Henley Festival

Henley Festival 2026

Henley Festival 2026 takes place from 8th to 12th July in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. This boutique, black-tie event transforms the riverside setting into a stylish garden party celebrating music, arts, and summer.

Music

Enjoy five evenings of headline concerts featuring pop, blues, jazz, rock, and classical music from international stars, homegrown favourites, and emerging artists. A floating stage offers intimate acoustic sets and DJ sessions, with nightly fireworks over the Thames.

Food & Drink

Sample gourmet dishes from global cuisines at pop-up restaurants and enjoy local specials by top chefs. Stylish bars serve Champagne, cocktails, and craft beers in a lantern-lit atmosphere, perfect for dining or casual drinks on the lawns.

Atmosphere & Community

The festival grounds are alive with art installations, jazz duos, street performers, and local crafts. The friendly, creative vibe encourages socialising, making it feel like a joyful community party beside the Thames.

Family Activities

Sunday afternoons feature the Playdate programme with children’s entertainers, puppet shows, clowns, and face-painting, allowing parents to relax while kids enjoy the lawn activities.

Henley-on-Thames has its own railway station, served by a branch line from nearby Twyford. Trains run regularly from London Paddington to Twyford (roughly 30 minutes), where you change onto the local service to Henley (another 10 minutes). The total journey from London usually takes about one hour. Services also run from Reading to Henley in around 15–20 minutes. Once at Henley station, the festival site is only a 5–10 minute walk along the riverbank from the town centre. Taxis and local buses are available outside the station if you prefer not to walk.

By car, Henley is easily reached via the M4 and M40 motorways. From London or Heathrow Airport, take the M4 west and exit at junction 8/9 toward Marlow; then follow the A404 into Henley-on-Thames. From the north (Birmingham, Oxford and beyond), use the M40 to junction 4 and continue on the A404 through Marlow. Closer to town, simply follow signs for Henley (or Henley Bridge). Festival parking is available at designated lots on the edge of town (often pre-booked with tickets), or you can use public car parks in Henley if you prefer. (Expect heavier traffic during festival week — arriving early is a good idea.)

The nearest major airport is London Heathrow (about 35 miles east of Henley). From Heathrow you can take the Heathrow Express train to London Paddington, then change onto a Great Western Railway service to Twyford and Henley. Gatwick and Stansted airports are farther away, usually requiring travel into central London first. Henley-on-Thames itself offers a range of lodging options: riverside hotels, friendly B&Bs and boutique inns. It’s wise to book early, as rooms fill up fast during festival week. Many visitors also stay in nearby Marlow or Reading, where additional hotels and guesthouses are available and trains connect back to Henley.