Event Details
England's Medieval Festival 2026 – King's Grove, East Sussex
From 29 to 31 August 2026, The King's Grove at Pippingford Park in East Sussex plays host to England's Medieval Festival (EMF), the United Kingdom's premier medieval and Renaissance festival. Held every year on the August Bank Holiday weekend, the festival transforms a spectacular woodland setting into a living world of jousting, falconry, battle reenactments, medieval markets, music and evening entertainment. The King's Grove is located around 30 miles south of London, making it easy to reach from the capital, the south coast and Gatwick Airport.
Highlights
- Daily jousting tournaments with knights in full armour
- Battle reenactments and artillery displays with hundreds of combatants
- Spectacular falconry displays
- Archery tournaments and have-a-go activities for all ages
- Europe's largest Medieval Traders Village with craftspeople and traders
- Barbaric Battles Live – returning for 2026
- Kid's Kingdom and Enchantia – dedicated family and fantasy areas
- Medieval Banquet – a special evening dining experience (bookable separately)
- Workshops: blacksmithing, leathersmithing, fantasy archery, calligraphy and more
- Evening entertainment in marquees (28, 29 and 30 August)
- Camping and glamping on the festival grounds
- Three outdoor and two indoor stages
Program
Festival gates open daily at 10:00 AM and close for day visitors at 6:00 PM. Camping ticket holders also enjoy evening entertainment on 28, 29 and 30 August in marquee venues on the grounds. The full schedule of arena shows, workshops, ceremonies and stage performances will be announced closer to the event. Sign up to the festival newsletter to receive programme updates first.
Daily highlights include mounted jousting and skill-at-arms tournaments, large-scale battle reenactments, falconry displays, and live music across multiple stages from minstrels, drummers and medieval bands. The Traders Village brings together craftspeople and merchants from across Britain and Europe.
Tickets
Tickets are available in several categories:
- Day Visit Ticket: entry for a single chosen festival day (29, 30 or 31 August)
- Full Festival Day: extended day ticket with access to additional areas
- VIP Full Festival Day: premium day ticket with VIP benefits
- Weekend Ticket with Camping: entry for all three days plus evening entertainment from 28 August and four nights of camping with your own gear
Separate tickets are also available for the Medieval Banquet, workshops (blacksmithing, leathersmithing, fantasy archery and more), ceremonies, and the shuttle bus. All tickets are available online via the official festival website. Gate prices are higher than advance online prices.
Getting There
The King's Grove is located at Pippingford Park, Nutley, East Sussex (TN22 3HW), approximately 30 miles south of London and 20 miles north of Brighton. The nearest train stations are East Grinstead, Royal Tunbridge Wells and Uckfield, all with good connections to London and the south coast. A shuttle bus service (bookable separately) runs between the nearest stations and the festival site. Ample free car parking is available on site, along with VIP and Blue Badge parking.
Visitor Tips
- Buy tickets in advance online; gate prices are higher than pre-booked rates.
- Arrive early: car parks open at 9:00 AM and festival gates at 10:00 AM daily.
- Wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear; the site is natural woodland terrain.
- Camping guests are encouraged to arrive from Thursday 27 August for the full festival experience.
- Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome on the festival grounds.
- Book accommodation and shuttle buses early, especially for the Bank Holiday weekend.
- Sign up to the EMF newsletter to stay up to date with programme announcements and lineup reveals.
