Spring Weekend 2026

Friday 17 – Sunday 19 April

Spring Weekend 2026

The Spring Weekend is back this April with 50 of Britain’s leading historians, actors and broadcasters taking part in 30 events in the medieval splendour of Blackfriars Priory.

Scroll down to book both in person and livestream tickets or book directly from the festival brochure by clicking on the event image which will take you directly to the event page.

Booking opens 6 March.

Download the Brochure

Book Tickets

Book Livestream Tickets

Spring Weekend Passes

Save up to 20% on the price of your tickets with our great value passes

Spring Festival Pass – £160 – in person entry to all 18 main hall events

Digital Festival Pass – £50 – livestream access to the full digital talks programme until 25 May.

Find out more and purchase your pass

Click image above to download brochure

Livestream Tickets

All individual livestream tickets are £7 and appear next to the in person price. Livestreamed events are available to view until 25 May.

Find out more about the Digital Festival

Uncovering Hidden Histories

Queen of classics Mary Beard transports us to ancient Rome, Christopher de Hamel opens the candlelit treasures of the Book of Kells and RSC Director Greg Doran follows Shakespeare’s First Folios across the globe. Guy de la Bédoyère reveals the candid confessions of Samuel Pepys, while Tharik Hussain unlocks the history of Muslim Europe.

Power and Protest

With war in the Middle East, Edward Stourton re-examines Trump’s America and on the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Imjin River, UK Strategic Command’s James Daniel explores America’s Cold War power play then and now. Antonia Senior revisits the Cambridge Five and Geoff Andrews explores the struggles of Chartists and suffragettes.

Rulers Revealed

Michael Scott traces the dazzling rise and fall of Athens’ greatest star, Lucy Hughes-Hallett returns to the formidable Cleopatra, Alison Weir brings medieval queens to life amid war and upheaval, and Rory Naismith reveals the real King Offa and his dyke.

Great Lives & Legacies

Bendor Grosvenor and Waldemar Januszczak celebrate great art, Mark Horton tells the tragic story of the Berkeley pioneers in America, poet Pam Ayres reflects on a life of wit, warmth and rural roots and Janina Ramirez leads a celebration of Gloucestershire’s remarkable women.