Sir Tony Robinson, Nigel Planer, T’Pau, and Timmy Mallett… and More at Frome Festival in July

Tickets are now on sale for Frome Festival’s silver anniversary year, taking place between the 3rd – 12th July, 2026. Three hundred events are scheduled in 58 venues in and around Frome during the 10-day community arts festival…..

Frome Festival’s programme offers music to suit all tastes – from classical, folk, pop, jazz and world music to hard rock, punk and techno. In a special programme, Frome-based Irish folk singer Cara Dillon will perform songs from across her acclaimed catalogue alongside Sam Lakeman, while also reflecting on the town they call home.

The Bob Morris Lecture is delivered this year by Sir Tony Robinson discussing his life and love of history. Other history talks during the festival include Three Remarkable Women by David Heath, The Bayeux Tapestry organised by Frome Society for Local Studies, and Emily Hauser reassesses the often-mythologised women of Ancient Greece in Mythica. Closer to home, Rosie Eliot will deliver Frome Festival President and Founder Martin Bax’s talk on Celebrating Frome Festival’s Origins with some enjoyable stories and memories to mark its 25th year. This is one of numerous free events, with booking advised.

There is a strong line-up of literary events, led predominantly by Frome Writers’ Collective who have relaunched Words at Frome Festival. Highlights include prizewinning novelist and biographer Nicholas Shakespeare discussing Spies & Lies at the Merlin Theatre. Another favourite literary event, The Crysse Morrison Prize for Poetry, will see winning poems presented alongside an open mic. Submissions for the poetry competition are open until the 14th June.

A special anniversary gala launch performance of the acclaimed musical King of Fools will open the festival at the Merlin on Thursday 2nd July. Written by former Frome Festival Director Martin Dimery, the production forms part of a wider fundraising initiative in support of the festival for its 25th anniversary.

Other highly anticipated plays featured in the festival are Frome Drama Club’s adaptation of Jean Genet’s The Maids and Really Truly Theatre’s Your Move. Dance lovers can enjoy a flamenco performance by celebrated dancer Maria Vega at the Merlin Theatre with Xuefei Yang on Spanish guitar. This is preceded by a flamenco workshop as a separate event.

Frome Festival offers an eclectic mix of hands-on workshops, from several literary and singing opportunities to Silver Jewellery Making, Carve a Green Man in stone, Softcover Bookbinding, Introduction to Bell Ringing, a Perfume Masterclass, Mongolian Overtone Voicing, Morris Dancing, Flamenco, West African and Afro Salsa dance workshops, Medieval Tile Making, a Tibetan Workshop with the Tashi Lhunpo Monks, a Mindful Photography Walk, Singing Bowl Workshops, and a Family Pond Dip for younger children. John Hegley is also running a creative workshop for “anyone who has been seven years old!”

The comedy headliners are Taskmaster favourite Phil Ellis presenting Bath Mat, and Nigel Planer, best known as Neil the hippie from The Young Ones. Timmy Mallett will also be sharing his love of cycling, painting and the landscapes of Britain and Ireland in his own inimitable way.

Art exhibitions have long been a cornerstone of the Frome Festival, with the Frome Open Art Trail showcasing the work of artists and makers in studios and shared venues throughout the town. Independently, the Pedestal Gallery will present ceramics by comedian Johnny Vegas alongside works by Peter Hayes and Emma Rodgers, following the show’s return from the Venice Biennale.

The Food Feast, another favourite free event, will be taking place on Saturday 4th July from 5pm. Visitors can expect great live music and entertainment alongside delicious international food, with many traders offering a low-price tasting menu for the first time this year.

Frome’s Hidden Gardens from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th July is also trying something new by extending the Friday opening hours to 7.30pm in the evening. Guests can discover beautiful spaces when the air is cooler before Frome Festival’s evening events.

With the sought after Frome Tunnels Tours on 7th July and various free events, walks, talks, quizzes, a Cacao Ceremony and Sound Bath, the return of the sensonic crew’s dance music night with cutting edge visuals under the name Synaesthesia, and a children’s Wildlife Parade heading through the town centre on Sunday 12th, audiences of all interests are catered for.

Frome Festival Director Adam Laughton shared, “As Frome Festival celebrates its 25th birthday this year, we’re delighted to see Frome’s remarkable arts scene reflected in events of all shapes and sizes. With 300 events, including 160 that are free and up to £5 per ticket, in 58 venues across the 10-day programme, there really is something for everyone.”

BROCHURES detailing all events are available to pick up from the Cheese & Grain, local libraries, information points and many other locations across Frome and the surrounding area. An online version of the brochure is available here. Publicity photos can be found here.

Tickets are on sale now via www.fromefestival.co.uk and the Cheese & Grain box office.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS – NOT TO MISS!

King of Fools – GALA LAUNCH Thursday 2nd July / 7pm / Merlin Theatre

Celebrating Frome Festival’s Origins (Martin Bax’s talk presented by Rosie Eliot)

Afriquoi x BCUC

Kiki Dee & Carmelo Luggeri

The Monochrome Set

Food Feast

Kanekt in Concert

Frome Tunnels Tours

Haydn Jeugd Strijk Orkest

Tony Moore