Wychwood Festival has been crowned Family Festival of the Year at the UK Festival Awards 2025. The win caps a record-breaking year for the Cheltenham event, which is now seeing surging demand for its upcoming 2026 edition.
As it heads into its 20th anniversary year, the festival has secured vital industry recognition for its family focus alongside a clear vote of confidence from festival-goers.
The awards ceremony took place at Manchester’s DIECAST on Tuesday 2 December. The event brought together organisers, suppliers and industry figures for the 20th edition of the UK Festival Awards. A full list of the winners can be found here.
Wychwood’s win came on a night dominated by heavyweights such as Boomtown and Shambala. The victory places the Cheltenham weekender firmly among the UK’s most respected festivals, following a year the organisers describe as their strongest yet.
Festival director Graeme Merifield said the award reflects years of work building Wychwood as a welcoming, community-rooted festival. He described the event as a “love letter” to the local community that brings together families and grassroots music fans.
Merifield paid tribute to the crew, volunteers, traders, and performers who make the event possible. He framed the win as a thank you to the loyal audience who return each year, while inviting new faces to join the celebrations in 2026.
Running once again at Cheltenham Racecourse, Wychwood Festival 2026 will take place from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May. The weekend promises a blend of live music, comedy, food, workshops and family activities beneath the Prestbury Hills.
Kaiser Chiefs were announced earlier this autumn as the first headliners. Frontman Ricky Wilson described Wychwood as exactly the kind of summer festival where the band thrives, encouraging fans to join them for the anniversary celebration.
Two more headliners are still to be revealed. Organisers are also promising an expanded programme of activities for children from toddlers to teenagers, building on the atmosphere that helped secure the UK Festival Awards win.
Tickets for Wychwood Festival 2026 are already in high demand. Organisers have reported that more than 70% of weekend tickets have already been sold.
Adult weekend with camping tickets are currently priced between £139.50 and £149.50 plus a £10 booking fee, with most earlier tiers already sold out. Standard weekend tickets without camping sit in a similar bracket, with the top remaining tier priced at £144.50 plus fees.
The festival continues its commitment to affordability for families. Under-10s can attend the main festival for free on standard weekend and Saturday tickets. Discounted youth pricing is also in place for 10–15-year-olds across both camping and non-camping options.
For those looking to upgrade, Prestbury Club VIP tickets are available. These include access to a premium enclosure with its own bar, seating, main stage viewing areas and luxury toilets. Adult VIP weekend-with-camping tickets currently start around £219.50 plus fees.
Strict safeguarding rules remain in place. Under-18s must attend with a responsible adult aged 21 or over for the duration of the festival, with a maximum of two young people per adult.
Saturday-only tickets are also available for those unable to attend the full weekend. Adult day entry is now on the final price tier at £69.50 plus booking fee, with VIP upgrades and children’s day tickets offering additional flexibility.
- Dates: Friday 29 – Sunday 31 May 2026, Cheltenham Racecourse
- Award: Family Festival of the Year, UK Festival Awards 2025
- First 2026 headliner: Kaiser Chiefs
- Tickets: Weekend and Saturday options on sale now, with most early tiers sold out and over 70% of weekend passes already sold
For tickets and further details on Wychwood Festival’s 20th edition, head to wychwoodfestival.com.
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