Featuring internationally renowned performers, family favourites, fascinating spoken-word events and plenty more besides, Lichfield Festival returns this month with an explosion of culture to suit all tastes. The festival hosts events throughout the year, but July marks the undoubted highlight of the cultural calendar - the city’s 13-day multi-arts summer festival, this year running from Tuesday 7 to Sunday 19 July. Read on to check out some of this year’s highlights...

Rachel Davis & Darren McMullen | The Hub at St Mary’s, Thursday 9 July
The popular folk duo make their first appearance at Lichfield Festival, as part of a summer tour around the UK.

Rachel, who provides fiddle and vocals, and multi-instrumentalist Darren - mandolin, bouzouki, tenor banjo, whistles, guitar and bass - both hail from Canada and have toured together since 2012 as founding members of award-winning group Còig.

The gig will no doubt feature songs from their debut album, Home. 

KNDS Fairey Brass Band: Wallace and Gromit & more | Lichfield Cathedral, Saturday 11 July
This fun-filled family adventure sees the Fairey Band teaming up with claymation masters Aardman for a screening of the latter’s Oscar-winning 1993 movie, Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers (featuring dastardly penguin Feathers McGraw).

The band will provide live accompaniment to the film - a special arrangement of Julian Nott’s iconic score - after which they will perform a selection of brass-band favourites.

Aurora Percussion Duo | The Hub at St Mary’s, Sunday 12 July
Delia Stevens and Le Yu have made it their mission to redefine the art of percussion, delivering adrenaline-fuelled performances which are both aurally and visually spectacular.

The duo’s century-spanning repertoire ranges from the work of JS Bach through to Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight Of The Bumblebee, and from Gershwin to the present day - all while showcasing a host of instruments, from the marimba to the ever-so-humble egg shaker.

La Solitude: Jessica Walker & Joseph Atkins | The Hub at St Mary’s, Monday 13 July
Blending music and theatre - and presented as part of the festival’s French Icons series - La Solitude explores the life and legacy of 20th-century singer-songwriter Barbara (1930 - 1997).

Vocalist Jessica (pictured), accompanied by Joseph on the piano, brings Barbara to life, weaving together original French and new English versions of her songs - also available  in the form of a newly released album.

Samrat Majumder | Church of St Chad, Wednesday 15 July

Rising star Samrat Majumder is a Scottish-Indian classical guitarist.

Last year tipped as ‘one to watch’ when he was announced as an artist for the Young Classical Artists Trust, Samrat was celebrated by Classic FM when the radio station named their 2026 list of 30 exceptional musicians under the age of 30.

His performance at the festival features JS Bach’s Lute Suite No2, presented alongside works by Dowland, Schubert and others...

GX2: The Don Shirley Trio Project | The Hub at St Mary’s, Thursday 16 July
Reimagining the genre-defying work of visionary pianist & composer Don Shirley, the trio is led by the festival’s 2026 artist-in-residence, cellist Gabriella Swallow (pictured), and Mercury award-nominee Joe Webb (piano)... The gig will be Gabriella’s second festival appearance at The Hub at St Mary’s - two days earlier, on Tuesday 14 July, she takes part in an intimate trio performance with trumpeter/singer Pete Horsfall and guitarist Honey Boulton.

Xuefei Yang & Maria Vega | Lichfield Cathedral, Thurs 16 July
Renowned guitarist Xuefei Yang and flamenco sensation Maria Vega make a triumphant return to the festival, five years after their debut performance. The duo once again present a fusion of dance and music.
Their programme, titled Silk And Fire, combines traditional Spanish and South American works - by De Falla, Albeniz and Paco Peña - with Xuefei’s Chinese folk-inspired compositions.

The music is, of course, accompanied by Maria’s flamenco movement, in what promises to be a spellbinding evening of entertainment..

Rumer | Lichfield Cathedral, Friday 17 July
MOJO Award winner and two-time Brit-nominee Rumer here marks the 15th anniversary of her hit debut album, Seasons Of My Soul. Rumer’s Cathedral performance comes in the middle of an ensemble tour celebrating the work of Burt Bacharach, who has long been a major influence on the Pakistan-born singer-songwriter’s repertoire. Expect an evening of heart-felt music that falls between realism and romance.

Guinness World Records | Hub at St Mary’s, Saturday 18 July
Marvel at the miraculous feats recorded by Guinness World Records - and look out for a special guest record-breaker or two!

This spoken-word event is led by Guinness World Records’ editor-in-chief and longtime friend of the festival Craig Glenday, who will be sharing plenty of fascinating secrets from the legendary book. And there’s even a chance for audience members to make a record of their very own!

BBC National Orchestra of Wales | Lichfield Cathedral, Saturday 18 July
Celebrating the 250th anniversary of American Independence, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales presents a programme of works by American composers.

The concert opens with Charles Ives’ Three Places In New England. This is followed by a violin concerto by Samuel Barber - featuring award-winning US-Russian soloist Maria Ioudenitch (pictured) - and Aaron Copland’s much-loved Appalachian Spring.

Lichfield Festival takes place at various locations across the city from Tuesday 7 to Sunday 19 July.  To check out the full programme and book tickets, visit lichfieldfestival.org