Start your summer with three vibrant weekends of free street performances for all the family at the award-winning Basingstoke Festival, from Friday 19 June to Sunday 5 July 2026.
See free shows, workshops and events pop-up in Basingstoke town centre and other locations across the borough. This year’s programme is packed with free street theatre that surprises, dance that dazzles, circus and aerial spectacles, live music to lift your mood, inspiring performance poetry and charming storytelling.
Here’s a little bit more about some of the shows in store – expect laughter, colour and unforgettable moments for all ages as you experience the magic of outdoor arts!
Spectacular opening weekend
The fun begins on Friday 19 June with an evening of magic, music and myth at this year’s spectacular opening parade, the Parade of the Mythical Beasts. Watch and join the celebrations as over 20 community groups, local schools and more than 500 marchers launch the 15th year of Basingstoke Festival. Enjoy the sounds and unmistakable energy of Mr Wilson’s Second Liners, the thunderous rhythms of the Basingstoke Silver Band Cavaliers and the Royal British Legion Band, as the joyful street party winds its way through Basingstoke town centre.
The excitement carries on as Mr Wilson’s Second Liners continues the party vibe performing 90s club classics at the end of the parade. Tit for Tat Circus will then bring the mischief and mayhem with their new show, A Disorder of Knights, ending the evening with a bang and kickstarting three weekends of fantastic festival fun!
Big performances, big energy and big moments
Over the three weekends, audiences will have the chance to discover incredible national performers who have performed all over the globe and shows from talented local artists. Here’s just five announcements from this year’s programme:
- Festival favourites Autin Dance Theatre will return with Zig Zag!, a joyful performance that blends physical comedy and acrobatics using simple wooden reels.
- Local Pumpkin Pantos will also return this year with Alice in Wonderland, taking audiences through a topsy-turvy world with musical numbers and pantomime chaos.
- One of several new acts for this year is Pirates of the Carabina showcasing Pirate Taxi – a fabulous circus show taking place in, on and around an old-school London taxi.
- Hydropunk by Artizani is a multi-sensory interactive installation where performers and audiences can collaborate to create a spectacular water sculpture-machine. Despite leaks and spills, the water is precious and needs to last and audiences will be asked to help save 1,000 litres.
- We are thrilled to announce the return of NoFit State to this year’s Basingstoke Festival! They joined us last year in War Memorial Park with their boisterous show SABOTAGE. This year, they are back with their free show BAMBOO, a spectacular, high-impact, high-skill circus production.
Local companies Scratch Built Productions and Junk Jodie will also be performing at the festival. Family-friendly The Magical Toy Hospital offers audience participation, while those feeling crafty can join Junk Jodie’s Fashion-IFFICENT and take their creations to the catwalk.
There will be much more on offer across the three weekends, including comedy, circus skills, interactive installations, performance poetry and storytelling. Full schedules for each weekend will be available on the festival website and social media.
Whether you want to pack a picnic and enjoy a whole day of free entertainment or simply follow the sounds and creativity and stop by for a performance or two, mark your calendars and get ready to be a part of Basingstoke Festival as it celebrates 15 amazing years of creativity, culture and shared experiences. This is a celebration for everyone.
Visit the Basingstoke Festival website to start planning your festival weekends.
