historic surroundings!

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Arts Festivals

Each summer at heritage sites across Nottinghamshire you can catch live theatre performances and film screenings in the great outdoors. Rally your friends, grab a picnic blanket and some snacks, and enjoy an evening under the stars in stunning locations. From classic Shakespeare and fun-filled children's theatre, to blockbuster movies and singalong musicals, there is something for everyone to enjoy. More details to be confirmed.

The Nottingham Comedy Festival comes to the city each November. Back for its 18th year this 2026, it will feature a wide variety of comedy including stand up, improv, sketch and more. Local, national and international artists will appear at a range of venues across Nottingham. The 10-day festival will fall across Friday 30th October - Sunday 8th November 2026.

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Stay tuned for Nottinghamshire's involvement in the 2026 Heritage Open Days events, which presents a wide range of free tours, events and activities to bring to life local history and culture. Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture. The Heritage Open Days will run from 11th to 20th September 2026.

Nottinghamshire Hospice are excited to partner with Nottingham Running Festival for 2026!  There’s something for everyone with a choice of 5k, 10k or Half Marathon distances. Choose your challenge to complete and get a special edition t-shirt to run in and earn your race medal once you complete your challenge! Be sure to come on down to the Racecourse at Colewick Park on Sunday 30th August and get involved.

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While the finer details of many of these festivals are yet to be announced, we suggest you stick them in the calendar and keep checking back on our website for information on ticketing, line-ups and dates. There are more festivals throughout the county so have a look at the What’s On guide and don’t forget to share your photos of yourself enjoying Nottinghamshire’s fantastic culture - use the tag #LoveNotts throughout social media!