Canterbury Adventures in 2026: History, Culture and Celebrations
Whether you are looking for a day out, a long weekend or are a local who has just never fully explored the city, there is so much to enjoy.
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And this May Bank Holiday weekend a city-wide celebration is taking place to mark the end of exciting milestone projects that have taken place within the city’s Levelling Up Fund work which have seen Canterbury’s public spaces transformed.
Canterbury City Council’s £19.9million Levelling Up Fund investment “Connected Canterbury: Unlocking the Tales of England” had three project strands of “Transforming heritage assets and spaces – we will protect and repair historic and underused sites in the city”, “Creating a green arrival experience – we will improve areas visitors see when they arrive in our city, as well as upgrading spaces like the bus station to include electric vehicle charging and cycle hire” and “Connecting our heritage – we will create 'story gardens' that use new interpretation and design to tell the story of Canterbury as part of England's history. New trails and cycling routes will be signposted to connect people to our heritage sites”.
To celebrate the launch of the transformation, Canterbury Unlocked is taking place on Sunday 24th May where you can enjoy live music from Hullabaloo, The Native Oysters Band and Goblin Band, see The Great Escape aerial theatre performances at Westgate Square and visit Folk Lore Kent's Mayhem Fair at the Dane John Gardens, with its big top marquee, maypole and Morris dancing, folk entertainment, live music and crafting and dance workshops. There will also be food markets, pop-up bars and much more.
With this celebratory event kicking off a packed summer events calendar for the city, there’s lots to enjoy in Canterbury in 2026…
Events in Canterbury in 2026
29th-30th August 2026: bOing!
Enjoy a weekend of performance and creativity for all ages at bOing! International Family Festival. Free to enter and taking place on the University of Kent campus, there are lots of activities to enjoy, plus some paid for indoor performances. The line-up is set to be announced soon.
25th-27th September 2026: Canterbury's Cooking
Canterbury’s Cooking festivalwill take place in Dane John Gardens this September offering a feast of food-focused family fun with children’s entertainment, workshops, live music, street food and drinks as well as a food and craft market with local, national and international stalls.
2nd & 3rd October 2026: Oktoberfest Canterbury
Bringing a taste of Munich to Kent since 2019, Oktoberfest Canterbury is once again returning for 2026 at The Westgate Hall where you can expect steins, Bavarian street food, live music, brass bands, DJs and a proper knees-up. Kent's biggest Oktoberfest offering unforgettable entertainment returns on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd October, and tickets are on sale now.
16th-31st October 2026: Canterbury Festival
A two-week extravaganza of arts will be coming to the city in October with Canterbury Festival, including classical concerts, eclectic gigs, theatre, circus, talks, family events and more.
17th October 2026: Canterbury Choral Society: Festivities, Fanfare and Fireworks
Canterbury Cathedral will be hosting Canterbury Choral Society’s Festivities, Fanfare and Fireworks on 17th October at 7.30pm. Join the Choral Society and the London Mozart Players for an evening of celebratory masterpieces in the beauty of Canterbury Cathedral Nave. Bringing together the glory of the High Baroque and Classical periods, this concert combines two of Handel’s majestic anthems written for the Coronation of King George II in 1727, together with the music he wrote for a grand fireworks display following a victory against the French. This is followed by one of the finest of Haydn’s six great masses, his Harmoniemesse, written for the name day of Princess Maria Josepha Hermengilde Esterházy, the wife of his patron. Taking part will be Canterbury Choral Society, CCS Youth Choir, London Mozart Players, Richard Cooke (conductor), Anna-Luise Wagner (soprano), Meriel Cunningham (mezzo-soprano), Nicholas Madden (tenor) and Benjamin Bevan (bass).
Annual events in Canterbury
- Canterbury Pride
- Canterbury Business Show
- Canterbury Cricket Week
- The King's Mile Run
- Canterbury’s Medieval Pageant and Family Trail
- Canterbury Bike Ride
- Canterbury City Show
A cultural centre
Canterbury is a city rich in history, making it a wonderful location to spend days out – for young and old alike. A cathedral city, it became the site of pilgrimages in the Middle Ages following the martyrdom of Thomas Becket in 1170. Canterbury is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is made up by Canterbury Cathedral, the Church of St Martin and the ruins of St Augustine's Abbey.
Popular with tourists, the city also has a large student population due to the number of schools and universities it offers, as well as having numerous sporting clubs, including Kent County Cricket Club, based at St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury City FC and Canterbury RFC, who play at The Marine Travel Ground. The city also has one of the largest hockey clubs in the country – Canterbury Hockey Club.
Family days out in Canterbury
A must on a trip to the city is a visit to Canterbury Cathedral where you will discover the precincts, gardens and history of the Cathedral with their tours. Also worth a visit is the part Roman, part Saxon, St Martin’s, which is the oldest church in continuous use in the English-speaking world having been there since before 597AD. This Grade I listed building also has the remains of a Roman tomb at its core which were integrated into the structure. In its churchyard you will find the graves of artist Thomas Sidney Cooper, and Mary Tourtel, the creator of Rupert Bear.
Another must is a trip to Westgate Towers Museum and Viewpoint where you can uncover the story of England’s largest surviving medieval gateway and get to enjoy spectacular views of the city of Canterbury from the battlements viewpoint.
For a relaxing day out, head to the River Stour where you can walk or cycle along its banks and admire the beauty of the wildlife that surrounds it. Or why not take a guided trip along the river with award-winning Canterbury Historic River Tours?
Immerse yourself in more than 2,000 years of history at The Canterbury Roman Museum offering “a fascinating and family-friendly insight into life in Roman Britain”. Or why not head to a show at The Marlowe where there is a show for everyone, from stand ups to orchestral performances and dance to West End theatre, and when Christmas approaches there is of course the festive panto, perfect for all the family!
Located in a beautiful building on the High Street, is The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge, where you can discover its exhibitions, events, workshops and activities that change throughout the year. Entrance is free, however a charge may apply for certain special exhibitions and events.
For an exciting day out for all the family in Canterbury head to Howletts Wild Animal Park – Kent's original wildlife park and award-winning attraction. You can explore a 90-acre adventure in beautiful ancient parkland at Howletts, which is home to over 390 animals.
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Canterbury Bike Ride 2026
Canterbury Rugby Club will once again be the host for the 2026 edition of the Canterbury Bike Ride on 19th July 2026. Join the camaraderie of riding alongside hundreds of like-minded individuals at this event, which this year has a choice of three new routes, approximately 24, 54 and 73 miles long. The routes are front loaded with climbing with a loop of the glorious Kent Down AONB, via Wye where there is a refreshment stop at the Wye Hub for those that need it. The medium and long routes head east along the Elham Valley towards Sandwich. The routes turn left at Woodnesborough and go through Ash Village to the Cricket Club, where riders will enjoy a refreshment stop before returning to Canterbury Rugby Club via the Bridge Downs. You can participate as part of a team or solo, riding for a charity close to your heart or simply to push your own limits.
Canterbury BID
Canterbury Business Improvement District (BID) is an independent, business-led, not-for-profit initiative voted for by the businesses of Canterbury in July 2014, July 2019 and again in July 2024 for another five-year term. Canterbury BID is dedicated to supporting the city’s business community, using the power of many to bring about positive change. Canterbury BID Networking takes place once a month in a variety of different venues. This gives local businesses an opportunity to showcase their establishment and activities to other local business members.
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