Richmond Walking and Book Festival 2026

Details of our programme for the 21st Richmond Walking and Books Festival are now available. You can browse all walks and events by looking at the Whole Programme page, or find events available on a particular date by looking at the relevant page for that day. Tickets for events at the Georgian Theatre Royal will be available direct from the Theatre at the beginning of July.

There are a wide range of walks across our area, many of them new to the Festival and, with many of them including added interest as we walk, there is sure to be something to suit everyone who loves the great outdoors.

And our varied book programme, and other related events, means there will be plenty to stimulate you, with a wide range of daytime and evening events covering both fiction and non-fiction genres..

We look forward to seeing you in September at a Festival that always receives great feedback from those attending.

Some of the feedback we received from the 2025 event is shown below:

• The book events were a joy, with interesting 'in conversations'.
• Well-organised. Excellent subject knowledge by speakers.
• Volunteers were helpful, friendly and kind
• Really interesting topics and authors, very well organised, something to do in a new area for me having just moved
• The variety and range of walks was excellent. The ones I did were all well led and meant I saw a lot of areas that I would not have walked in on my own
• Good company on all the walks and so nice to meet so many people, both local and visitors
• Lots of nice people to talk to. Good pace. Good choice of walks depending on ability. Clear information. Plenty of choice
• An amazing variety of walks, long and short and ones with specific topic and interest
• Such a perfect way to spend a week!
• I really enjoyed my week and hope to be back for a future festival
• I intend to stay in Richmond for future festivals so I can attend evening events. The festival is so well organised and varied, thank you
• Events are well priced which I hope helps to attract a range of people
• Will definitely book some events next year – now firmly established on our calendar
• In total a brilliant week of walking and literary talks. The sun shone too. Richmond is a beautiful town, the castle, architecture and the Swale river, all add up to a lovely place to visit and I expect live

If you would like to support the Festival, and get early access to tickets for this year's events please consider becoming a Friend of the Festival. You can join by following this link.

Once again we would not be able to put on the Festival without the help of our many supporters and our thanks go to our major sponsors for the 2026 Festival: Richmond Town Council, Altberg, Millgate House, The Station, and Fry Family Office; and the many other sponsors, accommodation providers, advertisers and the organisations supporting our walking programme. And of course many thanks to our wonderful volunteers who give their time freely in planning and preparing for the Festival, leading the walks programme and supporting the book events.