Pick of Diary Events in Bath
Fri 1 May. St Swithin’s Church, 37 The Paragon. How To Age with Liz Earle. 7pm. £5-£25. Liz shares the latest scientific research which informs her approach to age well. Tickets and info at https://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/bath/liz-earle-in-bath-2026/
Fri 1 May. Widcombe Social Club. Free live music. Soul Strings Duo. This virtuosic guitar duo bring Jazz, blues and more. Think Django Reinhardt and George Benson. Free entry. Doors 5:30, music 7-9pm, pizza 6-8:30pm. Bar till late. Non-members welcome. www.widcombesocialclub.co.uk
Mon 4 May. Lansdown May Day Family Fun Day 2026 at Bath Racecourse. The racecourse has plenty of outdoor space for kids to run, play, plus a full afternoon of exciting flat racing with a huge range of free activities for children. Expect plenty of entertainment throughout the day – all included in your ticket price.
Wed 6 May. The Forum. The James Brown Experience. 7.30pm. From £22. Celebrate the original soul legend in an immersive concert experience that goes beyond imitation and captures the essence of the Godfather’s unmatched legacy. See https://bathforum.co.uk/whats-on/the-james-brown-experience-jxyz
Thu May 7. Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI). Women’s poetry today: impact & innovation. Panel discussion. 7pm. Various speakers. Rebecca Swift Foundation / Bath Spa University event.
Thu 7 May. Museum of Bath at Work. Talk on Getting the Railway off the Ground. by Colin Brading of Bath Railway Society. 7.30-9.30pm. The story of the famous and much-missed Liverpool Overhead Railway, the ‘Dockers Umbrella’. Opened in 1893 the world’s first electric elevated railway carried almost 20 million people in a year at its peak and closed at the end of 1956. All Welcome Visitors £5.00 Refreshments available. See https://www.bathrailwaysociety.co.uk/
Fri 8 May. Rondo Theatre. Live Music with Rainbow Roadies: Mario Kart. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe accompanied by a six-piece live band playing all the track songs plus the countdowns, power-ups and menu screens, while our host calls you up to the hot seat and gently critiques your drifting prowess. Including all the favourites from Coconut Mall to Rainbow Road, you can expect a crazy range of music. 7.30pm • Full £13 Concessions £11. https://rondotheatre.co.uk/whats-on/
Fri 8 May. Widcombe Social Club. Free live music. Flash Harry Duo. Pete Watson and Roger Slade are the font line of legendary Bristol band Flash Harry. An eclectic, rootsy mystery tour. Doors 5:30, music 7-9pm, pizza 6-8:30pm. Bar till late. Non-members welcome. www.widcombesocialclub.co.uk
Sat 9 May. Komedia. Nick Cope Family Show. 12:45-2:30pm. Nick has been writing and recording his beautiful and totally unique songs for children and their families for over 10 years, he performs with his guitar and stunning animations to sell-out crowds all over the country following his success of the CBeebies show ‘Nick Cope’s Popcast’.
Sat 9 May. Widcombe Social Club. Electric Dreams, Bath’s biggest 80s disco 8pm – 1am. See Electric Dreams Faceboook page for tickets.
Sat 9 May. The Forum. Carmen. Senbla presents Ellen Kent’s Farewell Opera Tour featuring Opera International Kyiv, Ukraine, with highly-praised soloists and full orchestra. Starring international soloists Mariia Davydova (mezzo-soprano), Elena Dee (soprano) and Viktoria Melnyk (soprano).* An evening of passion, sexual jealousy, death and unforgettable arias. This dazzling production with orchestra features Bizet’s unforgettable melodies including The Toreador’s Song, Carmen’s enticing Habanera, and Don José’s lyrical Flower Song in a setting evoking the stunning architecture of Seville and its main square with Roman and Moorish influences. 6.30pm. From £15 for students.
