Wychwood Festival 2026: Everything you need to know

Festival season is just around the corner, and one much-loved family event is gearing up for a milestone weekend of music, comedy and workshops.

Wychwood Festival is set to return for its 20th anniversary at Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire from 29-31 May.

Organisers have teased the event as the "biggest yet", with an extended opening and a wide range of entertainment beyond the main stage.

We have pulled together a list of everything you need to know about the festival.

From indie anthems to nostalgic throwbacks, the line-up promises something for everyone.

Headline sets include Craig David presents TS5, Kaiser Chiefs and the Levellers, joined by performers like Everything Everything and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Wychwood Comedy Club also returns, kicking off six hours of daytime stand-up over the festival weekend on the Garden Stage.

Tickets are still available for purchase through the festival's official website.

Options include weekend tickets with or without camping, as well as day tickets for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Children under 10 can attend for free, but still need a ticket to enter the site.

There is a 10% discount available for local residents.

Organisers are encouraging festival-goers to consider the environment when planning their travel to the site, and take greener options where possible.

Coaches to the Royal Well Road Bus Station are available from most major cities including Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff and London.

Buses run regularly from the town centre, the bus station and the railway station directly to the racecourse.

There are also 52 secure bicycle parks next to the Centaur and the Best Mate Enclosure entrances to the racecourse.

If travelling by car, parking spaces are available but must be booked in advance.

There is street food available to purchase at the festival including pizza from Slice One, sweet and savoury crumbles from Crumble Pots and raclette from Gloucester's Melted Cheese Company.

There's also Barbara's Story Box, the festival's children's literature tent, which will host authors and illustrators.

Other activities on offer include circus skills, samba drumming, laughter yoga, a family punk rock rave and bubble show.

The festival begins on the Thursday, with the box office and campsite due to open from 09:30 BST.

The Festival Village will open at 16:00 BST on the Thursday, and 12:00 on the Friday. Live music on the stages will begin shortly after.

On Saturday and Sunday, music on the stages will begin from 11:00 with a variety of workshops running throughout both days.

The campsite will close at 12:00 on the Monday.

No pets are permitted on site, with the exception of registered guide dogs.

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