King’s Lynn is justly proud of being recognised as a ‘Festival Town.’ Taking place in the heart of this historic town, an impressive range of festivals feature a fine selection of music, performance, poetry, art and literary events appealing to enthusiastic audiences throughout the year.
The Festival season kicks usually kicks off in May with the King’s Lynn Hanse Festival. We are extremely proud of our Hanseatic heritage and this festival every year celebrates that heritage with hanseatic music, activities, and events throughout the town.
Visitors to the town in mid-July can enjoy the King’s Lynn Festival of Music and the Arts. Every year, visitors and locals alike enjoy theatre, comedy, the visual arts and choral and orchestral concerts (often held in the town’s churches).
Festival Too provides a lively selection of free entertainment sponsored by west Norfolk’s own businesses. This Festival traditionally begins with a spectacular firework display, which heralds three weekends of exciting entertainment featuring pop and rock stars, top-rate tribute bands and the best of local talent. In addition, a variety of daytime street entertainment in the town centre provides fun for all the family. Still one of Europe’s largest FREE festivals.
This annual festival celebrates the town’s past and current membership of the Hanseatic League.
Motorboats race up to 100mph along the Ouse, in this high-octane two-day spectacle. Watch Europe’s biggest watersports festival from the historic waterfront of King’s Lynn.
Festival Too returns for three weekends of free to attend gigs across King Staithe Square and Tuesday Market Place. This year’s line‑up brings a mix of chart stars, iconic 90s acts, powerhouse vocalists and homegrown talent, including : Ella Eyre, The Proclaimers, Sleeper, Stereo MCs, Rhythmn of the 90s, Amelle Berrabah, Natasha Hamilton and more
From breathtaking classical performances to intimate jazz evenings, thought-provoking talks to community events, the King’s Lynn festival fills the town with a fortnight of creativity and joy.
This Festival belongs to King’s Lynn – shaped by its people, inspired by its past, and driven by a belief in the power of the arts to connect, uplift, and transform.
New for 2026: For those souls willing to step out upon the road less travelled CULTure Babylon has curated a season of events for October, celebrating the strange, the curious, and the deliciously dark…
The 11th Fear in the Fens Festival returns to King’s Lynn this October for a three-day event featuring vintage horror fllms, short films, fascinating talks and live events.
