12 upcoming events in Canterbury
September 2026
Heritage Open Days
Free guided tours and exhibitions including monk life and monastic gardens at Canterbury Cathedral for national Heritage Open Days celebrations.
Canterbury's Cooking
Food and drink festival at Dane John Gardens, Canterbury, featuring street food, live music, workshops and the What Ales You beer and cider festival.
Canterbury's Cooking - A Festival of Food & Drink
A food and drink festival at Dane John Gardens with street food, live music, workshops and a craft market.
October 2026
Behind the Scenes: Book Conservation Tour
Exclusive studio tour of Canterbury Cathedral's book conservation workshop, limited to adults only.
Anna Lapwood Organ Concert
Live organ performance by Anna Lapwood inside Canterbury Cathedral's historic nave.
Canterbury Festival 2026
Kent's leading arts festival, a two-week programme of classical concerts, gigs, theatre, circus, talks and family events across historic Canterbury.
Circa: Eternity Circus
Australian circus ensemble Circa performs Eternity inside the nave of Canterbury Cathedral.
Britten Sinfonia: Surround Sound Playlist
Immersive orchestral performance by Britten Sinfonia staged inside Canterbury Cathedral.
APOLLO5: Crossings Album Launch
British vocal ensemble APOLLO5 launches their new album Crossings with a pilgrimage-themed programme at Canterbury Cathedral.
November 2026
Bonfire Night, Kent
Traditional Bonfire Night fireworks displays held across Canterbury and the wider Kent area to mark 5 November.
Canterbury Christmas Market
Free-to-attend Christmas market spread across Canterbury Cathedral Precincts, Whitefriars and St George's, one of the largest in Kent.
Canterbury Christmas Market 2026
One of the south-east's largest Christmas markets with over 120 huts and 170 stallholders, plus Santa's Grotto, a Lapland VR Experience, and Breakfast with Santa bookable experiences.