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The Bath Festival

17 May – 26 May

Inspiring and connecting people and communities for many years in Bath, The Bath Festival is returning from 17th – 26th May.

Celebrating music and literature, the Bath Festival fills the city with melodies and excitement.

Starting with the fantastic Party in the City, there will be plenty of fun to be had by all!

Find out more
The Bath Festival

WHAT’S ON AT THE BATH FESTIVAL

17th May
Party in the City
at Bath
Join Bath’s biggest FREE party on Friday 17 May, from 5pm till late, as the city centre will…
18th May
Walking Tour: Less Discovered Bath – Five Georgian Crescents
Bath has seven Georgian crescents, each a graceful and uplifting symphony in creamy Bath Stone. This walk around…
18th May
Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad: Daniel Finkelstein Talks to Simon Mayo
at The Guildhall
Journalist, author and political commentator Daniel Finkelstein joins bestselling author and broadcaster Simon Mayo to discuss his moving…
18th May
The Bath Festival Book Club Event: Jennie Godfrey and Susan Fletcher
at The Guildhall
Come and join the Bath Festival Book Club! Novelists Jennie Godfrey and Susan Fletcher chat to the festival’s…
18th May
Walking Tour: Reading Bath Between The Lines
This walk, led by qualified Blue Badge tour guides, considers other writers who connections should be better known…
18th May
Kathy Lette: The Revenge Club
at The Guildhall
Internationally bestselling author, Kathy Lette joins broadcaster Penny Smith to unleash her new novel The Revenge Club – a subversive, irreverent and…
18th May
Good Grief: Cariad Lloyd Talks to Kit De Waal
at The Guildhall
When Cariad was 15, her dad died. She became the person-who-dad-had-died, a mess of emotions and questions; a…
18th May
Thank You for the Music: Abba 50th Anniversary Celebration
at The Guildhall
This year is the 50th anniversary of Waterloo (the song, not the battle) winning the Eurovision Song Contest…
18th May
Clive Myrie: Everything is Everything
at The Guildhall
As a Bolton teenager, Clive Myrie dreamed of becoming a journalist – now he is known for his reputation for…
18th May
Walking Tour: Bath Blitz – A Story of Destruction & Rebuilding
Bath suffered from devastating air raids in World War Two. Luftwaffe bombers attacked the city in reprisal for…
18th May
Murder Live: Murder in the Bookshop!
at Waterstones
Do you dare to Murdle?! Don’t miss this exclusive Bath Festival event with G.T. Karber, creator of Murdle, the devilishly devious murder…
18th May
Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd
at The Guildhall
A very special evening with comedians, authors and long-term friends Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd (co-hosts of the Weirdos Book Club podcast), celebrating the…
18th May
An Evening with Salena Godden
at The Guildhall
Join us for a very special festival event with one of the powerhouses of British poetry, the trailblazing…
19th May
Walking Tour: Bath’s Remarkable Women
There are over 80 plaques on buildings in Bath commemorating illustrious past residents, yet only a small fraction…
19th May
The Science of Eating for a Lifetime of Health with Dr Federica Amati
at The Guildhall
Head nutritionist at ZOE, Dr Federica Amati comes to Bath to share her mission to break through confusing medical jargon and deliver…
19th May
Kit de Waal and Tracy King
at The Guildhall
Tracy King’s memoir Learning to Think is a heartbreaking but hopeful story which holds a mirror to the realities of…
19th May
Harriet Wistrich: Sister in Law
at The Guildhall
For more than quarter of a century, solicitor, founder and director of the Centre for Women’s Justice, Harriet Wistrich has…
19th May
Freya North and Matt Cain
at The Guildhall
Former journalist turned author, Matt Cain, joins bestselling novelist Freya North, for a chat about love in literature, and a…
19th May
Walking Tour: Less Discovered Bath – Five Georgian Crescents
Bath has seven Georgian crescents, each a graceful and uplifting symphony in creamy Bath Stone. This walk around…
19th May
Walking Tour: Bath Blitz – A Story of Destruction & Rebuilding
Bath suffered from devastating air raids in World War Two. Luftwaffe bombers attacked the city in reprisal for…
19th May
Howard Jacobson: What Will Survive Of Us?
at The Guildhall
Booker prize-winning novelist Howard Jacobson comes to Bath to discuss his heartfelt new novel, What Will Survive Of Us – an unforgettable…
19th May