Sat 9 May. Rondo Theatre. Comedy Joel Sanders. • 7:30pm • Admission £16. Join the charismatic star of Channel 4’s Narrow Escapes for his flagship show about dropping out of society to become a nomad on the UK’s waterways. https://rondotheatre.co.uk/whats-on/
Sat 9 May. Widcombe Social Club. Widcombe Social Club. Disco. 8pm – 1am. Bath’s biggest 80’s disco is back to fill the floor with 80s pop gold, at night! Come and dance to the sounds of the charts… from the golden decade in pop and electronica. https://www.widcombesocialclub.co.uk/events
Sun 10 May, 7pm. The Library at the Raven. World Literature Reading Group. 7pm. Our World Literature Reading Group aims to showcase literature written outside of the anglophone world. On this journey we will make a variety of stops in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Oceania, tracking down the masterpieces that might have otherwise been overlooked. In this tenth group, we will read and discuss Han Kang’s We Do Not Part. More info at Toppings: https://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/bath/
Thu 14 May. Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI). Darwin & the Ascent of Women. 6:30pm. With Professor Pippa Catterall. How did Darwin’s theories relate to & impact women?
Fri 15 May. American Museum and Gardens at Claverham. Spring Talk – While I Yet Live film screening and Director Q&A. 11.30am. Join acclaimed filmmaker, Maris Curran to hear about her experiences creating the short film ‘While I Yet Live’ which forms part of our current exhibition Kith & Kin. Following a screening of the film, Maris will hold a Q&A in which we hope to delve more into the making of the film, her experience of being in Gee’s Bend and her ongoing relationship with the artists. Tickets and info at https://www.americanmuseum.org/whats-on/spring-talk-meeting-the-quilters-of-gees-bend-8e5db
Wed 13 Apr. Widcombe Wayfarers Walking Wednesdays. Join us for a friendly stroll in our local landscape. We meet on the 2nd Wednesday of every month, starting at 10am at the west end of Widcombe Parade. Walks last between 1-2 hours and are medium paced. Come dressed for the weather, with suitable footwear and be prepared for a few climbs. Registration not necessary – just turn up! See https://www.widcombeassociation.org.uk/pages/3-events
Fri 15 May. Widcombe Social Club. Party in the City. 6pm The Monohummers (male choir). 6:30 Birth Tree Folk Choir. 7pm Widcombe Choir. 7:30 Sasspafellas. 8pm Sasparella. 8.30pm. Bill Smarme Comedy. 9-945 Junction 18. Bar till late. Non-members welcome. www.widcombesocialclub.co.uk
Fri 15 May. Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI). Party in the City 2026! 5:30-9:30pm. Free live music. Bath’s annual musical bonanza is back! Come and enjoy a full evening of fabulous live music – no booking required, just turn up! Here’s your 2026 line-up: 17:30 – 17:55: The Alley Barbers; Part of the Choral and Orchestral Society at the University of Bath and directed by Tim Snowden, the Alley Barbers will serenade and entertain with a variety of Barbershop songs; 18:00 – 18:30: Inner Voice. Clive Mills is a long-standing classical, folk and blues guitar performer and teacher. Dave Merrick has received awards from the Native American Flute Awards Organisation, USA, for his work on this wonderful instrument; 18:35 – 19:25: Michael Lunts presents Coward at Sea. Actor, singer and pianist Michael Lunts celebrates the songs and verse of Noel Coward as he sails the high seas finding inspiration in his many travels around the globe. Including poems from David Punter’s collection: Ship’s Log; 19:35 – 20:05: Feast of Fools. Feast of Fools a cappella folk quartet hailing from Wiltshire, Bristol, and Stroud. Singing traditional and modern folk songs; 20:10 – 20:40: Zephyrets. A six-piece clarinet ensemble performing Albeniz to ABBA, Joplin to Terry Thompson. Celebrating joyous music and joining Bath’s Party in the City with energy and flair! 20:50 – 21:20: Nick Pallett. Accomplished singer/songwriter and guitarist Nick Pallett brings his inimitable lively mix of satire, music and mischief with jazz and Latin vibes. Turn up at any time – bar opens 5.15pm!
