Photo credit: Stuart Allen
The Outdoor Arts festival Hat Fair – one of Winchester’s most distinctive and much-loved cultural events – will return to the city’s streets on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 July 2027, following its planned pause in 2026.
While audiences will not see the festival take place this summer, significant work is underway behind the scenes to secure a stronger and more sustainable future for Hat Fair. Play to the Crowd, the arts and education charity that produces Hat Fair and runs Theatre Royal Winchester, has been using this “Pause with a Purpose” to reimagine the festival’s role within its wider community engagement programme.
Over the past year, the organisation has been reviewing how Hat Fair can best serve local communities, artists and audiences as part of its broader charitable mission. As a result, Hat Fair will become a cornerstone of Play to the Crowd’s community-focused work.
Going forward, the festival will act as a focal point where year-round creative projects and community partnerships come together, while also providing a launchpad for new ideas, collaborations and artistic development. Connections between local community performers, regional creatives and visiting national and international artists will be strengthened as part of this renewed vision.
Play to the Crowd has identified four clear ambitions for Hat Fair’s future:
- To firmly establish Hat Fair as an international example of how Outdoor Arts can enhance placemaking and community identity.
- To be recognised nationally as a supportive testing ground for new artistic work and innovative ideas.
- To provide a bespoke professional development programme for emerging Outdoor Arts makers.
- To champion creative access and nurture talent among emerging local and national artists.
This renewed clarity of purpose will support ongoing discussions with funders, partners and stakeholders as Play to the Crowd seeks to secure long-term investment and ensure Hat Fair’s future well beyond 2027.
The charity has already begun conversations with potential partners and supporters and will continue this work over the coming months.
“We are incredibly excited about Hat Fair’s future,” said Deryck Newland, CEO and Artistic Director of Play to the Crowd. “The pause has given us valuable time to reflect on the festival’s purpose and impact. We are developing a vision that builds on Hat Fair’s rich heritage while ensuring it continues to thrive as a vital cultural event for Winchester and the wider Outdoor Arts sector.”
As planning continues, Deryck Newland and Rose Slade, Festivals and Projects Producer, are visiting festivals across the UK and internationally in search of the most exciting Outdoor Arts performances to bring to Winchester in 2027.
The charity is also keen to hear from local residents about what makes Hat Fair special to them. Community focus groups and surveys will be launched in the coming months to help shape the festival’s future direction.
Anyone interested in contributing to these discussions, supporting the future of Hat Fair, joining a focus group or taking part in a survey is encouraged to contact kirstie@playtothecrowd.co.uk
For those already missing the festival, the Hat Fair Cabaret returns to Theatre Royal Winchester on Friday 15 January 2027. Curated and headlined by Hat Fair favourites Street Comedy, the evening will celebrate the spirit of Hat Fair while raising funds towards the festival’s return.
Hat Fair returns to Winchester on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 July 2027. Tickets are available from theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk
Save the dates!
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