Festival Information
East Of England
Overview
Norfolk & Norwich Festival is one of the UK’s longest-running and most significant arts festivals, taking place each May across Norwich and the wider county of Norfolk. For seventeen days, the festival brings together a diverse programme of performances, installations, and participatory events presented in city streets, public spaces, cultural venues, parks, and landscapes.
The programme spans music, theatre, literature, visual arts, dance, circus, and free outdoor events, creating opportunities for audiences to encounter international artists alongside UK-based and regional talent. With events ranging from large-scale public performances to intimate venue-based work, the festival invites audiences of all ages to engage with culture across both formal and informal settings.
Alongside the annual festival, Norfolk & Norwich Festival delivers a year-round programme of creative engagement, working with communities, schools, and artists across the region. As a registered charity and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, the festival places particular emphasis on improving access to the arts for children and young people, and on supporting creativity as a vital part of everyday life in the East of England.
Line-up
View the official
What's On listings. You can filter events by genre.
Note: Line-ups can evolve/change closer to the event — check back regularly to stay up to date.
Festival Capacity: ≈ 50,000–75,000 (total attendance)
Norfolk & Norwich Festival does not operate with a single site capacity. It is a city- and county-wide, multi-venue arts festival taking place across Norwich and wider Norfolk. Published partner case studies and visitor information indicate total annual attendance typically falls in the region of 50,000–75,000 people across the full programme, with many sources citing around 60,000 attendances in a standard year. These figures reflect cumulative audiences across ticketed venues, free outdoor events, exhibitions, and participatory activity, rather than people present at one time.
Location
Norfolk & Norwich Festival takes place across Norwich city centre and wider Norfolk, using a network of cultural venues, outdoor public spaces, and temporary festival infrastructure.
The festival’s Box Office and administrative office are based at Norwich Guildhall during the event, providing an in-person hub for ticketing and visitor support.
Festival Focus
While the festival is multi-venue by design, a strong centre of activity forms in central Norwich around Chapelfield Gardens, where the festival creates its Festival Gardens. The Festival Gardens host the Spiegeltent, food and drink stalls, and a concentration of performances and social spaces, making it the closest thing to a central festival hub or meeting point during the programme.
At the heart of the Festival Gardens sits The Spiegeltent, a distinctive performance venue that acts as a focal point for live music, theatre, cabaret, and late-night shows throughout the programme.
City Centre Venues
Beyond the Festival Gardens, performances and events take place across a range of established venues in Norwich city centre. These include historic buildings, theatres, galleries, churches, and civic spaces, with activity often spilling out into streets and public squares.
The Forum, located on Millennium Plain, plays an important role during the opening weekend and across the programme, hosting performances and free public events both inside the building and in the surrounding outdoor spaces.
Wider Programme
In addition to city-centre activity, selected events take place at venues and outdoor locations across Norfolk, including parks, forests, beaches, and regional arts spaces. This wider programme reflects the festival’s role as a county-wide cultural event, extending its reach beyond Norwich itself.
Travel Info
General travel information for getting to Norwich is available on the festival’s Getting Here page, with guidance on road, rail, coach, and air travel.
Each individual venue page on the festival website also includes specific travel and accessibility information, which is recommended if you are attending particular performances.
Tickets
Basic Price Range: Free - £50
This price range provides a broad indication of the lowest and highest ticket prices across the festival programme.
Tickets are sold per event, with prices varying depending on the type of performance, venue, and seating. Some events are free to attend, while others are ticketed at different price points.
Always check the individual event page for current pricing, age guidance, and availability.
Norfolk & Norwich Festival operates on an event-by-event ticketing model. Rather than a single festival pass, tickets are booked individually for each performance, show, or activity.
To get started, browse the festival’s What’s On page and select the events that interest you. Ticket prices, availability, age guidance, and booking options are listed on each individual event page.
Please note: Some events are free to attend, though advance booking may still be required. Certain performances may also have age restrictions, which are clearly stated on the event listing.
How to Book
- Online: Book directly via individual event pages by clicking the releveant booking link on the event listing.
- By phone: Call the Box Office on 01603 531800 (10am–5pm, Monday to Friday).
- In person: Visit the festival Box Office at Norwich Guildhall, open 10am–6pm every day during the Festival.
Digital e-tickets are encouraged and are emailed shortly after booking. Postal tickets are available for a small fee on events taking place more than seven working days in the future.
Discounts & Concessions
A range of discounts are available across the programme, subject to availability, including:
- £10 tickets for Under 18s on most performances
- YoungNNF £10 tickets for members aged 18–30
- Concessions for students, jobseekers, D/deaf or disabled people, and Go4Less cardholders
Concession availability and eligibility are confirmed on individual event pages.
Access Bookings
Audience members with access requirements are encouraged to book via the festival’s dedicated Access Bookings process to ensure appropriate support is in place.
Important Booking Information
Always book tickets through official Norfolk & Norwich Festival channels. Ticket exchanges, credit, and resale are managed directly by the festival and are subject to specific timeframes and handling fees. Refunds are generally only offered in the case of event cancellation or postponement.
For full details on ticket delivery, exchanges, late entry, reservations, and terms of sale, please refer to the festival’s official ticketing and Box Office information.
Accommodation
Norfolk & Norwich Festival is not a camping festival, you will need to make your own accommodation arrangements.
View the festival's Getting Here page for details of their recommended hotel partner.
Another option is the Visit Norwich website which lists a host of accommodation options.
Packing Checklist:
Ensure you are fully prepared for your festival adventure with our Essential Packing Checklist.
Accessibility
Norfolk & Norwich Festivalis committed to making the festival as accessible and welcoming as possible. Full access information, including assisted performances, booking guidance, and venue-specific details, is available on the festival’s official Access page.
Access Support
- Wheelchair accessible seating is available across the festival programme
- Free Essential Companion / Personal Assistant tickets for audience members who require support
- Large print and audio brochures available to download
- Assisted and relaxed performances offered on selected events
Venue Access
As the festival takes place across multiple venues, access provision varies by location. Detailed accessibility information for each venue can be found on the festival’s Venues pages.
Access Bookings & Enquiries
Wheelchair tickets and Essential Companion tickets can be booked online via individual event pages or by contacting the Box Office directly.
- Email: access@nnfestival.org.uk
- Telephone: 01603 877750