Sat 16 May. Bath Festival of Choirs in Green Park Station. 3-10pm Performances are free for the public to come and listen, with many choirs performing throughout the evening alongside other live music. CHOIRLAB is on Sunday 17 May. A day of choir workshops at the Roper Theatre in Bath, where over 250 singers come together to explore different styles of choir from 12 different choices of workshops. All ages and abilities are welcome.
Sat 16 May. Bear Flat Community Market. 9.30am-12.30pm. Methodist Church Hall, Bruton Avenue. Includes a Share & Repair event on Saturday where we will have our busy cafe with fresh coffee and homemade cakes and savouries plus a range of fresh artisan bread from Lievito Bakery inc sourdoughs and focaccia at very good value. Plus the book stall with a fresh supply of good reading material for charity.
Sat 16-Sun 24 May. The Bath Literature Festival. The city’s biggest and oldest celebration of words, ideas, and creativity, returns. The programme features everything from fascinating author talks to engaging workshops from leading literary voices and cultural thinkers. Whether you’re an avid reader, an aspiring writer, or simply seeking thought-provoking entertainment, you’ll find the perfect event for your interests. Includes walks and workshops plus talks by leading writers. Full programme at https://bathfestivals.org.uk/bath-literature-festival/
Sun 17 May. Widcombe Social Club. Widcombe Social Club. Film. Black Narcissus. Doors Open 5:30pm. Film Starts – 6:30pm. Michael Powell / Emeric Pressburger, UK, 1947, 101m, U. Presented in partnership with the Bath and District Branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society. A troupe of British nuns are invited by an Indian Raja to establish a school and hospital in the unlikely setting of his Himalayan mountain-top former harem. Their struggle to prevail against the isolation, the alien culture and ‘impure’ thoughts stimulated by the erotic murals they find on the walls are cynically observed by the ruler’s agent Mr Dean, to whom a number of the nuns, especially the unhinged Sister Ruth, are magnetically attracted. https://www.widcombesocialclub.co.uk/events
Tue 19-Thu 21 May. Bath Digital Festival. Bath Digital Festival returns in May 2026 with three days of big questions, bold thinking and open experimentation. Expect practical insight, creative collisions and real conversations, from live demos and hands-on sessions to founder stories, showcases, panels and the unexpected moments in between. See https://www.welcometobath.co.uk/bath-events/bath-digital-festival/ and also https://techspark.co/bdf/
Thu 21 May. The Forum. London African Gospel Choir. Prepare to be uplifted, inspired, and moved to your feet as the sensational London African Gospel Choir comes to Bath with their critically acclaimed reinterpretation of one of the most beloved albums of all time: Paul Simon’s Graceland. 7.30pm. From £17. See website for tickets.
Fri 22 May. Chapel Arts. An Evening with Joanna Cooke and her band. The south west soul songstress with her band including percussion and long standing musical partner Nathan on Guitar with her contemporary sound blending Soul, Jazz & Blues. 8-10:30 pm from £16.
Fri 22 May . Widcombe Social Club. Free live music. Lloyd Edwards is a Welsh folk rock singer-songwriter, influenced by Dylan, James Taylor and Nick Drake. Doors 5:30, music 7-9pm, pizza 6-8:30pm. Bar till late. Non-members welcome. www.widcombesocialclub.co.uk
Fri 22 May to Sun 7th Jun. Bath Fringe 2026. Various venues including The Grapes and Widcombe Social Club with ‘Affordable Art’, Spoken Word, Digital Arts & Media, Standup Comedy, Cabaret, Physical Theatre, Circus Arts, Folk & World Music, Latin Dance, Jazz, and Pop, Rock and Black Music.
