01 Jan 2026
St Albans is bursting with vibrant festivals, fascinating tours and trails, cultural experiences, live music and seasonal celebrations in 2026 – in fact all the ingredients for a standout year.
Kick off with Helios – an immersive experience at St Albans Museum + Gallery where a dramatic six metre diameter spherical sculpture of the Sun by renowned UK artist Luke Jerram offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience our nearest star up close.
This extraordinary installation celebrates science and art, enhanced by a specially-crafted surround-sound composition, and accompanied a lively programme of events.
Entry is free but a booking system is in place so do check the website to schedule your visit at https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/helios.
Celebrate Valentine’s in St Albans with a romantic city centre spectacle. St Albans City Centre BID is bringing back its much-loved Valentine’s Illumination to the historic medieval Clock Tower. The city’s iconic landmark will be illuminated with a romantic light display, looping throughout the evening between February 12-14 to create a sense of romance and celebration. Themed free-standing light-up furniture throughout the city centre offers the perfect opportunity for photos.
Whales is a vast, awe-inspiring installation inviting visitors to reflect on our deep connection with the natural world. Three monumental sperm whale sculptures will soar above the Nave of St Albans Cathedral – a once-in-a-lifetime creation by artist Tessa Campbell Fraser running now until February 4.
Meanwhile, Worlds Connected at St Albans Museum + Gallery invites visitors to step into a multi- sensory experience with sound, scent and interactive design.
It explores the connections between St Albans and Islamic cultures across centuries through a variety of themes including design, craft, trade, hospitality, clothing and science, and runs until February 22.
Central to the exhibition is small box fragment inscribed with Arabic text that once held the heart of Abbot Roger de Norton, who died in 1291 – discovered during excavations carried out at the Cathedral in 1872.
Enjoy an unforgettable evening of music from your favourite artists under candlelight at the Cathedral with a live cast of singers and musicians.
Each show offers something special, from Meatloaf (January 16) to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (April 9), and a night for Swifties to revel in Taylor’s iconic hits (April 10). Other candlelit concerts include Eagles, The Beatles, Luther Vandross, ‘80s Anthems and Motown.
The Inns and Alehouses in Victorian St Albans exhibition at the Museum + Gallery invites visitors to step back in time to when the city was home to nearly 100 commercial drinking establishments.
Inspired by the 1884 verse The City Pubs, composed by ‘Baron’ Martin, the exhibition uncovers the stories behind the city’s vibrant drinking culture.
The lively composition lists 92 drinking locations – all within a one-kilometre radius of the museum – many of which are brought to life through stories, objects, photographs and Victorian memorabilia – and runs until March 15.
Festival of Film is a star-studded weekend celebrating British movie and TV history presented by Renown Pictures and Talking Pictures TV with celebrity hosts and guests, live stage entertainment, screenings of lost and rare films, shorts and episodes, stalls and exclusive offers, and takes place at the Alban Arena from March 21-22.
This Easter, St Albans Cathedral presents a full programme of activities including the annual Palm Sunday Procession on March 29, and recitals hosted by the St Albans International Organ Festival on April 25 and May 16.
Bluey and Bingo, the popular characters from the Australian television series, headline Oaklands College’s Lambing Weekend on May 9-10 with live performances.
There’s also a chance to meet baby lambs, explore the farm and zoo, and enjoy family activities celebrating sustainable farming, animal care and environmental responsibility.
St Albans Spring Festival returns to the city centre on May 17, when St Peter’s Street will welcome a lively, traffic-free celebration of food, wellbeing, community spirit and sustainability. Highlights include live music, street theatre, arts and crafts, and a wide range of stalls serving takeaway food, drinks and locally produced goods.
Hertfordshire County Show returns on the weekend of May 23-24, with entertainment including quad bike stunts, foxtrotting forklifts and the iconic Made in Herts zones.
The following weekend sees the return of St Albans’ very own “Gastro-Glastonbury” as Foodies Festival is back at Oaklands College with new features, a wider range of chefs and bakers, food and wine experts and chart-topping music stars including the ever-popular Scouting for Girls.
St Albans Folk Festival promises a vibrant weekend of events from June 5-7, including a colourful day of dance and music in the city centre.
Theatre company OVO’s hugely popular open-air summer festival brings captivating, imaginative and boldly reimagined new versions of classic plays and stories to the atmospheric surroundings of the ancient Roman Theatre of Verulamium. This year’s productions include Much Ado About Nothing, Jane Eyre and Sherlock Holmes, running from June 5 to August 31.
Alban Day on June 20 celebrates the life of Britain’s first saint with a procession of giant 12ft tall carnival puppets and a colourful re-enactment of events which led to his execution at the hands of the Romans around 1,700 years ago, followed by a lively street festival across the city centre.
Oaklands College hosts the Ibiza Orchestra Experience on June 26 with a 26-instrument ensemble performing iconic dance anthems reimagined live, while you can sample more than 30 different ciders and 20 varieties of sausages at the Sausage and Cider Festival on June 27, and enjoy spectacular tributes to country music’s greatest legends at Summer in Nashville on June 28.
St Michael’s Street Folk Evening returns on July 1, and St Albans Comedy Garden is back at Verulamium Park from July 22-26.
In Harpenden, Festival in the Field returns on July 4, a volunteer-run fundraising event, organised by the parents’ organisations of Sir John Lawes School and Manland Primary School, featuring live music from top tribute acts, and Classics on the Common will also be back at some point during the month.
Sound Bites Festival replaces Pub in the Park with a weekend of live-fire cooking, chef takeovers, street-food heroes and craft drinks from the best local makers, all served alongside headline acts, live bands and feel-good DJs from September 3-6.
As we move into the latter part of 2026, there are still plenty of dates for your diaries.
St Albans Beer and Cider Festival returns to the Alban Arena on September 27-30, and George Street Gin and Jazz is back on October 7. This year’s St Albans Cathedral’s Fireworks Spectacular takes place in Verulamium Park on November 7, and the free St Albans Christmas Cracker kicks off the city’s festive season on November 22.
The dates for other events taking place across the district, such as Harpenden Carnival and the Redbourn Festival, have yet to be confirmed, but full details will appear in the St Albans Times as they become available, keeping readers up to date with everything happening on their doorsteps in 2026.
