Bath's two biggest fixtures are The Bath Festival (literature and music, mid-May to early June) and the Jane Austen Festival (ten days in September), while the Bath Christmas Market (late November to mid-December) is the busiest visitor spell of the year. Rugby runs at the Rec from September to spring. Here's the whole year, month by month, so you can time a trip or dodge the crowds.
Most of Bath's festivals recur on roughly the same dates each year, so this doubles as a planning guide whichever year you're reading it. Confirmed 2026 dates are given where we have them.
The year at a glance
| When | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-March | Bath Half Marathon | Next race 14 March 2027; sells out |
| Late March to April | Bath Comedy Festival | Four weeks, 100+ shows |
| 16 to 24 May 2026 | Bath Literature Festival | Part of The Bath Festival |
| 30 May to 7 June 2026 | Bath Music Festival | The other half of The Bath Festival |
| Late May to early June | Bath Fringe Festival | Runs alongside The Bath Festival |
| 11 July 2026 | Bath Carnival | Free; procession from the Rec at 3pm |
| Early September | Foodies Festival | Royal Victoria Park |
| 11 to 20 September 2026 | Jane Austen Festival | Costumed Regency promenade on 12 Sept |
| September to October | Bath Children's Literature Festival | One of Europe's largest |
| 16 to 25 October 2026 | Bath Film Festival | Annual |
| 13 to 21 November 2026 | Bath Mozartfest | Classical music |
| 26 Nov to 13 Dec 2026 | Bath Christmas Market | Free entry, 200+ chalets |
| Sept to May | Bath Rugby at the Rec | Premiership season |
Dates checked August 2026. Festival dates shift slightly year to year, so confirm on the organiser's site before booking travel.
Spring
Bath Half Marathon takes over the city on a Sunday in mid-March. It's one of the UK's most popular road races and sells out every year; the next race is 14 March 2027. If you're visiting that weekend and not running, expect road closures in the centre.
Bath Comedy Festival fills city-centre venues for about four weeks from late March into April, with over a hundred shows. Good reason to visit in the quieter shoulder season.
Early summer: festival season
The city's cultural high point is The Bath Festival, split into two strands: the Literature Festival (16 to 24 May 2026) and the Music Festival (30 May to 7 June 2026), with the independent Bath Fringe running alongside. Book accommodation early for these weeks; the city is at its liveliest and its busiest.
High summer
Bath Carnival brings music and a costumed procession to the streets on 11 July 2026, with the main parade leaving the Recreation Ground at 3pm and a day of events in Sydney Gardens. It's free.
Autumn
The Jane Austen Festival (11 to 20 September 2026) is the one that draws visitors from around the world, ten days of Regency events crowned by the Grand Costumed Promenade on Saturday 12 September, when hundreds parade through the city in period dress. Autumn also brings the Foodies Festival in Royal Victoria Park in early September, the Bath Children's Literature Festival across September and October, the Bath Film Festival (16 to 25 October 2026) and Bath Mozartfest (13 to 21 November 2026).
Winter
The Bath Christmas Market runs from 26 November to 13 December 2026, with more than 200 chalets threaded through the Georgian streets around the Abbey. Entry is free and there's no booking, but it is the busiest and priciest time to visit, so book a room well ahead and use the Park and Ride rather than driving in.
Year-round: rugby at the Rec
Bath Rugby play their Premiership home games at the Recreation Ground in the heart of the city from September to spring. A match day fills the centre; a plan for a new 18,000-seat stadium has been approved, but construction isn't due to start until summer 2027, so the club plays on at the Rec through the 2026/27 season.
The honest alternative
If you'd rather avoid crowds and cost, come outside the big fixtures. The Christmas Market, the Jane Austen Festival and The Bath Festival are wonderful but busy and dear; a weekday in late January or February gives you the Roman Baths, the crescents and the Skyline walk with room to breathe. For a plan around any of it, see Bath in one weekend.
FAQs
When is the Jane Austen Festival in Bath?
The 2026 festival runs 11 to 20 September, with the Grand Regency Costumed Promenade on Saturday 12 September. It's a ten-day celebration and one of Bath's biggest annual events, so book accommodation early.
When is the Bath Christmas Market?
26 November to 13 December 2026, spread through the streets around Bath Abbey with over 200 chalets. Entry is free and there's no booking. It's the busiest visitor period of the year, so plan travel and parking ahead.
What is the biggest festival in Bath?
The Bath Festival in May and June (literature plus music) and the Jane Austen Festival in September are the two largest. The Christmas Market draws the biggest visitor crowds of any single event.
Is there always something on in Bath?
Yes. Beyond the headline festivals there's Bath Rugby at the Rec from September to spring, regular markets, and smaller film, comedy and classical festivals through the year. Even in quiet months the Roman Baths, the spa and the Georgian city are always open.