Chichester’s biggest free outdoor event returns this summer, and it’s set to be the most exciting yet, with 24 unique acts across two stages. The Gala brings together the best of the city’s entertainment, food and drink, small businesses, and community groups for a full day of celebration.
These meetings will give residents the opportunity to hear directly from their City Councillors about the latest developments in local government reorganisation and what these changes could mean for the Parish of Chichester.
This year, we are thrilled to be able to support another two companies, with the return of our Commissioning Grant, which is kindly supported by Chichester City Council. The grant is for those who need additional financial support in order to develop their performance, including helping to secure rehearsal space, props or costume.
Image taken from the Chichester City Gala 2025 of the Main Stage
The Chichester City Gala is the biggest free‑to‑attend event in the city, bringing thousands of residents and visitors together each year to celebrate the very best of our local talent, community groups, and family entertainment.
Get ready! Chichester Fringe returns from Saturday 30 May to Sunday 14 June, bringing two weeks of great entertainment to the city.
This year’s programme features an exciting mix of music, theatre, comedy, and — for the first time ever — a brand-new Street Performance Festival in the city centre!
Andrew Bailey, newly appointed Chichester Fringe Director, says, “It’s so exciting to join the Fringe’s brilliant volunteers as we connect with new venues, new performers, and our biggest slate of shows yet.”
Head to the Chichester Fringe website for tickets, for further information and to be kept updated: www.chichesterfringe.co.uk
Comedians from all over the country bring their shows, including Phil Green (3 June), Kate Lois-Elliott (5 June), Abbie Edwards (5 June), Mark Daniels (10 June), Milo Edwards (10 June), Neil Sinclair (11 June), Andrew White (11 June) plus a brand-new comedy night at Ghost at The Feast (12 June).
And don’t miss last year’s winner Piran Armes, who brings his WIP show to the New Part Centre Studio on 10 June.
Genres of Sketch, Improv, Cabaret and Interactive Comedy also join the line-up; direct from Edinburgh Fringe, there’s ‘Sketch Show Bingo!’ (11 June) and ‘Closure Cabaret’ (11 June). The sell-out 2025 show ‘A Room Full of Idiots’ (13 June) returns to the 2026 line up, plus you can experience an improvised undead apocalypse movie with ‘Improv the Dead’ (30 May) or join connoisseur of the creepy Billy Bones for a whistle-stop tour of Every Ghost Story Ever told: is this show supposed to be serious or funny? (30 May).
British-Iranian comic and singer Hajar J. Woodland weaves standup with musical comedy to explore what it means to find love and your voice when you’re caught between two worlds in ‘Hajar, Like Badger (WIP)’ (9 June) and Aidan Jones presents Chopin’s Nocturne in Eb Major ‘with jokes by a bald, Australian with a beard!’ (7 June).
From musical theatre to drama, be swept away by the talent on stage this year.
We open this year’s Fringe (30 May) at brand new venue, The Nest (Chichester Festival Theatre), with ‘Best Wishes, Kind Regards’ and ‘A Criminal Melody’, simultaneously down the road at One-O-Four, The Hornet; multiple plays and musicals are being staged throughout the day starting at 2pm with ‘Living The Dream – A Bus Driver’s Lament’.
Best Kids’ Show nominee (UK Kids’ Comedy Festival) ‘Slugageddon!’ (7 June) is one of the wonderful children’s theatre offerings for 2026. Other shows include ‘The Smallest Sardine of the Seven Seas’ (7 June), ‘Where did Bailey’s Bark Go?’ (6 June) and ‘The Magic Crayon’ (13 June).
Local playwright and spoken word artist Olivia Coppin brings her brand new production ‘Just to Say!’ to The Nest (11 June), a silly little show, with a big heart. A work of poetic storytelling and an uplifting, love letter to language. The final Saturday of the fringe (13 June) sees a full day of theatre with ‘Darwin’s Cleaner’, ‘The Diary of John Marsh’ and concludes with ‘Tapestry’, which interlaces six compelling short plays into a vivid patchwork of drama, humour, and intrigue.
For music lovers, Laura Page returns to JAM Cafe (5 June), Driftwood Troubadours present its unique songs each with projected backdrop images (5 June) and for the first time Chichester Fringe hosts a music night at The Ghost at the Feast, MC’d by Sammy G and featuring James Laingan and David Robinson (4 June). Oving Folk also return to the fringe, performing at The Nest on 6 June and 18-year-old singer songwriter Oli Patient takes to the stage at Chichester Canal Cafe (31 May).
For the first time, Chichester will be host to an international array of world-class professional street performers, from 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday 7 June. The city centre will be transformed into a playground for the imagination!
Performer and organiser Harvey Stinton says: “The Chichester Fringe Street Performance Festival brings a spectacular celebration of street theatre, outdoor arts, and community spirit together with a vibrant mix of national and international acts that will transform the city streets into a playground of joy, laughter, and surprise, a spectacle that brings moments of magic, mayhem, and memorable performances through the jampacked day.”
Tickets are on sale now for all 2026 shows: head to the Chichester Fringe website so as to be kept updated and to secure your tickets: www.chichesterfringe.co.uk.
Join us for the 39th Annual Awards and Freedom of the City Ceremony, taking place at the Chichester Festival Theatre on Friday 20 March 2026 at 10:30am. Admission is free, and all are warmly invited to celebrate the people and organisations who make Chichester exceptional.
Photograph of Florence Park of the Playground and Cafe.
Chichester City Council and Chichester Harbour & Selsey Sea Cadets are delighted to announce the appointment of Open Design Studio as the lead architects for the new Seat Cadet hall and community centre planned for Florence Park, serving residents of the South Ward.
Could your dog be a lifesaver? Pet Blood Bank UK is currently appealing for dogs in Chichester to come forward as blood donors to help save the lives of other dogs. Arun Vets in Chichester is one of the charity’s host venues and they are looking for happy, healthy, and confident dogs to register for their donation sessions.
5.30pm – 9pm
Drop in at anytime
Presentations will be at
6pm and repeated at 7.30pm
Assembly Room
The Council House
North Street
Chichester, PO19 1LQ
As the Government prepares to release further details on local government reorganisation and its impact on Parish Councils, we invite all residents to attend a special parish meeting at The Council House.
We will be presenting the arguments for local government reorganisation and the potential impact on the City of Chichester.
For a detailed overview of the City Plan and the latest updates, please visit the City Council website at: www.chichestercity.gov.uk/city_plan
Three simple steps to be ready for whatever winter brings
Storms and cold snaps can disrupt power, water and other services.
While these situations are rare, taking three simple steps now will help you – and those you care for – be confident that you’re ready for whatever winter brings.