Exciting 2026 events calendar announced

A vibrant new calendar of free events planned by Harpenden Town Council offers something for everyone

Harpenden Town Council is thrilled to announce an exciting 2026 events programme including a new community festival, open air theatre, a music festival, nature day and much more! The events plan follows the Town Council’s commitment to inclusivity, support for local businesses and offer of free activities and entertainment suitable for everyone. The refreshed programme will also allow use of more of Harpenden’s neighbourhoods and green spaces and is an opportunity to enjoy nature, performances specific to a younger audience and use of the Town Council’s Park Hall.

Each year thousands of residents and visitors enjoy a full and varied events schedule and the Town Council is keen expand on the success of previous years to ensure that 2026 is even better.

As part of this new programme, the Town Council will host a series of “Summer Sessions” from Monday 20^th July to Monday 31^st August 26. Summer Sessions is an engaging summer holiday special event programme: shorter events with entertainment and activities tailored to specific audiences including a children’s theatre and a pop-up farm for young children and the Ha Ha Comedy Night for over 18s.

Many of the town’s favourite events return including the fantastic Christmas Carnival, Batford and Southdown lights, and summer favourites Music in Lydekker and the charming Teddy Bears picnic.

Cllr Beth Fisher, Mayor of Harpenden explained

“The Town Council’s refreshed events programme celebrates our community in an exciting new way. We will be able to welcome visitors to locations they may not have been to before including Porters Hill Park which is a fantastic green space in Batford. The refreshed programme also means that we have been able to incorporate smaller, more age specific activities and events and I am especially looking forward to a pop-up farm appearing in Rothamsted Park! Our “Summer Sessions” are deliberately planned to take place during school summer holidays and will offer free, engaging entertainment and activities for young people to enjoy.”

Read our press release and further information about each event here.