Sat 23 May. Charity Walk. Walk of Life RUHX – the official charity of the Royal United Hospitals Bath, is hosting its 20th annual sponsored walk.
Sat 23-Sun 31 May. American Museum and Gardens. May Half Term events. Daily 10am–5pm. From Monday to Friday, join us for Craft & Build, with creative activities in the Coach House. Join Charlie Chipmunk bringing history to life on our free America 250 interactive family trail. Our colourful Kith & Kin: The Quilts of Gee’s Bend exhibition, with fuzzy felt activities.
Mon 26 May. Holburne Museum. Free family events – Animals of Japan – Creative fun inspired by Japanese art and wildlife. 10am-12pm. Drop-In Calm Sensory Workshop: Animals of Japan – A gentle, sensory-friendly creative session for families. 26 May 1-3pm.
Thu 28 May. Burdall’s Yard. Running Commentary. Spoken Word. 7.30pm. After a decade of no exercise (besides child-rearing and reaching for cake) 41 year old poet P Burton-Morgan finds themselves newly single and hungry to return to pre-childbirth levels of fitness. Cue Rocky montage, but with a middle-aged red-faced mum reciting sonnets on the South West Coast path. Part of Bath Fringe 2026.
Fri 29 May. Widcombe Social Club. Free live music. Are Friends Acoustic. Bet you never heard 80s classics played like this before, on viola, double bass and acoustic guitar, expect a treat. Doors 5:30, music 7-9pm, pizza 6-8:30pm. Bar till late. Non-members welcome. www.widcombesocialclub.co.uk
Sat 30 May. Chapel Arts. Music. “Los Flamenquitos” of Bath: A Flamenco Community show. 8-10:30pm. £12 in advance. María Cristina aka “La Flamenquita” is a Flamenco dancer, performance artist and teacher who brings Spanish traditions and culture to the city of Bath. Originally from Madrid, she arrived in Bath seventeen years ago with the aim of developing her teaching career.
Sat 30 May. Burdall’s Yard. Music. Veronneau perform Blue Tapestry. 4.30-6pm and 7.30-10.45pm. A show celebrating in songs and stories the women who defined the 1970’s with their milestone albums, Joni Mitchell’s Blue & Carole King’s Tapestry. Tickets £10.84.
Sat 30 May-Sun 7 Jun. Bath Music Festival. Various venues. Since 1948 music lovers have been coming to Bath to enjoy world-class classical music in some of the city’s most beautiful historic buildings. Bath International Music Festival brings a glorious programme of music to this World Heritage City. Visiting artists include three of the world’s finest pianists, Richard Goode, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and Steven Osborne and Bath Abbey is the venue for an immersive performance of Secret Byrd by the award-winning vocal group The Gesualdo Six. See https://bathboxoffice.org.uk/bath-music-festival-jg6y
Sat 13 June. Holburne Museum. Queer Bath Film Festival. A day celebrating queer cinema, creativity and community. Presented by the Holburne Future Collective in partnership with FilmBath and Queer Bath, the festival features a Short Film Showcase spotlighting emerging LGBTQ+ filmmakers, a Queer Filmmaking Panel Discussion with industry voices, and a special evening screening of Portrait of a Lady on Fire in the museum’s atmospheric Picture Gallery. Expect bold storytelling, inspiring conversation, and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow film lovers and creatives. £6 / £4. 2:30pm-10pm. https://holburne.org/events/queer-bath-film-festival/
Sat 20-Sun 21 June. The Widcombe Art Trail will take place on 20th and 21st June this year and further details will be issued nearer the time. The trail consists of the work of local artists in a series of venues, in Artists’ studios and spaces such as the Widcombe Social Club and The Natural Theatre Company. Visiting all these exhibitions gives people a pleasant walk round Widcombe discovering places they never knew existed. There are paintings for sale as well as prints, cards ceramics and jewellery.
