Blenheim Palace is set to join the UK’s major festival circuit next year with the launch of the Blenheim Palace Festival 2026, a new music and arts celebration staged against the stately
backdrop of the Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage site.
Billed as a “premium open-air concert like no other,” the event aims to combine high-end production with the grandeur of one of Britain’s most recognisable historic estates. Early headliners Katy Perry, Teddy Swims and Pete Tong promise a crowd-pleasing mix of pop spectacle, powerhouse soul and orchestral club anthems—performances likely to catch the attention of the 12th Duke of Marlborough and his family from their commanding vantage point above the grounds.
The series opens on Saturday 27 June, when Pete Tong brings his acclaimed Ibiza Classics show to the palace, accompanied by DJs Sarah Story and Danny Rampling. Teddy Swims and rising artist Lauren Spencer Smith follow on Tuesday 30 June, before Katy Perry delivers her first UK headline show in several years on Wednesday 1 July. Organisers say more acts will be announced in the coming months.
In keeping with its opulent setting, the festival’s VIP offerings lean into luxury: a banquet in the palace’s Long Library complete with a formal drinks reception, access to a private bar in the Orangery, or—for a more relaxed indulgence—a Fortnum & Mason picnic hamper to enjoy on the lawns.
Organisers hope the festival will become a standout fixture of the summer season, positioning it as part concert series and part cultural showcase. With its blend of star power, historic surroundings and high-end hospitality, Blenheim Palace appears ready to stake its claim as the UK’s most lavish new live event. Photo by Dreilly95, Wikimedia commons.