Wilderness Festival 2026: A Celebration of Music, Art, and Nature

Wilderness Festival 2026 returns to the spellbinding grounds of Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire from Thursday 30 July to Sunday 2 August 2026, blending world-class music with lakeside escapism, woodland adventures and a generous dose of whimsical British theatre. Set across meadows, ancient oaks and glittering water, it’s a four-day celebration where high culture and hedonism happily share the same picnic blanket.

Founded in 2011, Wilderness has grown into the UK’s definitive boutique weekender — a place where sunrise swims segue into string quartets, and big-room electronic heroes hand over to jazz institutions and late-night selectors as dusk falls. Expect the signature multi-genre sweep on the Wilderness Stage, orchestral one-offs and headline comedy at The Atrium, and after-dark dancefloor alchemy beneath the trees at The Valley. Line-ups arrive closer to summer, but the curation is famously rich and eclectic.

The festival’s feasting culture is legendary. Long-table banquets and chef-led pop-ups turn dinner into theatre, with past editions hosting names from Petersham Nurseries to Angela Hartnett and Skye Gyngell — a reminder that Wilderness treats food as seriously as music. Bookable experiences range from banquets and chef’s tables to riverside suppers and fireside feasts, all threaded through the weekend’s storytelling.  

Daytimes are made for wellbeing and wild nature. Take an invigorating dip in the festival’s lakes, book paddle sessions, try breathwork or aerial yoga, or head into the nature reserve for foraging walks and forest bathing. It’s a restorative counterpoint to the evening’s pyros and laser-kissed revelry. Families are warmly welcomed, too, with dedicated areas, gentle programming and plenty of hands-on activities.

Sleep is as comfortable as you make it. Bring your own tent to General, Family or Quiet Camping, or upgrade to Boutique and Meadow options with luxury showers, pamper parlours and furnished tipis, yurts and cabins just a short stroll from the arena — ideal for recharging before another sunset in the valley.

Getting there is easy: ride direct GWR services from London Paddington to Charlbury, then hop the official shuttle to the gates; drivers will find signed routes and parking by campsite. However you arrive, Wilderness 2026 promises four perfectly paced days where culture, cuisine and countryside meet — the UK’s most enchanting summer escape, bottled.