Chalke History Festival 2026: Everything You Need to Know

One of the summer's finest events returns to the Wiltshire countryside this June with a stellar lineup, more immersive experiences than ever, and a moving tribute to one of Britain's greatest playwrights.

The Chalke History Festival is back - and the 2026 edition, running from 22nd to 28th June at Church Bottom, Broad Chalke, just outside Salisbury, is shaping up to be one of the standout occasions of the summer. Sponsored by Evelyn Partners and set across a 70-acre Wiltshire farm in the heart of the Wessex countryside, the festival blends inspiring talks and debates with living history, immersive experiences, theatrical performances, and live music in a setting that's genuinely hard to beat.

 

Tickets are on sale now.

 

A Stellar Lineup of Historians, Household Names and Expert Voices

This year's programme brings together an exceptional range of speakers - some returning favourites, some appearing at Chalke for the very first time.

 

Mary Beard will join her son Raphael Cormack to explore how historians make sense of lives that feel distant to modern eyes.

 

Anthony Scaramucci, whose visit in 2025 drew record crowds, returns to speak with James Holland about the road to war in the 1920s and 30s.

 

Antony Beevor turns his attention to the dangerous figure of Rasputin and his role in the fall of the Romanovs, while Harriet Walter will speak about women, visibility, and ageing in the arts through history.

 

Monday evening takes on a distinctly transatlantic flavour as James Naughtie, Sarah Churchwell, Nicholas Guyatt, and Anne Applebaum mark the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence across two special events.

 

Alan Titchmarsh will be sharing horticultural wisdom ahead of the 100th anniversary of the National Garden Scheme in 2027. And back by popular demand, Al Murray returns as The Pub Landlord with freshly brewed material.

 

Elsewhere in the programme: Alexander Armstrong discusses the cultural legacy of Marie Antoinette;

 

Tony Robinson presents his debut adult fiction novel set in the Anglo-Saxon world; adventurer Lucy Shepherd reflects on what it means to explore in the 21st century; Lyndal Roper - winner of the 2025 Cundill History Prize - talks about the German Peasants' revolt with Afua Hirsch; Paul Cartledge and Tom Holland take the stage to discuss Pericles; and former Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez joins Ugandan activist and singer Bobi Wine to ask how you unseat a dictator. It's a programme that manages to feel both timely and timeless.

 

A Tribute to Tom Stoppard: The Inaugural Tom Stoppard Conversation

One of the most significant moments in this year's programme is the inaugural Tom Stoppard Conversation - a new annual event honouring the great British playwright and screenwriter who died in 2025. Tom Stoppard's connection to Chalke was both personal and enduring, and with the support of his wife Sabrina Guinness, the festival is proud to mark his legacy with a conversation celebrating the history of theatre.

 

BAFTA-winning playwright David Hare - described by The Washington Post as the 'premiere political dramatist writing in English' - will take part in this first conversation, reflecting on Stoppard's remarkable life and work and sharing insights from a fifty-year friendship. It promises to be an intimate and illuminating tribute to one of the great voices of modern theatre.

 

More Immersive History, Performances and Family Fun Than Ever Before

Talks are only part of the story at Chalke. This year's festival site offers a feast of hands-on activities and immersive experiences for all ages. Highlights include the reconstruction of a magnificent late Iron Age Romano-British chariot using ancient artisan techniques; Abs Wisdom's Wizzo's Rip-Roaring History old-time circus sideshow; and The Castle Hill Heritage Skills group sharing their expertise on Viking Age storytelling, arms and armour, and textile dyeing.

 

For families with children, there's plenty to keep everyone entertained: Rattlebox Theatre and Angel Heart Theatre bring puppetry, storytelling, and larger-than-life characters to the site, while historic garden games, tablet weaving, medieval calligraphy, sword-fighting, archery, and axe-throwing round out an action-packed programme for younger visitors.

 

The Full Festival Experience: Food, Music and Midsummer Evenings

Chalke wouldn't be Chalke without the extras that make it so special. Fine dining in the festival tent, mouth-watering local produce, street food, ice creams, and the Chalke Valley Tap bar sit alongside a vintage clothing and jewellery Emporium and author signings with Waterstones. When the talks wrap up, the midsummer evenings take over - swap ideas with fellow history enthusiasts by the firepit, or dance the night away to ABBA's Angels or The Brass Funkeys. Those who choose to glamp or camp on site are, as ever, only a short walk from their bed.

 

Chalke History Festival for Schools

The Schools programme runs from Monday 22nd to Wednesday 24th June, with Wednesday designated as a SEND day for all school ages. Full details of the programme and booking information can be found on the festival website.

 

How to Get Tickets

The Chalke History Festival takes place from 22nd to 28th June 2026 at Church Bottom, Broad Chalke, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 5DP. Tickets are on sale now at www.chalkefestival.com.

 

Follow the festival on X @ChalkeFestival, on Instagram @chalkehistoryfestival, and on Facebook and LinkedIn.