Anna Murphy: Destination Fabulous
at The Guildhall
Fashion director of The Times, Anna Murphy shares her knowledge from years of writing about fashion and beauty in a practical…
19th May
Walking Tour: Bath on Screen – The Other Star of the Show
With its honey-coloured Georgian streetscapes, Bath is frequently used as a scenic backdrop for films and TV shows.
19th May
Sarah Crossnan: Hey Zoey
at Waterstones
Imagine discovering an animatronic sex doll hidden in the garage. What would you do? Award-winning author Sarah Crossan joins us…
19th May
Shaparak Khorsandi: Scatter Brain
at The Guildhall
Join much-loved comedian Shaparak Khorsandi for a delicious mix of stand-up and excerpts from her new book as she looks…
19th May
Anne Corlett and Anna Mazzola
at The Guildhall
Two dark and dazzling tales from two exceptional voices in gothic historical fiction. Anne Corlett’s The Theatre of Glass and…
20th May
Walking Tour: Less Discovered Bath – Five Georgian Crescents
Bath has seven Georgian crescents, each a graceful and uplifting symphony in creamy Bath Stone. This walk around…
20th May
Workshop: Freedom to Write – Life Writing with Andy West and Yvonne Dukes
at Bath Central Library
How do we write about our own lives, and the people and places that shape us? Freedom to…
20th May
Lunchtime Talk: Eggs, Evolution and Life on Earth with Jules Howard
at The Guildhall
Zoologist Jules Howard takes us on a mind-bending journey into the revolutionary story of eggs, evolution and life on earth,…
20th May
The Imposter Cure with Dr Jessamy Hibberd
at The Guildhall
Millions of us suffer from imposter syndrome, letting our insecurities and doubts hold us back from enjoying our…
20th May
Walking Tour: Bath Blitz – A Story of Destruction & Rebuilding
Bath suffered from devastating air raids in World War Two. Luftwaffe bombers attacked the city in reprisal for…
20th May
Walking Tour: Bath on Screen – The Other Star of the Show
With its honey-coloured Georgian streetscapes, Bath is frequently used as a scenic backdrop for films and TV shows.
20th May
Women’s Health: Everything You Need to Know
at The Guildhall
Dr Nighat Arif, resident doctor on BBC Breakfast and ITV’s This Morning, is on a mission to bring women’s health to the…
20th May
John Connolly: The Instruments of Darkness
at The Guildhall
The number one bestselling author and radio host, John Connolly, joins Joe Haddow for a chat about his new Charlie Parker…
20th May
Walking Tour: Reading Bath Between The Lines
This walk, led by qualified Blue Badge tour guides, considers other writers who connections should be better known…
20th May
Poetry in the City! Poetry Reading and Open Mic
at Chapter 22 Roots and Records
A festival favourite! Bath poet and University of Bristol lecturer Carrie Etter will read from her new, fifth collection, Grief’s Alphabet,…
20th May
Zeinab Badawi: An African History of Africa
at The Guildhall
Award-winning broadcaster Zeinab Badawi introduces her ground-breaking and epic history of Africa, An African History of Africa told through the voices of…
20th May
Vintage Books Proof Party
at The Guildhall
A unique opportunity to get an early copy of THE destination read for 2024, from Costa-prize-winning author Francesca…
20th May
Aidan O’ Rourke & Brighde Chaimbeul
at St Swithin’s Church
Brighde Chaimbeul, small pipes Aidan O’ Rourke, fiddle Brighde Chaimbeul won the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award at…
21st May
Walking Tour: Bath on Screen – The Other Star of the Show
With its honey-coloured Georgian streetscapes, Bath is frequently used as a scenic backdrop for films and TV shows.
21st May
Kate Molleson: Sound Within Sound
at The Guildhall
Join author, journalist, critic and BBC Radio 3 broadcaster Kate Molleson for a celebration of her radical book, Sound Within Sound,…
21st May
Lunchtime Talk: Reboot! Reclaiming Your Life In A Tech-Obsessed World
at The Guildhall
Distinguished cyberpsychologist and author Dr Elaine Kasket invites you to test your knowledge, interrogate your assumptions and examine your approach…
21st May
Jenni Falconer: The Joy of Running
at The Guildhall
There is nothing quite like the runner’s high you experience after pulling on your running shoes, getting outside…
21st May
Walking Tour: Bath Blitz – A Story of Destruction & Rebuilding
Bath suffered from devastating air raids in World War Two. Luftwaffe bombers attacked the city in reprisal for…
21st May
Claire Douglas & Tim Weaver
at The Guildhall
