An exciting 10-Day Festival Showcasing Local, National and International Artists.
11th-20th September
Hosts, Trustees, Volunteers, and Staff are gearing up for Wirksworth Festival 2026. The Wirksworth Arts Festival began 32 years ago when a group of local artists first opened their houses in 1994. Today Wirksworth has expanded to a town full of artists, which includes galleries, and artists’ own studios. Wirksworth Festival opens with the Art and Architecture Trail Weekend, where around 160 artists exhibit their work in nearly 70 venues including peoples’ homes, public spaces, local businesses, in gardens and sheds.
Many of the wonderful, intriguing houses in Wirksworth will be open over the weekend to host visiting artists. These range from Painters to Ceramicists, Jewellers to Textile Artists, Ironworkers to Print Makers, Photographers, Sculptors and more. There are also two packed Designer Maker Markets to browse and enjoy, and an exciting choice of activities for children over the weekend. For many regulars the Trail is the highlight of the Festival so each year up to a third of the artists will be new to the Trail, to ensure that there is always something new to see.
During the Trail Weekend the town comes alive with up to 5000 locals and visitors enjoying the exhibitions, having lunch, visiting the Church or just soaking up the atmosphere. There is always so much going on and often spontaneous entertainment emerges. Throughout the weekend there will be pop up music at various locations, in the past there have been Plays, Morris Dancers, an Alpenhorn group, Classical Musicians, a Ukelele group and more. With a Food Court near the Memorial Hall, and the town’s cafés, pubs, and coffee shops open, there is lots here to do to make a full day of it, many venues will serve tea and cakes – in fact most people who buy a wristband come back for the second day.
The Festival works in partnership with MusicWirks who throughout the Trail Weekend arrange live music in many places, adding to the energy around the town. Details can be found on the MusicWirks Facebook page. Dubrek Studios will also produce free public music performances each evening concluding the Trail Weekend with the traditional Gig on the Roof on Sunday.
The Festival itself continues for a full week with performances arranged by our partners Town Hall Events until the following weekend, with a full performance programme most nights. See www.wirksworthfestival.co.uk for details. This year’s programme includes live music, comedy, theatre, poetry with artists of national repute alongside up-and-coming young artists and local talent and includes the Wirksworth Community Celebration on the final day.
For the past few years, the Festival has been sponsored by The Ampersand Foundation, encouraging an Artist in Residence programme. Ellen Burroughs the chosen 2025/26 artist lived for 3 months in a cottage on the outskirts of town and worked towards an exhibition for this year’s Festival and will curate the Central Exhibition this year in The Maltings entitled “IP DIP”. A multi-sensory body of work celebrating children’s play outdoors in the wild, natural spaces, using printmaking, sound, video and scent.
There are numerous and generous Sponsors and the whole Community, all of whom whole heartedly embrace the Festival. New members and volunteers are always welcome, contact admin@ wirksworthfestival.co.uk to find out more. The Trail Weekend entry wristbands are still only £10.00 giving access to all the exhibitions across the whole town for the entire weekend. Free for children 16 and under.
Wirksworth is an old steep town, so many places can be challenging to access but the Trail Guide and maps, which you get with your wristband, clearly shows the main venues that are accessible. A free shuttlebus service runs to and from the main car parks north and south of the town continuously both days. Parking is staffed by volunteers and fees are donated to the Wirksworth Colts Football Club. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway in partnership with Wirksworth Festival are running trains from and to Duffield Station, tickets purchased include the Festival wristband at a reduced rate. e-v-r.com
Wirksworth Festival 2025 prides itself on exhibiting excellent quality art and is only made possible through the hard work of volunteers throughout the year, alongside the trustees, temporary part time paid staff, and members.
Look out for the Festival Events Guide which is distributed to numerous outlets throughout Derbyshire. The Festival has become established as one of the highlights of the Derbyshire year – in fact it was the first rural arts festival in the East Midlands.
