A century on Cheltenham’s stage
1926 to 2026: one hundred years of giving Gloucestershire’s performers a place to be heard.
Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce founded the festival in 1926. A hundred years on, it’s still doing the same job: giving performers of every age a stage at Cheltenham Town Hall and honest, professional feedback on their work. It took its current name in 2006, and 2026 was its centenary year.
Every May, over 300 classes run across music, dance and speech and drama. Every performer, from a first-timer to an advanced player, is heard by an independent adjudicator and leaves with a written assessment.
| Founded | 1926, by Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce |
| Format | Over 300 classes across music, dance and speech and drama, all ages |
| Status | Registered charity 1157550 |
| Recognition | Registered Arts Award Supporter |
| Support | Cheltenham Borough Council and Cheltenham Arts Council |
Who does the judging
Adjudicators are appointed through the British and International Federation of Festivals. They are working professionals, teaching at conservatoires, singing and dancing on professional stages, and judging across the UK and abroad. Standards are the reason performers come back, and the adjudicators are how those standards are set.
Run by volunteers, for the long term
No one is paid to run this festival. Trustees, section secretaries, stewards and chaperones give their time year after year, which is why it’s reached its hundredth year and why it’s built to reach its two hundredth. Supporting the festival means backing something with a track record, not a single season.
Continue the legacy
Trustees, accounts and governing document on the Charity Commission register (opens in a new tab)