Bestselling psychological thriller writers Claire Douglas and Tim Weaver know a thing or two about building tension and creating unexpected twists and…
21st May
Viv Groskop: One Ukrainian Summer
at The Guildhall
Comedian, broadcaster and writer Viv Groskop makes a welcome return to the festival to launch her memoir One Ukrainian Summer, a…
21st May
Walking Tour: Bath’s Remarkable Women
There are over 80 plaques on buildings in Bath commemorating illustrious past residents, yet only a small fraction…
21st May
Harriet Evans: D Is For Death
at Waterstones
A special pre-publication event with bestselling author Harriet Evans as she launches her first novel in her new crime series,…
21st May
Ruby Wax: Navigating Tough Times
at The Guildhall
Much-loved comedian Ruby Wax opens up about her unflinchingly honest story of her struggles with mental health and different treatments…
21st May
Damien Lewis: Ungentlemanly Warfare
at The Guildhall
The Sunday Times bestselling author and former war correspondent, Damien Lewis, explores the untold stories of six of the…
21st May
Stile Antico: The Golden Renaissance
at Bath Abbey
Music by Byrd, Taverner, Guerrero, Praetorius, Tallis, Tomkins, Gibbons. Sheppard, & Victoria. One of the world’s leading a…
22nd May
Walking Tour: Less Discovered Bath – Five Georgian Crescents
Bath has seven Georgian crescents, each a graceful and uplifting symphony in creamy Bath Stone. This walk around…
22nd May
Workshop: Writing Nature Now – Ecopoetry With Carrie Etter
at Bath Central Library
How do we write about nature now, as we face the climate crisis? Poet and lecturer Dr Carrie Etter addresses…
22nd May
Lunchtime Talk: The Life of Gwen John with Alicia Foster
at The Guildhall
Art historian, curator and novelist Dr Alicia Foster, author of Gwen John: Art and Life in London and Paris and curator of the…
22nd May
Catherine Coldstream: Cloistered
at The Guildhall
In Cloistered, Catherine Coldstream tells of the 12 years she spent as a contemplative nun in a strictly enclosed community…
22nd May
Walking Tour: Bath’s Remarkable Women
There are over 80 plaques on buildings in Bath commemorating illustrious past residents, yet only a small fraction…
22nd May
George Monbiot
at The Guildhall
How can you fight something if you don’t know it exists? Legendary environmentalist and Guardian columnist George Monbiot takes on…
22nd May
Abigail Dean & Stig Abell
at The Guildhall
Global bestselling author Abigail Dean joins journalist and Times Radio host, Stig Abell, for a chat about their new novels, love of…
22nd May
Walking Tour: Reading Bath Between The Lines
This walk, led by qualified Blue Badge tour guides, considers other writers who connections should be better known…
22nd May
Becky Hunter: Meet Me When My Heart Stops
at Waterstones
Bristol-based author and editor, Becky Hunter, joins Sunday Times bestselling author Georgina Moore for a chat about her new novel, Meet Me When My…
22nd May
Conn Iggulden: Nero
at The Guildhall
Travel to the heart of a Roman dynasty drenched in danger and intrigue with master storyteller, Conn Iggulden, as…
22nd May
Cara Dillon: Coming Home
at The Guildhall
Internationally renowned, award-winning folk singer Cara Dillon, one of Ireland’s most cherished musical talents, joins us for a special…
22nd May
Nosferatu – Screening and Live Music
at Christ Church
Sebastian Heindl, organSir Christopher Frayling, introductory talk Screening of the 1922 classic silent film, Nosferatu, with live organ improvisation.…
23rd May
Walking Tour: Bath’s Remarkable Women
There are over 80 plaques on buildings in Bath commemorating illustrious past residents, yet only a small fraction…
23rd May
Awaken Your Senses: Writing Workshop and Swim
at Cleveland Pools
It is well-documented that swimming in a natural environment can stimulate the senses, soothe the soul and spark…
23rd May
Confessions of a Literary Agent with Simon Trewin
at The Guildhall
Join veteran literary agent Simon Trewin, as he reveals everything you ever wanted to know about getting published…
23rd May
Lunchtime Talk: The Science of Happiness with Professor Bruce Hood
at The Guildhall
Psychologist and happiness expert Professor Bruce Hood offers the Bath Festival seven simple life-changing lessons to help us…
23rd May
Walking Tour: Reading Bath Between The Lines
This walk, led by qualified Blue Badge tour guides, considers other writers who connections should be better known…
23rd May
Adam Sharp: The Wheel is Spinning but the Hamster is Dead
at The Guildhall
