What to See at Norfolk & Norwich Festival

What to See at Norfolk & Norwich Festival

 by Katie Thompson

It’s that time again! Norfolk & Norwich Festival returns from 9 – 25 May with a packed 17-day programme of amazing events. From incredible circus-themed acts and captivating installations to enthralling talks, family-friendly workshops, and musical performances of an array of genres. Not to mention the City of Literature Weekend (shining a spotlight on the National Year of Reading) and Norwich Jazz Festival!

So, if you want to discover something new- be it musicians, filmmakers, or how to tell a story- there’s an event for you. It’s time to immerse yourself at the Norfolk & Norwich Festival!

Here’s our guide to the festival’s top picks! 

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The festival begins with the Welcome Weekend (9 & 10 May, FREE)– two days of incredible outdoor entertainment across the city centre. 

Ones to look out for include the dreamlike installation Chair! by Geraldine Pilgrim Company, Thirunarayan Productions’ vibrant Indian street theatre epic, Holy Dirt, and Elevateher by Daughters of the Wire, exploring female strengths and struggles high above on three tightwires. For families, think The Giant Balloon Show by Dizzy O’Dare and for a one-to-one, accessible-friendly show, try Museum of Spirals by Frozen Light Theatre (boking required). 

(For anyone aged 18 – 25, make the most of the festival’s FREE YoungNNF membership for cheaper tickets!)

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Wolf by Circa
13 – 24 May, The Speigeltent, various times, from £10 

Circa returns to the Norfolk & Norwich Festival with breathtaking headliner Wolf, which utilises performers’ physicality to examine how a wolf pack nurtures and survives. Watch in awe as ten contemporary circus artists tear, climb, leap and balance with fierce abandon inspired by the raw energy of a wolf pack. Against relentless primal rhythms and clad in figure-hugging costumes, get lost in the intense choreography and powerful movements. 

Did You Know?: Norwich was home to England’s first recorded Black circus proprietor, Pablo Fanque. Known for his acrobatic aerialist performances, Fanque invited a similar sense of amazement through circus.

GoGo Penguin
Saturday 23 May, Epic Studios, 8pm, from £31.50 

After relaunching in 2025, Norwich Jazz Festival (15 – 24 May) returns as part of the Norfolk & Norwich Festival! Headlining the second weekend is GoGo Penguin. The Manchester-based trio are celebrating their exhilarating blend of jazz, classical and electronic influences of their newest album, Necessary Fictions.  

Another show to note is the National Youth Jazz Orchestra with their Abdullah Ibrahim Tribute (Tuesday 19 May, Epic Studios, 8pm, from £6.50), celebrating the legacy of the South African musician and township jazz anthems. Expect a unique mix of traditional African sounds, gospel harmonies and big-band energy.  

Did You Know?: Abdullah Ibrahim’s music became anthems of resilience, unity, and liberation during the anti-apartheid struggle.

Requiem by Kaleider
15 – 17 May, The Halls, 5pm & 7.30pm, from £10 

Filling The Halls’ storied walls, Kaleider’s contemporary requiem will make you take a moment and appreciate the beauty of our world. In a time of uncertainty, Requiem invites us to consider life, death and hope as a group of people build a giant kinetic creature from metal and human strength. 

Did You Know?: Kaleider blurs the lines of installation and live performance to create artworks in front of an audience.

Matter Era by Terrapin & Tim Spooner
12 & 13 May, The Assembly House, 7.30pm & 14 May, 1pm – 6pm, from £10 

Combining experimental performance with puppetry and animated objects, Australian puppeteers Terrapin collaborate with UK artist Tim Spooner to create an imaged world without people. Be entranced as they explore the possibilities of puppetry and animatronics- you can see Matter Era as a 70-minute performance or a durational installation. 

Did You Know?: Terrapin are recognised for their giant roving puppets and interactive installations which bring questions of environment to the forefront.

Natural Behaviour by Thick & Tight
22 & 23 May, Norwich Theatre Playhouse, 7.30pm, from £10 

Dance theatre company Thick & Tight bring a biology essay to life with their show Natural Behaviour. Incorporating elements of variety, including dance, satire, impersonation and poetry, this performance highlights the essential role of diversity in human and non-human life through a queer lens. Expect an equally beautiful and hilarious show, with appearances from two moths, a pantomime horse, some flies on the wall and a blade of grass! 

Did You Know?: Natural Behaviour was awarded Achievement in Dance at the UK Theatre Awards 2025 and ranked first for Best Dance Show 2025 by the Guardian.

Pavel Kolesnikov & Samson Tsoy
Wednesday 13 May, The Halls, 7.30pm, from £10 

Four hands, one instrument. This special concert brings together two celebrated pianists, Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy, renowned for their electrifying intimacy and cited as ‘piano magicians’. This time, they’re performing Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and two of Shubert’s four-hand masterpieces, Divertissement and Fantasie in F minor.  

Did You Know?: Duet pianists Kolesnikov and Tsoy have performed all of the world, including at hallowed venues and festivals such as Carnegie Hall, Edinburgh Festival and Berlin’s Konzerthaus.

Spiegel Lates
13 – 23, The Spiegeltent, 9.30pm, from £10 

From legendary folk musicians to pioneering electronic producers, Norfolk & Norwich Festival’s Spiegeltent Lates celebrate the best contemporary music.  

There’s SexyTadhg (Saturday 16 May), who blends grand pop drama with Irish folk in a theatrical and euphoric performance, Ana Carla Maza (Thursday 21 May), a Cuban cellist radiating the joy of bossa nova, son cubano, bolero, tango and more, and Band Night (Monday 18 May, 7pm), a line-up of the region’s most promising acts, including LFAY and Alice-Lily Nnene, presented by BBC Introducing. 

Did You Know?: Band Night artist Pozzy was nominated for DJ Mag’s Best of British Breakthrough Artist award.

Norfolk & Norwich Festival is taking place from 8 – 24 May 2026 across Norwich and Norfolk. The festival’s many venues include The Spiegeltent in Chapelfield Gardens, The Halls and Norwich Arts Centre, as well as Sheringham Little Theatre and Lynn Museum. Events are both free and ticketed.