Festivals & events

45 celebrations through the year — pick a day to see what's on.

• New Year's Day (1, London) — National public holiday marking the start of the new year with celebrations across the UK.
• Up Helly Aa (1, Scottish Islands) — A spectacular fire festival in Shetland featuring torchlit processions and the burning of a viking galley, celebrating Norse heritage.
• Burns Night (1, Scottish Lowlands) — Celebration of Scottish poet Robert Burns with traditional suppers featuring haggis, whisky, and poetry readings across Scotland.
• Chinese New Year Festival (2, London) — Colourful celebration in London's West End with dragon parades, acrobatics, and cultural performances.
• Six Nations Rugby Championship (2, London) — Major international rugby tournament featuring England, Scotland, Wales, and other nations with matches across the UK.
• St David's Day (3, South Wales) — Welsh national day celebrating patron saint David with parades, concerts, and traditional Welsh celebrations throughout Wales.
• Cheltenham Festival (3, South West England) — Premier horse racing festival featuring four days of top-class steeplechase racing and colourful crowds in traditional attire.
• Mother's Day (3, London) — Family celebration honouring mothers with cards, gifts, and special meals across the UK.
• Easter (4, London) — Major Christian holiday featuring Easter egg hunts, church services, and family celebrations across the UK.
• Shakespeare's Birthday Celebrations (4, West Midlands) — Festival honouring William Shakespeare with processions, performances, and celebrations in his birthplace.
• St George's Day (4, London) — Celebration of England's patron saint with traditional festivities and red and white decorations throughout England.
• Early May Bank Holiday (5, London) — Public holiday marking early May with community events, fetes, and celebrations across the UK.
• Hay Festival (5, Central Wales) — World-renowned literature and ideas festival featuring authors, thinkers, and performers in a beautiful riverside setting.
• Chelsea Flower Show (5, London) — The world's most famous garden show featuring innovative garden designs and horticulture displays in central London.
• Isle of Wight Festival (6, South East England) — Multi-genre music festival attracting major international acts and thousands of festival-goers to the Isle of Wight.
• Glastonbury Festival (6, South West England) — Iconic music and arts festival set in a farm with diverse performances and a legendary reputation for culture and counterculture.
• Trooping the Colour (6, London) — Military ceremony celebrating the sovereign's official birthday with elaborate pageantry and horse guards parade in central London.
• Henley Royal Regatta (6, South East England) — Prestigious rowing event on the Thames attracting international competitors and spectators in traditional summer dress.
• Royal Ascot (6, South East England) — Premier horse racing event attended by royalty, featuring world-class racehorses and flamboyant fashion displays.
• Edinburgh Festival (8, Scottish Lowlands) — World's largest arts festival featuring theatre, comedy, music, and dance with hundreds of shows across the historic city.
• Summer Bank Holiday (8, London) — Late summer public holiday marking the end of summer with family outings and bank holiday celebrations across the UK.
• Reading and Leeds Festival (8, South East England) — Twin music festival hosting major rock, indie, and alternative acts with separate venues in Reading and Leeds.
• Notting Hill Carnival (8, London) — Vibrant multi-day street festival celebrating Caribbean culture with music, dance, food, and colourful parades.
• Edinburgh Military Tattoo (8, Scottish Lowlands) — Spectacular military display featuring pipe bands, marching troops, and fireworks on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle.
• Brecon Beacons National Park Jazz Festival (8, Central Wales) — Intimate jazz festival set in the scenic Brecon Beacons mountains featuring world-class jazz musicians.
• Fringe Festival (8, Scottish Lowlands) — Edinburgh's alternative festival showcasing emerging artists, theatre, and comedy alongside the main Festival.
• Buskaid Festival (8, Scottish Lowlands) — Street performance festival celebrating buskers and street musicians in Edinburgh during the Festival season.
• Latitude Festival (7, East Anglia) — Arts and music festival in Suffolk featuring thoughtful programming, theatre, literature, and diverse music acts.
• Cambridge Folk Festival (7, East Anglia) — Long-established folk music festival featuring traditional and contemporary folk artists in a beautiful riverside setting.
• Wimbledon Championships (7, London) — The world's oldest tennis tournament featuring elite players competing on grass courts in a tradition spanning 150 years.
• T in the Park (7, Scottish Central Belt) — Major Scottish music festival featuring diverse genres and attracting tens of thousands of festival-goers.
• Green Man Festival (8, Central Wales) — Independent music and arts festival in the Black Mountains featuring eclectic programming and beautiful natural setting.
• Creamfields (8, North West England) — Major electronic dance music festival set in Cheshire featuring world-renowned DJs and producers.
• Secret Garden Party (7, East Anglia) — Intimate and quirky multi-genre festival in Cambridgeshire known for its creative atmosphere and eclectic line-ups.
• Leeds Festival (8, Yorkshire) — Major rock and alternative music festival attracting international headliners and thousands of young festival-goers.
• Electric Picnic (9, Northern Ireland) — Multi-genre festival celebrating music, theatre, and arts on the island with a creative and inclusive atmosphere.
• Bestival (9, South East England) — Eclectic music and arts festival on the Isle of Wight featuring themed days and diverse programming.
• Great North Run (9, North East England) — One of the UK's largest half marathons attracting thousands of runners from across the world to Newcastle.
• London Fashion Week (9, London) — Major fashion industry event showcasing collections from leading designers twice yearly in London.
• Oktoberfest UK (9, London) — German beer festival celebration with traditional food, beer, and entertainment across UK venues.
• Halloween (10, London) — Spooky celebration featuring fancy dress, pumpkins, and trick-or-treating across the UK.
• Bonfire Night (11, London) — Annual celebration with bonfires and fireworks commemorating the thwarted Gunpowder Plot with events across the UK.
• Christmas Markets (11, London) — Festive seasonal markets featuring crafts, gifts, and traditional food across major UK cities including London, Manchester, and Edinburgh.
• Christmas Day (12, London) — National public holiday celebrating Christmas with family gatherings, gift exchanges, and traditional festivities.
• Boxing Day (12, London) — Public holiday following Christmas featuring sales, sporting events, and the traditional Fox Hunt Day.