Join wordsmith Adam Sharp for an entertaining show blending stand-up and excerpts from his book as he journeys…
23rd May
Jonathan Dimbleby: Endgame 1944
at The Guildhall
Join broadcaster and bestselling historian, Jonathan Dimbleby for a special launch event on the publication day of his…
23rd May
Walking Tour: Bath Blitz – A Story of Destruction & Rebuilding
Bath suffered from devastating air raids in World War Two. Luftwaffe bombers attacked the city in reprisal for…
23rd May
Ordinary Time: Cathy Rentzenbrink talks to Max Porter
at Waterstones
Bestselling author Cathy Rentzenbrink unveils her wise, moving and funny new novel in this exclusive pre-publication event hosted…
23rd May
Zulekha A Afzal: Dancers of the Dawn
at Waterstones
A special pre-publications event with an exciting new name in YA fantasy fiction, Zulekha A. Afzal as she…
23rd May
Orlando: The Adventurer – Song and Guitar
at St Swithin’s Church
In this concert all stereotypes of the traditional song recital are avoided while exploring Virginia Woolf’s Orlando
23rd May
Danny Wallace: Lies, Trolls and Conspiracy Theories
at The Guildhall
Bestselling author Danny Wallace takes us on a journey down the rabbit hole of lies, trolls and conspiracies
24th May
Walking Tour: Reading Bath Between The Lines
This walk, led by qualified Blue Badge tour guides, considers other writers who connections should be better known…
24th May
Workshop: Writing a Memoir – Where do I Start?
at American Museum and Gardens
Held at the beautiful American Museum & Gardens, and run by writer Cathy Rentzenbrink will give you encouragement…
24th May
Lunchtime Talk: Venice – City of Pictures with Martin Gayford
at The Guildhall
Art critic Martin Gayford takes the Bath Festival in this captivating talk for lovers of Venice and of…
24th May
Jack Cornish: The Lost Paths
at The Guildhall
Discover the rich history of Britain’s ancient pathways with Jack Cornish, Head of Paths at the Ramblers Association…
24th May
Walking Tour: Bath on Screen – The Other Star of the Show
With its honey-coloured Georgian streetscapes, Bath is frequently used as a scenic backdrop for films and TV shows.
24th May
Talking Therapy: Benji Waterhouse and Joshua Fletcher talk to Cathy Rentzenbrink
at The Guildhall
Bestselling psychotherapist Joshua Fletcher and NHS psychiatrist Benji Waterhouse share their unique insights on working in mental health
24th May
Maggie Aderin-Pocock: The Art of Stargazing
at The Guildhall
Come and explore the night sky with award-winning superstar space scientist and BBC The Sky at Night presenter…
24th May
Walking Tour: Less Discovered Bath – Five Georgian Crescents
Bath has seven Georgian crescents, each a graceful and uplifting symphony in creamy Bath Stone. This walk around…
24th May
Dead Happy with Josh Silver
at Waterstones
Sensational author Josh Silver joins the Bath Festival to launch the next novel in his heart-pounding YA series,…
24th May
Fabian Muller Plays Brahms and Beethoven
at St Swithin’s Church
Fabian Muller is one of the most exciting young talents around and this concert, which also includes Brahms’s…
24th May
Keanu Reeves is Not in Love with You with Becky Holmes
at The Guildhall
By winding up scammers and investigating the truth, Becky Holmes shines a revealing light on a shady corner…
24th May
Cloud Atlas 20th Anniversary with David Mitchell
at The Guildhall
The genre-defying, Booker-shortlisted, bestselling novel Cloud Atlas is 20 years old and to celebrate this anniversary, the Bath…
25th May
Walking Tour: Bath Blitz – A Story of Destruction & Rebuilding
Bath suffered from devastating air raids in World War Two. Luftwaffe bombers attacked the city in reprisal for…
25th May
Workshop: Make Your Setting Some Alive with Kim Sherwood
at The Gainsborough Bath Spa
Join award-winning writer Kim Sherwood for this encouraging workshop on how to make setting come alive in your…
25th May
Read Them Here First
at The Guildhall
Be among the first to hear about three of this summer’s most hotly anticipated debuts in this showcase…
25th May
Ancient Wonders with Bettany Hughes and Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
at The Guildhall
Explore the ancient world with historians Bettany Hughes and Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones who talk about bringing their research to…
25th May
Walking Tour: Bath on Screen – The Other Star of the Show
With its honey-coloured Georgian streetscapes, Bath is frequently used as a scenic backdrop for films and TV shows.
