Beautiful Bath

Jane Austen Festival

The Jane Austen Festival is an annual extravaganza for all lovers of Austen and the Regency era. Running for over a week every September, the festival includes a wide range of events themed around Jane Austen and her period, including history talks, guided tours, outings and, of course, balls. For many, especially tourists, the absolute highlight of the festival is the Grand Regency Costumed Promenade on the first weekend, in which hundreds of gorgeously-attired participants parade through Bath’s finest Georgian streets in their finery (the numbers have risen to 2000 lately; this is a spectacle worth seeing). Even if you don’t get involved in any of the festival’s organised events, it is well worth turning up as a spectator to witness the sight of this fun and colourful evocation of Bath’s heyday. Admire dashing military officers and elegant ladies as they picnic in front of the Royal Crescent! Find yourself queueing at a café behind dashing Regency couples! Shop for a bonnet or parasol at the Festival Fayre! Or just enjoy the charming window into Bath’s history.

Costumed couple pass Pizza Express
Persuasion meets Pizza Express

The festival is organised by the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, and the dates are set a year or two in advance. Many visitors come from the US and other countries around the world, and will book well in advance; events can sell out quickly. But those without tickets can still witness the grand Promenade, attend associated events which are unticketed, and enjoy the atmosphere of Bath filled with costumed, history-loving visitors. So if you’re thinking of planning a visit to Bath and are keen on Austen, the Georgian era, and history coming alive, why not consider timing your trip to attend the festival, or to enjoy it as a backdrop to your stay?

2026 festival dates: Friday 11th to Sunday 20th September 2026

2027 festival dates: Friday 10th to Sunday 19th September 2027.

Photos and more

See my photos from past Jane Austen Festivals: