Introduction
West Sussex has a packed summer calendar, with June and July 2026 bringing together flower festivals, local markets, outdoor theatre, heritage walks, food fairs, family fun days, music events, charity fundraisers, Pride celebrations and major sporting festivals. Here is a clear local guide to 25 upcoming community events across West Sussex to help residents, families and visitors plan what to enjoy next.
1. Chichester Cathedral Festival of Flowers 2026
Description: A four-day floral spectacular transforming Chichester Cathedral with thousands of blooms, creative displays and a festival market.
Date / timing: 3–6 June 2026.
Venue / location: Chichester Cathedral, Chichester.
Why local people may enjoy it: It is a beautiful seasonal event combining creativity, heritage, fundraising and local produce in one of the county’s most recognisable buildings.
Source: Chichester Cathedral official listing.
2. South Downs Food Festival
Description: A weekend food and drink festival celebrating producers, street food, local flavours and family entertainment.
Date / timing: 6–7 June 2026, 10.30am to 5pm.
Venue / location: Stansted Park, Rowlands Castle.
Why local people may enjoy it: It supports regional food producers and raises funds for Rowans Hospice, making it a tasty day out with a community purpose.
Source: Stansted Park and South Downs Food Festival listings.
3. Chichester Farmers’ Market
Description: A regular city-centre market with local food, drink and produce from West Sussex and nearby suppliers.
Date / timing: 5 and 19 June, and 3 and 17 July 2026.
Venue / location: Chichester city centre.
Why local people may enjoy it: It is an easy way to support local producers, shop seasonally and keep town-centre trade thriving.
Source: Chichester District Council market dates.
4. Festival of Chichester
Description: A month-long arts and culture festival with concerts, theatre, talks, poetry, guided walks and exhibitions.
Date / timing: 13 June to 19 July 2026.
Venue / location: Venues across Chichester.
Why local people may enjoy it: It offers a broad and accessible cultural programme, with events for different ages, budgets and interests.
Source: Festival of Chichester official listing.
5. Family Fun Day Sussex
Description: A charity family day with helicopters, crew meet-and-greets, lifesaving demonstrations, music, food and funfair-style activities.
Date / timing: 13 June 2026, from 11am.
Venue / location: Wiston House Estate, Wiston Park, Steyning.
Why local people may enjoy it: It combines family fun with support for Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex.
Source: Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex.
6. Outdoor Theatre: Othello
Description: An open-air performance of Shakespeare’s Othello by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men.
Date / timing: 14 June 2026, 7pm.
Venue / location: Paradise Garden, Chichester Cathedral.
Why local people may enjoy it: It brings classic theatre outdoors in a historic setting, making it a memorable summer evening event.
Source: Chichester Cathedral official listing.
7. Nymans Friday Lates
Description: Evening openings with live music on the lawn, picnic space and a relaxed garden atmosphere.
Date / timing: Every Friday from 19 June to 24 July 2026, 5pm to 8pm.
Venue / location: Nymans, near Haywards Heath.
Why local people may enjoy it: It is a gentle summer evening option for families, friends and garden lovers.
Source: National Trust Nymans events listing.
8. Worthing Festival
Description: A town festival celebrating creativity, sustainability, community activity and local culture.
Date / timing: 19–21 June 2026.
Venue / location: Worthing.
Why local people may enjoy it: It gives residents a chance to enjoy arts, food, ideas and local projects in a coastal town setting.
Source: Worthing Festival official site.
9. Bloody, Brilliant Tudors: A Talk by Elizabeth Goff
Description: A history talk exploring dramatic, scandalous and fascinating Tudor stories.
Date / timing: 19 June 2026, 6pm to 8pm.
Venue / location: Stansted Park, Rowlands Castle.
Why local people may enjoy it: It is ideal for history lovers and anyone who enjoys local talks in heritage venues.
Source: South Downs National Park / Art Fund listing.
10. Arundel Farmers’ Market
Description: A regular market with local food, drink, flowers, plants, artisan goods and independent producers.
Date / timing: 20 June and 18 July 2026, 9am to 1pm.
Venue / location: High Street, Arundel.
Why local people may enjoy it: It sits in the heart of historic Arundel and supports local growers, makers and food businesses.
Source: Arundel Farmers’ Market listings.
11. M&L Pleasure Fair
Description: A summer fair with rides, games, sideshows and amusements for different ages.
Date / timing: 26 June to 5 July 2026, selected days, 1pm to 8pm.
Venue / location: Horsham Park.
Why local people may enjoy it: It offers classic fairground fun in a central park location during the start of summer.
Source: Horsham District Council.
12. The Country Brocante Summer Fair
Description: A countryside fair with artisan makers, vintage homewares, garden galleries, local food and talks.
Date / timing: 26–27 June 2026.
Venue / location: The Meadow, Rowner Farm, near Midhurst.
Why local people may enjoy it: It has a slower, village-fete feel, with shopping, plants, tea, cake and countryside atmosphere.
Source: The Country Brocante official listing.
13. Stansted Summer Festival
Description: A family festival with Napoleonic living history, re-enactments, live music, archery, heritage crafts and children’s entertainment.
Date / timing: 27–28 June 2026, 10am to 6pm.
Venue / location: Stansted Park, Rowlands Castle.
