Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts is Cheltenham’s oldest festival. 2026 is our Centenary year when the Festival will run from May 6th to the 16th. The Festival is an opportunity for performers to demonstrate their skills in the wonderful setting of Cheltenham Town Hall. There are nearly 300 classes in Dance, Music and Drama and all ages are encouraged to enter and perform on a public stage. Performers receive feedback from our eminent professional adjudicators. The atmosphere is friendly, but also competitive.

In May 2025, the Festival held its inaugural ‘Young Performers Awards’ evening. Designed to celebrate the very best of the festival, the performers across dance, music and speech and drama who achieved the highest marks during the festival were invited to perform in a showcase and compete for the accolade of winning one of the 2025 Young Performer Awards. This was a fantastic celebration of the best young talent in the area. This event will take place in 2026 on Friday 15th May. Entry for this evening will be free.