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Early line-up sets the tone for a welcoming, joyful and ambitious mix of events and styles – all celebrating arts and community
28 NOVEMBER 2025: Alton Arts Festival (AAF) has announced the first three acts of its 2026 programme, offering an exciting glimpse of what’s to come when the much-loved 10-day, multi-arts, multi-venue festival returns to Alton 3–12 July 2026.
Launched in 2024 to outstanding public response, AAF continues to grow, establishing itself as one of the South’s most distinctive arts festivals. AAF is thrilled to welcome award-winning English folk singer and songwriter Katherine Priddy, musical comedy and theatre crossover ‘Is Opera Boring?’,and a town-wide ceilidh with Alton Morris. These first announcements set the tone for an exceptional line-up still to be unveiled in full.
About the acts:
Katherine Priddy: “one of the most beautiful voices in British folk”
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Katherine Priddy’s rise has been one of the most exciting in the folk music scene. Both her debut and her second album have reached No. 1 on the Official UK Folk Chart and drew praise from outlets such as The Observer, Uncut, Songlines, and Folk Radio UK.
She’s been described by MOJO as “simply brilliant.” Katherine has performed on Later… with Jools Holland, at the BBC Proms, at Glastonbury, and has supported artists including Elbow and Suzanne Vega on tour.
Priddy will bring her spellbinding voice, poetic songwriting and captivating stage presence to an intimate AAF performance, set to be one of the festival’s most memorable evenings.
Katherine said: “In a world that’s increasingly driven by algorithms, social media and endless screen time, one of my favourite things about being a musician is playing intimate shows and truly connecting with live audiences through my songs. Alton Arts Festival gives a platform for that sense of closeness and community, and I can’t wait to be there next summer.”
Is Opera Boring? Lucy Mellors & Mark Hoare bring opera to life (jokes included)
Soprano Lucy Mellors and pianist Mark Hoare present Is Opera Boring? — a witty, warm and brilliantly accessible show that dismantles the stereotypes of opera with humour, charm and astonishing vocal talent.
Described as “a merry gateway drug into the world of opera”, this show is part performance, part storytelling and part mischievous myth-busting. It offers a unique blend of magical opera, insane piano solos, and hilarious anecdotes about life in the arts. Playful, surprising, and designed for anyone from seasoned opera lovers to complete newcomers, this is opera as you’ve never seen it before!
A Great Alton Knees-Up: a town ceilidh with Alton Morris
To celebrate their 35th anniversary, Alton Morris are joining forces with AAF for a community ceilidh featuring The Diatonics, one of the UK’s top ceilidh bands known for their vibrant fusion of folk, Morris, and dance music; plus guest dancers from across the region, performances from Alton Morris themselves, and delicious food from local vendors.
Lizzie Wilson, Alton Morris Mini-Bag, said, “We loved every minute of the 2024 festival. So joining forces for 2026, and in our 35th anniversary as a border side no less, feels incredibly special. Alton Arts Festival is a real celebration of community, music and dance, and we can’t wait to be part of it.”
Lively, jubilant and gloriously fun, the community ceilidh will bring the whole town together for an unforgettable evening of music, dancing and celebration.
These first three acts are just one part of a wider programme that will also include theatre, talks, workshops, free community events, visual arts, and the return of the ambitious AAF Schools Programme. The full line-up will be unveiled in the spring, when tickets go on sale.
Chair of the Festival Committee, Annie Lancaster, said: “We’re so excited to share these first acts because they show exactly where we’re heading: high-quality artists, a real mix of styles, and events that feel welcoming, joyful, and celebratory. This is just the beginning of the programme; we have so much more to come.”
A festival for everyone
AAF’s vision is to create a festival that is proudly rooted in Alton while outward-looking in its artistic ambition. The 2026 edition will bring together nationally recognised performers, local talent, participatory workshops and memorable community experiences, all designed to make high-quality arts accessible to all.
“The festival belongs to the whole community, but our ambition is anything but small,” Annie Lancaster added. “These first acts show what we’re about: ambitious programming, brilliant artists, and an experience that feels both exciting and inclusive. We want to put Alton firmly on the cultural map at a moment when the arts needs champions more than ever. AAF is moving from strength to strength thanks to the incredible passion and support of our town.”
To keep tabs on AAF news, fundraising events and next year’s line-up, sign up for the Alton Arts Festival Newsletter at: https://www.altonartsfestival.com/get-in-touch.
ENDS