Festivals and Events 2026

Swanage and Purbeck hosts many festivals and events throughout the year, and there’s something for everyone.

March

Beach Gardens Open Day - Saturday 29th March

Swanage Railway - Spring Gala - Friday 27th March - Sunday 29th March

April

Swanage Carnival Classic Motor Show - Sunday 26th April

May

Swanage Railway - Diesel Gala - Friday 8th May - Sunday 10th May
Pirate Festival - Saturday 23rd May - Sunday 24th May
Purbeck Art Weeks - Saturday 23rd May - Sunday 7th June

June

Fish & Food Festival - Saturday 13th June - Sunday 14th June

Sea Rowing - Summer Regatta Weekend - Saturday 20th June - Sunday 21st June
Swanage Railway - Roads to Rail Steam Rally - Friday 26th June - Sunday 28th June

July

Hants & Dorset Coastal Rowing Regatta - Saturday 4th July
Jazz Festival - Friday 10th July - Sunday 12th July
Wild Swimming Festival - Saturday 18th July - Sunday 19th July
SWANAGE CARNIVAL WEEK! - Saturday 25th July - Saturday 1st August

August

Rotary Summer Summer Fete - Thursday 6th August
Lifeboat Week - Saturday 8th August - Sunday 15th August
Harmans Cross - Annual Fete & Show - Bank Holiday Monday 31st August

September

Folk Festival - Friday 11th September - Sunday 13th September
Swanage Railway - Autumn Steam Gala - Friday 11th September - Sunday 13th September
Planet Purbeck - Discovery Fest - Saturday 19th September

October

Blues Festival - Thursday 1st October - Sunday 4th October

Purbeck Film Festival - Friday 16th October - Sunday 2nd November

November

Swanage Literary Festival - Friday 6th November - Saturday 7th November

Artisans on the Beach - Saturday 21st November - Sunday 20th December

Swanage Christmas Lights Switch on - Saturday 28th November

Swanage Railway - Christmas Events - DATES TBC

December

Artisans on the Beach - Saturday 22nd November - Sunday 14th December
Swanage Pier Trust - Christmas Events - Various Dates in December

Swanage Railway - Christmas Events - DATES TBC
Rotary Christmas Street Market - Saturday 5th December
The Boxing Day Dip! - Saturday 26th December


Please click on the following link for a copy of the events list/further details of upcoming events:

  • 2026 Events List - this list will be updated regularly, please visit this page again for any updates/additions. Thank you.

Please contact the Swanage Information Centre if you have any queries in the meantime.

Thank you.

To name but a few!...

If you require any further information about any future event, please do not hesitate to contact Swanage Information Centre who will be pleased to assist you, or visit the Swanage Information Centre and Beach Gardens Facebook pages.

Please also take a look at Visit Dorset, Dorset's official tourism website, for further ideas and inspiration, visitor information, and for a full events selection across Dorset.

If you are an event organiser, please remember to add your event for free to the Visit Dorset website by completing a short form at VisitDorset.com - submit event

If you are considering holding an event on land owned by Swanage Town Council please either contact the Swanage Information Centre, or complete a Stage 1 Application Form. Thank you.

Other local websites you may find useful:

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