Theatre festivals in London and the UK
If you're a theatre fan you might want to check-out the wide-ranging theatre festivals that regularly crop-up in London and around the UK throughout the year.
Below is our date-order list of current and upcoming theatre festivals.
To get more details for a festival, just click on its box.
If you're organising a theatre festival and would like us to list it, use this form to send us details.
Connections 2020
1 February to 7 July 2020
The National Theatre's annual festival of new plays for youth theatres and schools. The biggest youth theatre festival on the planet!
96 Festival 2020
9 to 27 June 2020
96 Festival is back by popular demand! A glittering lineup of artists will set up camp at Omnibus Theatre for a spectacular celebration of queerness and theatre.
Buxton International Festival 2020
3 to 19 July 2020
Recognised nationally and internationally as one of the UK's leading arts festivals, Buxton International Festival is a summer celebration of the very best opera, music and literature at the heart of the beautiful Peak District.
River Stage 2020
3 July to 2 August 2020
The free outdoor Summer festival organised by the National Theatre.
Playmill 2020
13 to 25 July 2020
Playmill is the King's Head Theatre's festival for new work. For two weeks every July, it opens its doors to the UK's most exciting and ambitious emerging companies.
Kaleidoscope Festival
25 Jul 2020
Alexandra Palace once again throws open its gates to welcome a vibrant and eccentric cast of performers for a summer celebration like no other, where music, theatre and comedy will embrace.
Greenwich & Docklands International Festival 2020
28 August to 12 September 2020
London's leading festival of free outdoor performing arts (theatre, dance, and street arts), an annual celebration of extraordinary outdoor events that transform people's lives.
Cambridge Drama Festival 2020
Expected: Sep 2020
An annual, competitive festival for One Act plays.
BlackFest
Expected: Sep 2020
Blackfest is a series of events showcasing a mix of work from a variety of Black artists and communities.
Bristol Festival of Puppetry 2020
Expected: Sep 2020
A ten-day, biennial celebration of all things animated on stage and screen - featuring shows, films, workshops and free stuff for all tastes and ages.
Brighton Fringe 2020
Expected: Sep 2020
Brighton Fringe is the largest open-access arts festival in England. It is an international festival that is at the same time rooted in the community.
Clapham Fringe Festival 2020
Expected: Sep 2020
A Performing Arts Festival taking place at The Bread & Roses Theatre.
RUMAH Fest
19 Sep 2020
RUMAH Fest is a one-day festival to open up spaces for integration amongst Artists from the various Asian Diasporas based in London.
Belfast International Arts Festival 2020
Expected: Oct 2020
Belfast International Arts Festival, formerly known as Belfast Festival at Queen's, is the city's longest running international arts event.
London Horror Festival 2020
Expected: Oct 2020
The UK's original and largest festival of live horror performance.
Brighton Horrorfest 2020
Expected: Oct 2020
Shows and events that celebrate all things terrifying and chilling, presenting some of the finest scares from across the UK over 13 days of productions.
Unbroken Festival 2020
Expected: Oct 2020
A mini-festival showcasing several pieces looking at the important issue of mental health from a variety of different angles.
Bloomsbury Festival 2020
9 to 18 October 2020
Celebration of the area's pioneering creativity. Presenting an inspiring programme of arts, science, literature, performance, discussion and reflection.
DARE Festival 2020
22 to 24 October 2020
A three-day extravaganza of inventive, unexpected, challenging and ground-breaking new work. 2020 marks its fifth year in Shoreditch Town Hall's Ditch and will be bigger and better than ever with twelve new commissions.
London International Mime Festival 2021
Expected: Jan 2021
Taking place each January, its programme spans the spectrum of contemporary visual performance including live art, physical and circus-theatre, mask, puppetry, movement and object theatre.
