From the UK's biggest rock festival of 2026 to medieval battlefields, world-class motorsport and one of Britain's largest wartime re-enactments, Leicestershire is preparing for one of its busiest summers on record. More than a dozen major events are expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city and county over the coming months, cementing Leicester and Leicestershire's reputation as one of the UK's most diverse destinations for festivals, live entertainm

Best-selling crime writer Janice Hallett and Costa prize winner Claire Fuller are among a host of authors to appear at the first ever Market Harborough Literary Festival. Janice Hallett will talk about her latest book, ‘The Silent Appeal’, while Claire Fuller will discuss her new contemporary gothic novel ‘Hunger and Thirst’. Diana Bretherick (left) and Helen Kennedy, organisers of the Market Harborough Literary Festival, outside event venue St Dionysius’ Church. Photo: Melis

Here are some pictures taken today Saturday 6th June at Riverside Festival in Leicester. Across two days, the free, family-friendly Riverside festival on 6 and 7 June will offer a huge range of arts, craft and theatre activities – expanded thanks to new funding from Arts Council England – plus there will be music all across the festival. Click here to download the programme. Gallery 1 Saturday Pictures Pictures by Trevor Sewell for Leicester Media online.

Families heading to Leicester for outdoor fun, live music and great street food at this weekend’s Riverside Festival can add an interactive Roman adventure to their list of things to do. As part of this year’s event, the city’s Jewry Wall Museum – a short walk from the festival site in Castle Gardens – will be hosting lots of Roman-inspired family activities on both Saturday (6 June) and Sunday (7 June). For each day of the Riverside Festival, a day pass to Jewry Wall will be

As Leicester’s largest free festival returns, there are lots of ways to make your journey into the city centre this weekend to join in the fun. The Riverside Festival takes place on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June with a huge programme of arts, music and performance, as well as lots of family-friendly activities, funfair rides, boat trips and heritage attractions. Activities will be spread along the River Soar’s Mile Straight, as well as on Bede Park, the De Montfort University

Family activities, expert talks and commemorative plaque unveiling mark Leicester's role in Britain's pioneering Mars mission The National Space Centre and UK Space Agency are inviting families and enthusiasts to celebrate one of the UK's most remarkable achievements in space exploration at a special Beagle 2 Celebration Day on Sunday 7 June 2026. Included with normal admission, the day will commemorate the Beagle 2 Mars mission and the vital role Leicester played in its st

There's something for everyone at Leicester’s Abbey Pumping Station this month, with three events coming up that will delight families and real ale fans alike. Flaming June gets under way with the return of the popular Railway Gala Day on Saturday (6 June). There’s free admission to the museum and its grounds – perfect for a picnic – while the café will be open for light refreshments. Rides on the narrow gauge railway with Leonard the steam locomotive are just £1. Railway Gal

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has provided Leicestershire Police with a Restricted Airspace over the Download Festival. Specially trained Counter Drone officers will be deployed to manage any drone activity in or near the event site. Flying drones at the festival will put East Midlands Airport passengers and festival-goers at high risk. Anyone caught flying a drone without permission will be prosecuted. The festival site is within a no-fly zone (NFZ) due to being close t

Highcross Leicester is set to host a major community dance showcase at East Square on Saturday 6 June, bringing together performers from across the city for an all-day celebration of dance, culture and creativity. The free event will see a range of local dance collectives and academies go head-to-head in a live dance off, with performances taking place throughout the day featuring multiple dance styles, including street dance, break dance, Bhangra, Caribbean dance, Kathak (In