Wychwood Festival returned with its best-attended edition to date, organisers say.
Under stunning sunny skies and the picturesque Prestbury Hills, the festival at Cheltenham Racecourse brought together a curated lineup of music, comedy, workshops, laugh-out-loud fun and more.
Each evening saw memorable headline sets from iconic names such as James, Shed Seven and Doves, with a musical lineup putting smiles firmly on the faces of the capacity crowd.
Singalongs reigned supreme from the likes of Lottery Winners, Scouting For Girls, Daniel Bedingfield and The Zutons, whilst that spirit of summertime silliness could be found at every turn with the unstoppable party-atmosphere of Shaun Williamson’s Barrioke, the peerless tributes of The Smyths and the Shrek-themed hilarity of The Ogretones.
With the help of his whole family, fitness icon Joe Wicks certainly ensured Wychwood was limber and ready for all the action, with his special P.E workout kick-starting Saturday morning for thousands of early risers.
From there, festival-goers discovered and celebrated an incredible array of talent from across the music spectrum including Public Service Broadcasting, Ibibio Sound Machine, Songhoy Blues, The Magic Numbers, Do Nothing, The Bug Club, Lucy Spraggan, Home Counties and more.
Managing Director Graeme Merifield said: “What an incredible weekend we’ve had, welcoming so many new and familiar faces to Wychwood Festival for three glorious days of live music, sunshine, and wholesome family fun!
"This year has truly felt like a landmark for Wychwood, and we’re so grateful to our loyal community for choosing to spend their summer weekend with us at Cheltenham Racecourse - and for bringing more friends and family along each year. I couldn’t be more proud of the hundreds of talented, passionate people who make this event possible, many of whom have been part of our team for the start and stay committed to creating the best possible experience for everyone. We can’t wait to share what we have planned for our 20th anniversary edition in 2026 — and we hope to see you there!”
Wychwood Festival 2025 surpassed the expectations of a quintessential family festival weekend, with unrivalled value, and endless surprises bursting from every corner of the site.
Over in the festival’s famed Village Green the immersive programming provided next level entertainment and inspiration for all ages - from workshops and crafts, giant board games, circus skills, silly sports days, magic shows, parades, yoga and more.
Barbara’s Storybox hosted readings from best-selling children’s literature authors, Dan The Hat delivered his remarkable street show to rapturous applause, and Saturday night was ablaze with FlameOz’s spellbinding fire show.
Another festival first, The National Trust brought the popular Ranger Rae and Wildlifers podcast to life throughout the weekend with an interactive stage show and inspiring workshops on creating storytelling podcasts.
Every afternoon the comedy lineup packed The Garden stage with laugh out loud moments, courtesy of Bridget Christie, Lost Voice Guy, Steve Royle and many more. Local talent always shines through at Wychwood with so many artists taking to the stage from all around Gloucestershire.
This year, mainstays Thrill Collins skiffled through the hits on the main stage, emerging band Truck opened the The Garden stage in style on Friday, alongside appearances from Big Sky Orchestra, Aderyn, Pocket Sun, IDestroy, Jodie O, Roscoe Street, and Sophie and the Sticks across the weekend.
Wychwood Festival’s return in 2026 sees prices frozen for the fourth year in a row, with the first wave of tickets available from £115, with the added option to purchase a Ticket For Life with a 25 percent deposit of £28.75.
Tickets are available now at https://wychwoodfestival.com/2026
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