25th May
Workshop: Introduction to Tarot with Litwitchure
at The Gainsborough Bath Spa
If you are curious about the tarot, this is your chance to learn more! Fiona Lensvelt of Litwitchure…
25th May
Living the Good Life with Julius Roberts
at The Guildhall
Julius Roberts is a first-generation farmer and restaurant-trained chef, on a mission to live a self-sufficient life
25th May
See What You’re Missing with Will Gompertz
at The Guildhall
Back by popular demand, world-leading art expert Will Gompertz takes The Bath Festival into the minds of artists
25th May
Stacey Halls and Susan Stokes Chapman
at The Guildhall
Two outstanding historical fiction writers, Stacey Halls and Susan Stokes-Chapman make a welcome a return to the festival,…
25th May
Politics Made Simple with Tatton Spiller and Ben Riley-Smith
at The Guildhall
Our politics and our democracy appear to be fundamentally broken. But that doesn’t mean that all hope is…
25th May
Walking Tour: Bath’s Remarkable Women
There are over 80 plaques on buildings in Bath commemorating illustrious past residents, yet only a small fraction…
25th May
Carducci Quartet with Dean Shibe
at St Mary’s Church
Italian composters Luigi Boccherini and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco share links to Spain. Each of the guitar quintets has a…
25th May
Helen Lederer: Not That I am Bitter
at The Guildhall
A riotously frank and funny evening with the Absolutely Fabulous star, stand-up and writer, Helen Lederer, who was…
25th May
John Boyne Talks to Donal Ryan
at The Guildhall
Internationally bestselling author, John Boyne introduces Earth, the second in his quartet of intimate, interlinked novels
26th May
Walking Tour: Bath’s Remarkable Women
There are over 80 plaques on buildings in Bath commemorating illustrious past residents, yet only a small fraction…
26th May
Navigating the Climate Crisis: Tori Tsui & Mikaela Loach
at The Guildhall
The climate crisis is making us all unwell. Powerhouse environmental activists, Tori Tsui and Mikaela Loach offer their…
26th May
Charlie Higson & Kim Sherwood: Writing James Bond
at The Guildhall
Bestselling author and comedian Charlie Higson joins author and lecturer Kim Sherwood for an in-depth discussion on James…
26th May
Clover Stroud Talks to Cathy Rentzenbrink
at The Guildhall
Clover Stroud discusses her new, profound and moving book, The Giant on the Skyline with Cathy Rentzenbrink, in…
26th May
The Great Post Office Scandal
at The Guildhall
In this unique Bath Festival event, journalists and former post office workers talk about their experiences of the…
26th May
Walking Tour: Less Discovered Bath – Five Georgian Crescents
Bath has seven Georgian crescents, each a graceful and uplifting symphony in creamy Bath Stone. This walk around…
26th May
Elly Griffiths & Mark Billingham
at The Guildhall
Two titans of crime writing, Elly Griffiths and Mark Billingham, come together for this special event, they reveal…
26th May
Spotlight on the Women ‘s Prize for Fiction
at The Guildhall
The Women’s Prize for Fiction is the UK’s most prestigious annual book award celebrating and honouring fiction written…
26th May
Spotlight on the Women’s Prize for Fiction
at The Guildhall
The Women’s Prize for Fiction is the UK’s most prestigious annual book award celebrating and honouring fiction written…
26th May
Tea with Miss Austen
at Waterstones
Don’t miss the opportunity to join Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates, for tea, cake and crime…
26th May
Walking Tour: Bath on Screen – The Other Star of the Show
With its honey-coloured Georgian streetscapes, Bath is frequently used as a scenic backdrop for films and TV shows.
26th May
Lynn Barber: A Little Art Education
at The Guildhall
Legendary journalist Lynn Barber details the weird and wonderful stories from her fascinating career in A Little Art…
26th May
Michael Ball: Different Aspects
at The Guildhall
West End legend Michael Ball joins the Bath Festival to talk about his magical memoir, taking us backstage…
26th May
Rick Stroud: Women of the Resistance
at Waterstones
Rick Stroud tells the enthralling untold story of the women of the resistance in Belgium and occupied France…
26th May
Maxwell String Quartet
at St Mary’s Church
The international prize-winning Maxwell String Quartet bring the Bath Festival’s two masterpieces completed with Scottish folk songs

Find out more about Important Events in Bath

The Bath Festival

01225 614180

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