Why local people may enjoy it: It is a varied family weekend with history, entertainment and outdoor activities in a country estate setting.
Source: Stansted Park official listing.
14. Highlights of Chichester Guided Walk
Description: A 90-minute guided walk through Chichester’s streets, exploring local history from Roman times onwards.
Date / timing: Selected Sundays during the Festival of Chichester, including 14, 21 and 28 June, and 5, 12 and 19 July 2026.
Venue / location: Starting near Chichester Cathedral Bell Tower, Chichester.
Why local people may enjoy it: It is a local-interest activity that helps residents and visitors notice the stories behind familiar streets.
Source: Festival of Chichester event calendar.
15. The Great Gatsby Outdoor Theatre
Description: A family-friendly outdoor adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic story.
Date / timing: 1 July 2026.
Venue / location: Stansted Park, Rowlands Castle.
Why local people may enjoy it: It is a stylish evening performance in a country estate setting, suitable for a summer picnic theatre night.
Source: Stansted Park events listing.
16. Worthing Pride 2026
Description: A weekend Pride celebration with live entertainment, community stalls, food, music and inclusive activity.
Date / timing: 4–5 July 2026.
Venue / location: Steyne Gardens, Worthing.
Why local people may enjoy it: It celebrates equality, diversity and local LGBTQI+ community life on the West Sussex coast.
Source: Worthing Pride official listing.
17. Arundel Castle Medieval Festival Weekend
Description: A family-friendly medieval weekend with historical activity and castle atmosphere.
Date / timing: 4–5 July 2026.
Venue / location: Arundel Castle, Arundel.
Why local people may enjoy it: It brings history to life in one of West Sussex’s most iconic heritage settings.
Source: Arundel Castle official events listing.
18. Horsham Rotary Funday Sunday
Description: A free community family day with traders, charities, community organisations, street food, a stage and display arena.
Date / timing: 5 July 2026, 12pm to 5pm.
Venue / location: Horsham Park.
Why local people may enjoy it: It is a strong local community event and includes the finale of the Horsham Children’s Parade.
Source: Horsham District Council.
19. Goodwood Festival of Speed
Description: A major motorsport festival with hillclimb action, historic vehicles, supercars, displays and a summer garden-party atmosphere.
Date / timing: 9–12 July 2026.
Venue / location: Goodwood House, near Chichester.
Why local people may enjoy it: It is one of West Sussex’s biggest international events and attracts car lovers from across the country.
Source: Goodwood official listing.
20. Outdoor Theatre: Pinocchio
Description: A family outdoor theatre performance of Pinocchio in the Cathedral’s Paradise Garden.
Date / timing: 11 July 2026, 6.30pm.
Venue / location: Paradise Garden, Chichester Cathedral Cloisters.
Why local people may enjoy it: It is a good summer evening option for families who want theatre in an informal outdoor setting.
Source: Chichester Cathedral official listing.
21. As You Like It at Weald & Downland Living Museum
Description: An open-air theatre performance of Shakespeare’s comedy in the grounds of the museum.
Date / timing: 14 July 2026, 6pm to 9pm.
Venue / location: Weald & Downland Living Museum, Singleton, near Chichester.
Why local people may enjoy it: It combines outdoor theatre, heritage surroundings and the relaxed feeling of a summer picnic performance.
Source: Weald & Downland Living Museum.
22. Petworth Summer Festival
Description: A summer arts festival with music, literature, talks and performances across Petworth venues.
Date / timing: 16 July to 1 August 2026.
Venue / location: Petworth and surrounding venues.
Why local people may enjoy it: It gives local audiences access to high-quality cultural events in a beautiful market town setting.
Source: The Great Sussex Way and Experience Sussex listings.
23. Latehurst at Wakehurst
Description: An after-hours garden event with culture, music and evening atmosphere around Wakehurst’s Elizabethan Mansion.
Date / timing: Selected dates from 2 to 25 July 2026.
Venue / location: Wakehurst, Ardingly.
Why local people may enjoy it: It offers a different way to experience the gardens after hours, with a relaxed summer evening feel.
Source: Kew Wakehurst official listing.
24. Nymans Summer of Play
Description: A summer holiday activity programme with races, games, active challenges, den building and family play.
Date / timing: 18 July to 4 September 2026, 10am to 5pm.
Venue / location: Nymans, near Haywards Heath.
Why local people may enjoy it: It is a practical family day out for the start of the school holidays, with outdoor play and picnic space.
Source: National Trust Nymans.
25. Qatar Goodwood Festival
Description: Five days of world-class flat racing, fashion, food and summer socialising at Goodwood Racecourse.
Date / timing: 28 July to 1 August 2026.
Venue / location: Goodwood Racecourse, near Chichester.
Why local people may enjoy it: It is a major sporting and social event, set against the South Downs with strong local and national appeal.
Source: Goodwood official listing.
Closing Note
West Sussex’s June and July 2026 events calendar offers something for families, food lovers, music fans, heritage enthusiasts, theatre-goers, market browsers, charity supporters and anyone looking for a good local day out. Please support local organisers, traders, performers, charities and community volunteers wherever you can, and always check official event pages for the latest dates, ticket details, accessibility information and travel arrangements before setting off.