Fri 24 Jun. Bath Abbey. Voices for Life: A massed children’s choir of 7 primary schools. Proceeds to ‘Raise the Roof’ appeal, giving 500 children from under-served areas the chance to take part in its projects. Tickets available from www.voicesforlife.org.uk/events/.
Sat 27-Sun 28 Jun. The Bath Festival of Motoring and Music at Walcot Rugby Club, opposite Lansdown Park and Ride. The Rotary Club of Bath is once again organising the festival, with support from Bath Recreation Ltd. All proceeds will be donated to local charities, with main beneficiaries being Bath and Wiltshire Air Ambulance, Freewheelers Blood Bikes, and Glasshouse Academy, all supporting vital services for the community. Get up close and personal with a wide range of vehicles, from cutting-edge supercars to classic vehicles from every decade dating back to the mid-20th century. Tickets are available online via the Bath Festival of Motoring and Music 2026 website: bathfestivalofmotoring.com
Thu 2 – Sun 5 July. Queen Square. Bath Boules. The event has grown into a weekend-long festival with a tournament between up to 64 teams each day with food market, bar, music and entertainment.
Sat 11 July. Bath Carnival. All day events with a procession through the streets. To take part, help as a volunteer of for more info see https://www.bathcarnival.co.uk/
Pick of Diary Events outside Bath
6 Wed-10 Sun May. Badminton Horse Trials. Badminton Estate in South Gloucestershire. Over 500 trade stands open for business, plus the Grassroots Championships (national finals for BE90 and BE100 horses & riders, which includes dressage, showjumping and cross-country) and the Young Event Horse Class take place.
Sun 17 May. Wiltshire Music Centre. Bradford on Avon. Ukrainian Musical Night. The Friends of Oleksandriya present a unique cinematic and musical fundraiser. Directed & Edited by Justin Glück, produced by Blackwater Film Documentary: Adamchyk; Borys Lyatoshynsky Piano Quintet, Op. 42 II. Lento e tranquillo; Directed and written by Anna Korzhova Documentary: Lost Youth; Robert Schumann Piano Quintet, Op. 44 I. Allegro brillante; Kornélia Nemcová and Natália Štojková Film: A Woman’s War; Illia Bondarenko Piano Quintet First two movements; Directed by Caolan Robertson Documentary: Farmers in Kherson; Illia Bondarenko Piano Quintet Movement III and IV; Directed by Mariia Kushch Documentary: Children’s Voices; Mykhailo Verbytskyi Ukrainian National Anthem, arranged for Piano Quintet Celebrate Ukrainian artistry and support vital humanitarian aid with a unique fundraising event, hosted by The Friends of Oleksandriya. Featuring five independent films and performances by a piano quintet, Ukraine: Within and Beyond spotlights the strength of Ukraine and the power of its people. Lost Youth explores the invisible wounds of war and displacement, honouring the memory of Anastasia Porokhnya, a 17-year-old girl who was killed by Russian cluster munitions in her backyard in 2022.
29th May – 31st May. Royal Bath and West Show. Agricultural show with livestock, show jumping and country crafts and products plus entertainment with live music, cookery demonstrations and in the show ring daring motorcycle displays and other high octain acts are the order of the day. £25 adults. 9am-8pm daily. The Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6QN.
Sat-Sun 20-21 Jun. Wiltshire: Summer Solstice at Avebury and Stonehenge. Plan ahead for the free visit – although you will need to pay for parking – be prepared for crowds at Stonehenge and arrive early. There are other places to view the sunrise on the summer solstice – either some of the lesser known stone circles and any high hill such as Crook Peak or Glastonbury Tor in Somerset. Sunrise is at 4.55am.
Fri 17-Sun 19 Jul. Bristol Harbour Festival. A free-to-attend annual dance, music and arts extravaganza on the harbourside with a programme of family activities, circus performances, visiting vessels and live music. Be prepared for crowds and limited parking. Take the train, bus or cycle – or even a boat. See https://www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk/
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