Event organisers across Hitchin are being invited to sign up now to take part in the Hitchin Festival 2026, with organisers confirming the popular town-wide celebration will run from 27 June to 31 July.

The annual festival showcases a wide range of events across the town – from music, theatre and art to talks, family activities and community celebrations – and organisers are encouraging groups, businesses and individuals to submit their events for inclusion in this year's official programme.

Those who register will have their events listed in the festival brochure, promoted through festival social media channels, and can choose to sell tickets through the festival's online and in-person box office.

The printed programme will be available to pick up from locations around Hitchin, including the Visit Hitchin Information Office, while the full listings will also be available online via the Hitchin Festival and Visit Hitchin websites.

Festival organisers said the programme helps events reach a wider audience while giving residents the chance to discover activities they may not have otherwise known about.

"The Hitchin Festival programme helps to promote events to a wider audience and we love the opportunity it offers for people to discover new things that perhaps they hadn't been aware of previously," organisers said.

Deadline approaching

Anyone wishing to take part must register their event by Friday 24 April. However, organisers say people should still get in touch if they need extra time as they are keen to include as many events as possible.

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Event organisers can register using the online form here:

https://eu.jotform.com/form/250536662203047

New box office opening hours

A new feature for this year's festival is expanded access to the in-person box office in Hitchin Churchyard, which will now open whenever the Visit Hitchin shop is open during June and July.

Organisers say this should give events greater visibility and more opportunities to sell tickets.

Creative Day launch event

The festival will officially launch at Hitchin Creative Day in the Market Square on Saturday 27 June. Local organisations can also apply for a stall to promote their activities as part of the launch.

During the festival period, Hitchin Creative will also run another Art Trail, inviting artists and venues across the town to take part.

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Need a venue?

Festival organisers say they do not provide venues directly, so events must already have a location secured before they are submitted.

However, the Market Theatre in Sun Street will again host a Fringe Festival throughout July, with several spaces currently available for hire for performers or event organisers looking for a venue.

More details about hiring a space at the Market Theatre can be found on its website.