A summer of festivals & events

The Golden Valley Vintage and Country Fair (6 June) is a brilliant family day out with a wide range of vehicles on show including classic cars, engines, motorbikes and tractors. You can take the pooch, and all enjoy the family dog show, falconry, medieval re-enactment, farm animals, axe throwing, and a range of stalls selling produce, crafts and fantastic food and drink. 

Embracing local folklore, heritage and an all things treasure theme for 2026, the Leominster Festival (30 May-13 June) will immerse visitors into the community and colour of one of Herefordshire’s traditional market towns. Run by local businesses and volunteers since 1984, it grows every year and this year expect poetry evenings, African drumming workshop, Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra performance, kids disco, big street quiz and a host of other community events bringing locals and visitors together.

After a hugely successful launch in 2025, Herefordshire’s Histories Festival (9-25 May) returns for 2026 as a firm fixture on the county’s events calendar. The programme will include walks, talks, film nights, displays, bell ringing, tours, exhibitions and quiz nights all celebrating Herefordshire’s vibrant history across the county.

Dive into an uplifting celebration of the written and spoken word this summer at the Ledbury Poetry Festival, running 26 June - 5 July. Expect lively readings, thought-provoking discussions and expert writing workshops. 

Looking further ahead to September (5 - 13), artists right across the county open up their studios for H-Art (Herefordshire Art Week) - running for 24 years and growing every year. It's a fantastic opportunity to explore the trail and browse and buy a wide range of affordable arts and crafts from skilled local makers in the intimacy of their own spaces.

Following the inaugural festival in 2025, the Hereford Military History Festival (25-27 September) returns with a bigger, better and richer series of events for military history fans of all ages. Fergal Keane is amongst the speakers making the most of the cathedral and other glorious buildings in Hereford to explore military history - from the power dynamics between Ancient Greece and Sparta’s Military Superpower, through the remarkable story of local hero King Offa, with keynote speaker Andrew Roberts talking about his new book on Napoleon and his Marshals to a gripping clutch of modern espionage from Charles Cumming, Roland Philipps and Charlie English. 

Nozstock (17-18 July) is back for 2026! While not quite returning to the family BBQ event where it began in 2008, it is returning to that smaller grassroots festival feeling. Kicking things off again in true rave style, the one and only Phil Hartnoll, half of the legendary Orbital, is stepping up for a very special DJ set to headline The Orchard Stage.

New for 2026, The Courtyard in Hereford is set to be ‘amplified’ over the summer with the launch of a brand-new pop-up live performance venue with a capacity of 1,400 – The Amp. An amazing month long line up with seriously crowd pulling gigs has been announced with music from ABC, Kim Wilde, Alfie Boe and Jools Holland & his Rhythm and Blues Band, comedy from Al Murray and Russell Howard and talks from Harry Redknapp and TV presenter and author Simon Reeve.

Lakefest (5 – 9 August) is a family-friendly affair, with this year's headliners including the Bananarama, Madness and Example. Down On The Farm Festival is one for cider lovers, held on a cider farm in the Golden Valley (7 – 9 August) showcasing a host of up and coming bands and brilliant tribute acts.  

Don’t miss the last year of every local’s favourite, Linton Festival (19 - 22 June), celebrating 25 years of live music, great beer, camping and community spirit. What began as a small local gig has grown into a much-loved three-day festival and the final edition features headline acts Dark Side of the Wall (Pink Floyd tribute) and The Magic of Motown on Sunday. Under 14s are free!

Meanwhile, running over 50 years, Bromyard Folk Festival is a lively weekend (10 -13 September) of national and international folk performers, ceilidhs, storytelling, family entertainment and workshops. 

This year Hereford's Indie Food Festival celebrates its 10-year anniversary over the bank holiday weekend (29 and 30 August). There will be over 25 of the city’s best independent food traders serving slow tacos, juicy burgers and banging bao buns with singalongs and facepainting for the kids in the morning. From 1pm and into the evening the turntables and stage get going with from Craig Charles and other DJs and bands.

Ross Cider Festival returns 4-6 September for a weekend of delicious food, excellent music, wide ranging beer and their own, and other local producers, delicious cider. Under 17s are free and you can even book to camp beneath the apple trees in the orchard.

The Malverns Classic is the UK’s largest mountain bike festival also at Eastnor and huge fun whether you're riding or ringside. Running from Thursday to Sunday it’s a packed with thrilling races to watch or take part in, DJs at night, food and drink, along with family-friendly activities throughout the day. Bring your bikes as all courses are open for recreational riding outside of official practice and racing, so you and your friends and the kids can hit the pump track or ride the trails. 

Kington Walking Festival takes place every year in late summer (17-20 September) with bookable guided walks of various lengths from the gorgeous market town where walkers can pick up Offa’s Dyke the Mortimer Trail and the Herefordshire Trail. 

While at Ross Walking Festival (25-27 September) walkers can strike out on a guided walk, from 3 miles to 13 miles, and choose from walking up a hill for views, visiting Norman treasures along the way or even exploring a farm to learn about their sustainable farming methods, how they look after the land adjacent to the Wye and what is being done to encourage wildlife habitats.