Kenilworth Fringe Festival will return after success of first year
By James Smith 20th Feb 2026
The first ever Kenilworth Fringe Festival has been hailed a success with more than a thousand people attending the week of events.
And based on attendance and feedback from the public, organisers are now planning to stage the event again in 2027.
Kenilworth Fringe Festival ran in the first week of February at venues all over the town.
Attractions ranged from craft events and musical performances to talks and conversations with authors, thinkers and screenwriters.
The most popular event of the week was the 80s and 90s bands which played the Holiday Inn on Friday, February 7, but classical music performances and a talk by festival patron, prolific screenwriter and Kenilworth resident Andrew Davies also proved popular.
Kenilworth Fringe Festival was organised by Rebecca Warwick, chair of Kenilworth Chamber of Trade, supported by Kenilworth Books and a small team of helpers to create an interest in culture and bring residents out to events at what is often a quiet time of year.
She said: "We would like to thank everyone who participated in this first Kenilworth Fringe Festival, whether as participants or attendees.
"The range of events was really wide and the feedback we had from people attending was very positive.
"We could not have done it without the services of the people who put on the events, the owners of the venues and of course Kenilworth Books.
"We think it has been a big success and we would like to put it on again next year, but this time with a year to plan it – rather than the three months or so we had to plan this first event."
The Holiday Inn was the venue for two full days of events on the Saturday and Sunday, which featured writers and thinkers on the Saturday and Sunday.
Kenilworth churches, Kenilworth Library, Treehouse Bookshop, Greens, The Royal Oak, Kenilworth Sports and Social Club and the Clarendon Arms all hosted events.
Talks on politics, economics and journalism as well as political discussions were all well attended. Organisers would now like to support the development of more conversations and events through the year.
Musical performances included local bands, opera star Samatha Oxborough, Jeremy Sampson and Barbara O'Neill's string quartet and pianist Julian Hellaby.
Crafts included knitting, felting, children's art, flower arranging, watercolour painting and cross-stitch, involving Kenilworth Art Society, St Nicholas Flower Guild, Jackie Smythson and Caterpillar Cross Stitch.
Rebecca Warwick added: "The feedback we have had so far has encouraged us to plan another Fringe Festival for next year, but we would like to hear more about what people thought about this first event and what they might like to see in a second.
"We also need help raising awareness of the next event."
Signed copies of books by many of the participants are available at Kenilworth Books in Talisman Square, where feedback can be left.
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