A busy calendar of events is taking shape in Melksham for 2026, with major festivals, community celebrations and fundraisers confirmed across the year.
Melksham Carnival, the Wiltshire Throwback Festival (WTF26!) and the Food and River Festival are among the headline events returning, alongside a range of other community events.
Carnival
Melksham Carnival will once again return in July, bringing energy and glitz to the town. Colourful and creative floats will journey around Melksham, showcasing the talents of local groups, charities and individuals.
The Carnival team will also host a royalty selection day in the coming months, and the Bonnie Baby competition will return in August.
This year will also see the return of the Carnival team’s newer event, the Carnival Cake Off.
One of the organisers, Michelle Brightwell, said, “This was a huge success for the people taking part, so we are excited to host it again. It is going to be a very busy year for us.”
WTF26!
The county’s nostalgic festival, which celebrates music from the 80s, 90s and 00s, is returning on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th June at Oakfield Stadium.
Award-winning names have already been announced for the Friday line-up, including standout R&B group Another Level, Amelle Presents Sugababes Overload and Jon and Jo from S Club 7, with more acts still to be revealed. This year’s festival is set to be ‘bigger and better’ than last year’s inaugural event.
Ben Smith Football Fundraiser
A football fundraiser will be held in May in memory of local teenager Ben Smith, who died after being assaulted on a night out in Bath.
The event will take place at Oakfield Stadium on Sunday 3rd May and will feature the return of a friendly football match, followed by live music and refreshments.
Food and River Festival
The popular festival, held at King George V Park, celebrates all things river-based alongside local food and drink produce.
It is set to run over the weekend of 5th and 6th September, with organisers promising all the usual fun, entertainment and quality produce the event is known for.
Other events
Other events returning for 2026 include a screening of the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms, and a packed programme of summer activities for children and young people in King George V Park over the summer holidays, organised by Melksham Town Council.
The council is also planning an arts festival for 2026, with further details due to be released at a later date.
Melksham Lions Club have a teddy bears’ picnic planned at the Forest Community Centre in July and the Melksham Vegan Market returns on Saturday 14th March in the Market Place.
The international festival Womad is set to take place just outside of Atworth in July featuring three days of music, food, dance and art from around the world.
The town fireworks display is expected to return to Oakfield Stadium in November.
A wide range of comedy, film screenings and live music is planned at Melksham Assembly Hall with the Melksham Makers Market running monthly in the Market Place over the summer showcasing the work of local artists and crafters.
Christmas 2026
Melksham’s annual Christmas lights switch-on is also set to return and is widely considered one of the best in the county. The Christmas market is expected to return alongside it.
A community Christmas roast will also take place at the Assembly Hall on Sunday 29th November.
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