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
24th May 2026: Vegan Market
With a mixture of vegan and ethically-produced food and products, head to St George’s Street for the Vegan Market being held between 10am and 5pm on 24th May.
6th June 2026: Canterbury Pride
Featuring a parade through Canterbury High Street, Pride Canterbury is a spectacular celebration of LGBTQ+ identity and includes a diverse artist line-up, entertainment, marketplace, food, drink and more.
18th June 2026: Canterbury Business Show
Canterbury Business Show will be taking place at the University of Kent on 18th June, offering the chance for entrepreneurs, SMEs and corporate leaders from across the region to get together for a day of networking, learning and opportunity. There will be exhibitor stands, expert speakers, interactive workshops and dedicated networking sessions.
19th-28th June 2026: Canterbury Cricket Week
St Lawrence Ground will play host to the 174th Canterbury Cricket Weeks this June – the oldest surviving cricket festival in the world. With a variety of fixtures, the event also includes the Kent Cricket Foundation’s Schools’ Day Out on the opening day of the festival, where more than 1,000 local schoolchildren are given a free taste of County Championship cricket.
28th June 2026: The King's Mile Run
Starting at Green Court at The King's School, Canterbury and finishing in the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral, The King's Mile Run offers a unique opportunity to run right through the city centre of Canterbury while supporting the work of local charities. There will be refreshments and stalls at Green Court where you can relax after with friends and family.
4th July 2026: Canterbury’s Medieval Pageant and Family Trail
This July, Canterbury’s Medieval Pageant and family trail takes place on 4th July when the Westgate Towers, The Beaney, St Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury Cathedral Precincts, Westgate Gardens and more will welcome families for immersive and interactive activities offering the chance to explore the city while taking a step back in time and meeting some colourful characters. This year’s theme is the Bayeux Tapestry.
19th July 2026: 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, which this year has a choice of three new routes, approximately 24, 54 and 73 miles long.
25th-26th July 2026: Canterbury City Show
A community celebration for the city is being held on 25th and 26th July at Westgate Gardens and Westgate Square offering live music, great food and the best of the city. There are nine zones to explore at Canterbury City Show including live music, food & drink, the wrestling ring, talks & workshops, arts, crafts & market stalls, toddler’s cove, community fayre, sports zone and Afro-Caribbean Family Zone.
25th July 2026: Sunrose Arts Festival
Sunrose Arts Festival is coming to Dane John Gardens on 25th July. This free to attend event offers exhibitions, workshops, live performances and markets.
7th-9th August 2026: Canterbury Live
Offering a brand new festival weekend of concerts, Canterbury Live is set to take place from 7th-9th August set against the backdrop of St Lawrence Ground, with acts including JLS, Becky Hill and Madness.
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.
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.
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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