Summer festivals and big days out
The big summer dates, each linked to its organiser.
Summer is when the UK fills its calendar. Edinburgh in August is the biggest crowd of all, so book a bed early.
Dates below come from each organiser's page, opened on 25 Oct 2026. London events with dates in our events data are shown as cards.
Dates: where a date is shown, it comes from the organiser's own page (last checked 25 Oct 2026). Where it says "usually", the date is not confirmed: use the official link.
Dated events
- Trooping the Colour (the King's Birthday Parade) Usually June Horse Guards Parade, Westminster
- The Championships, Wimbledon All England Club, Wimbledon
- Pride in London London
- Notting Hill Carnival Notting Hill
- Black on the Square Trafalgar Square
Edinburgh in August
- Edinburgh
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The organiser calls the next one its 80th edition and has not yet said when the programme comes out.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe (opens in new tab) · checked 25 Oct 2026
- Edinburgh
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Edinburgh Military Tattoo (opens in new tab) · checked 25 Oct 2026
Elsewhere
- Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Henley Royal Regatta
The organiser says tickets go on sale in spring.
Henley Royal Regatta (opens in new tab) · checked 25 Oct 2026
- Cherry Hinton Hall, Cambridge
Cambridge Folk Festival
The page lists Netherhall School as the parking site.
Cambridge Folk Festival (opens in new tab) · checked 25 Oct 2026
Before you go
- Book Edinburgh rooms as soon as the dates are out.
- Festival sites are outdoors. Pack for rain as well as sun.
- Check each organiser's page for tickets and entry rules before you go.
Sources
Pages we opened to write this guide. Organisers change dates: check before you book.
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe (opens in new tab) · opened 25 Oct 2026
- Edinburgh Military Tattoo (opens in new tab) · opened 25 Oct 2026
- Henley Royal Regatta (opens in new tab) · opened 25 Oct 2026
- Cambridge Folk Festival (opens in new tab) · opened 25 Oct 2026
- Pride in London (opens in new tab) · opened 25 Oct 2026
More: All events · Edinburgh · Cambridge · London
More seasonal guides
- UK in spring: festivals, blossom and bank holidaysBlossom in the parks, festivals in university cities and two bank holiday weekends.
- UK in summer: festivals, sport and long days outBig sport and street festivals in London, and all of Edinburgh in August.
- UK in autumn: colour, city festivals and fireTurning leaves, rutting deer and city festivals that fill the evenings.
- UK in winter: Christmas markets, lights and HogmanayChristmas markets and lights, then New Year in London and Edinburgh.
- Christmas markets and winter lightsWhere to find markets and lights, with the organisers' own dates.
- Bonfire Night, fire festivals and HogmanayFire and fireworks from late autumn to Hogmanay.