Less than 100 days to go until Northamptonshire Day 2026!

17 July 2026

Plans are underway for this year’s Northamptonshire Day celebrations - hosted in Kettering on 25 October 2026.

Northamptonshire Day is the annual celebration of the county, with North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire Councils reaffirming their commitment to working together to support an event that celebrates the county's heritage, culture, communities and visitor economy. The day looks set to be fun for the whole family with a packed programme of heritage activities, live entertainment and family-friendly experiences.

Designed to be a celebration of the county’s history, culture and visitor attractions, the event will transform Kettering into a destination for one of the region's biggest family days out, encouraging residents and visitors alike to explore the best of Northamptonshire. 

This year’s event will coincide with the full reopening of the Alfred East Art Gallery and Kettering Library.

The celebration will span multiple locations across the town centre, focusing on the Market Place, whilst Kettering Leisure Village and Wicksteed Park will also join in the celebrations.

A highlight of the day will be heritage bus services operated by the Northamptonshire Transport Heritage Society, giving families the chance to travel on classic double-decker buses as they explore the different activity hubs and discover more of the county's rich transport history. 

The event aims to showcase Kettering as a thriving cultural destination, as well as the wider Northamptonshire area.

Visitors can expect: 

• Family activities and children's entertainment throughout the day. 
• Heritage exhibitions celebrating local history and community stories. 
• Live performances in the heart of Kettering town centre. 
• Historic venues opened for exploration and activities. 
• Vintage and heritage bus experiences linking key attractions. 
• Opportunities to visit Wicksteed Park and Kettering Leisure Village as part of one memorable day out.
• Community groups, arts organisations and sporting partners coming together to celebrate the county. 

Following on from the success of last year’s celebrations based around Northampton town’s market square - we are proud to host this year’s event in Kettering.

But it’s not just about Kettering or one town, this is about celebrating everything that is great about Northamptonshire - we are fortunate to have a rich tapestry of culture and heritage that we should all be immensely proud of.

With less than 100 days to go, plans are well underway for Northamptonshire Day 2026 and we look forward to sharing more details in the coming weeks and months.Cllr Martin Griffiths, Leader of North Northamptonshire Council

We are delighted to be working once again with our colleagues at North Northamptonshire Council to deliver another fantastic Northamptonshire Day celebration.

Last year's event in Northampton was a tremendous success, attracting thousands of residents and visitors to celebrate everything that makes our county special. Building on that success, we're excited to see this year's celebrations move to Kettering and create another memorable day for families, communities and visitors from across the county.

We are incredibly proud of our Northamptonshire heritage, our rich history and culture and strong sense of community. Northamptonshire Day provides an opportunity to showcase all that our county has to offer while bringing people together to celebrate our shared identity. We look forward to seeing another fantastic turnout for what promises to be a very special day.Cllr Mark Arnull, Leader of WNC

For families looking for days out in Kettering, heritage events in Northamptonshire, children's activities, community festivals and opportunities to experience local history, Northamptonshire Day 2026 promises something for every generation. 

Further details, activity announcements and programme information will be released as plans continue to develop.