Alton Arts Festival 2026 came to a joyful close on Sunday 12th July as hundreds filled Alton's Public Gardens for Party in the Park: an afternoon of live music, food, sunshine and celebration, and a fitting finale to a packed ten days. Returning for its second edition, AAF brought together artists, audiences, schools, community groups and local businesses across a footprint spanning Alton, Chawton and Holybourne. The warmth of the response has delighted the volunteer organising committee....

Alton Arts Festival opened this weekend with miles of homemade bunting crafted by local residents decorating the town – and with peals of laughter in the Assembly Rooms at Lucy Porter’s sold out gig on Friday night. The laughter, joy and celebration of the arts could be heard throughout the town over the 15 events and workshops that took place across eight Alton, Chawton and Holybourne venues over the weekend. “Our town is buzzing with creative energy,” said festival chair Annie Lancaster....

Alton Arts Festival (AAF) announces its most ambitious schools programme to date – bringing professional artists from Alton and across the UK into classrooms around the town and surrounding villages ahead of this summer's festival. The fully funded programme offers 64 free workshops to more than 3,500 children and young people from Reception through to Year 8 – spanning 15 primary schools, Alton’s specialist SEND school and two secondary schools. Beginning in late-May and running through to...