Wychwood Festival has been named Family Festival of the Year at the 2026 UK Festival Awards, following a record-breaking 2025 and a remarkable public response to its upcoming 2026 edition.
Now firmly established as one of the UK’s leading all-ages festival experiences, Wychwood has earned a reputation for delivering a warm, welcoming start to the summer. Set against the dramatic backdrop of Cheltenham Racecourse, the festival blends major headline acts with high-quality family entertainment for children of all ages, creating what organisers describe as an atmosphere “no other festival can match”.
The award recognises Wychwood’s commitment to providing an inclusive, community-minded weekend that pairs big-name bookings with grassroots creativity and a focus on shared memories.
Festival Director Graeme Merifield said the accolade was a tribute to everyone involved in bringing Wychwood to life.
“To be recognised by such an esteemed body as the UK Festival Awards is a testament to the hard work and dedication that goes into Wychwood Festival every single year,” he said.
“Wychwood started out as a love letter to the local community in Cheltenham and beyond. We wouldn’t be here without the incredible crew, the amazing volunteers, the brilliant traders, the unbelievable performers and, most importantly, the dedicated audience that joins us each and every year. This is for you. We can’t wait to welcome everyone—both old and new—to our 20th edition in 2026. We’ll be ready to show you the very best of times.”
Wychwood’s reputation continues to grow as it evolves while staying true to its roots as one of the UK’s most beloved boutique festivals. Its 2026 event is already shaping up to be the most impressive yet, with first headliner Kaiser Chiefs helping to drive record interest.
Frontman Ricky Wilson said the band were excited to take top billing: “Really looking forward to playing Wychwood next summer. Any festival that puts us top of the bill must have excellent taste, so it bodes well. The summer is when we thrive—we are good at festivals. If you haven’t seen us before, it’s a strong recommend; if you have, we hope to see you again.”
With two further headliners, a full musical line-up and an expanded family programme still to be announced, demand for tickets has soared—more than 70% of weekend passes for May 2026 have already been sold.
Wychwood Festival’s 20th anniversary edition takes place 29–31 May 2026 at Cheltenham Racecourse. Tickets are available at www.wychwoodfestival.com/buy-tickets.