27 March 2026: From stand-up comedy to stone carving, outdoor jazz to children’s theatre, tickets are now on sale for Alton Arts Festival, running 3 – 12 July. The full programme is available at https://www.altonartsfestival.com/whats-on.
Headline acts include the sparkling wit of stand-up Lucy Porter and a poetry reading and exploration of neurodiversity from comedian, author and broadcaster Robin Ince. Alt-folk duo Memorial will be delivering an intimate gig, and the award winning Dyad Productions will bring their sparkling one-woman exploration of Virginia Woolf’s seminal A Room of One’s Own to Alton’s Wessex Arts Theatre. Author, illustrator and ex-Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell will illustrate live, diving deep into an underwater adventure, and children’s comedian Olaf Falafel will deliver kid-friendly giggles following his sell-out run at Edinburgh Fringe last year.
Chris is returning to the festival for a second time, along with local stone mason, carver and sculptor David Wilkins, whose Stone Carving Workshop sold out in record time at the 2024 festival.
Chris Riddell said: “The Alton Arts Festival has a magic that reminds you that creativity isn’t just something that happens on a stage or a gallery wall. It’s alive in every corner of the community, bringing people together. I can’t wait to come back this year.”
The festival celebrates arts, community, and creativity – bringing a range of music, comedy, theatre, literature and visual arts experiences to local venues across Alton, Chawton and Holybourne.
A chance for all to take part
The festival’s participatory spirit runs throughout the full ten days with a host of new workshops from bookbinding and illustration to editing for writers and writing for picture books. Audiences can also learn from writing mentor Emma Darwin, who will join fellow author Louise Morrish for a relaxed discussion on turning real life into fiction, peppered with readings from their latest historical novels.
Frantic Assembly, known for its bold, physical storytelling, will deliver hands-on Devising and Physicality workshops for teens and adults on the first Saturday, inviting everyone to flex their creative muscles, thanks to sponsorship from Alton Fringe Theatre.
The spirit of all being welcome extends outdoors too, with Pumpkin Pantos bringing a free, shout-along performance of Alice in Wonderland to Alton’s Public Gardens on 4 July, sponsored by Alton Town Council.
New Art Box sessions – a free, immersive, installation-style creative experience curated for pre-school and home-educated children and their families – will also run throughout the festival. The Art Box will offer different artists and experiences in each session, including ‘Light Play Art’, where children and older members of the community can explore art in the everyday together – through light, shadow and movement.
Alton Arts Festival chair Annie Lancaster said: “We are incredibly proud of this year’s festival programme. It is ambitious in its range, but rooted as ever in the idea of bringing people together. We’ve worked hard to refine what we offer based on audience feedback, whilst keeping our ticket prices as low as possible and putting on more free events, because we want everyone to feel welcome. None of it would be possible without our generous sponsors, supporters, and our fantastic patrons. I just can’t wait to bring all this to Alton and for the creative, festival buzz to fill our brilliant town!”
The complete Alton Arts Festival programme and tickets are available at: www.altonartsfestival.com.
Lisa Henshaw
Info@altonartsfestival.com