Autumn Festival 2027

The Gloucester History Festival returns to the heart of Gloucester from Saturday 4 to Sunday 19 September 2027. It's the autumn edition of a festival that keeps history going throughout the year, sitting alongside the Spring Weekend in April and the King's Talks. This particular run brings together the UK's leading historians, broadcasters and thinkers for stories that span centuries and cross continents, with the organisers promising fresh perspectives, bold debate and the pleasure of discovering the past together.

Over the two weeks, the festival gathers a range of voices from across the country to talk through different eras and regions, so the programme reaches far beyond the city's own walls. The sessions are built around stories that travel across time and borders, with the historians and broadcasters bringing in their own specialisms to the mix. It's as much about the conversation as the subject matter, with the debate and the chance to hear different takes on the same history forming a good part of what happens across the fortnight.

If you're planning to go, there are a few practical things to keep in mind. Bookings open in July each year and you can get your tickets online, by phone or at the on-site Box Office. Seating is reservable, so you'll have a spot held for you, and Waterstones runs book signings after each event, which is a handy way to pick up a copy of whatever's been discussed. With the festival running from 4 to 19 September, there's plenty of room to pick and choose the talks that actually interest you rather than trying to fit it all in.