Festival 2021 Update

We’re thrilled to confirm that the 2021 Festival will go ahead between 17 – 30 May this year. Following the government’s announcement on Monday 22 February, we’ve pushed back our start date (initially due to begin 14 May) by just three days.

The 14-day event is set to be a specially created one-off adaptation including outdoor and socially distanced performance, art and music as well as a digital strand.

Daniel Brine, Artistic Director and CEO said: “We are delighted to be able to say that the Festival is going ahead. We have been working for 12 months on a special Festival that could take place safely in COVID times and hope, subject to the scheduled easing of restrictions that we will be able to deliver on all our planning.

We will be taking every responsible precaution, working with the local authorities and making the programme as safe and adaptable as we can. We will begin making performance announcements over the coming weeks and are sure there’s something within the programme that everyone will be able to enjoy.”

We’re also delighted to announce that, with the help of our partners, the vast majority of the programme will be available on a free or Pay What You Want basis.

“This is just one of several radical changes we’ve made in 2021. We’re aware that it has been a tremendously difficult year for everyone, in all sorts of ways. While its not a sustainable business mode beyond this year, the approach allows as many people as possible the chance to access and enjoy the Festival and the collective experience and healing power that art and events of this nature bring. We’re able to do this in part due to the steadfast support of Arts Council England, Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council. And we thank a number of wonderful sponsors and supporters who share our ambitions. We’re excited that we can begin our recovery from 17 May.”

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Masthead Image: Garden Party, Festival 2019 © Dibs McCallum