Celebrating the best in outdoor entertainment from around the world, Derby Festé once more takes to the streets of Derby on 27 September.
Derby Feste 2025
Derby is set to come alive once more as Festé returns to the city streets, following a short pause last year. Presented by Derby City Council with support from Arts Council England’s National Lottery funding, and produced in partnership with FABRIC, the Midlands’ leading dance development organisation, this year’s edition promises to be one of the most dynamic yet. Local partners including Derby Museums and QUAD are also on board to help make it a truly city-wide celebration.
Expect an eclectic mix of the daring and the delightful as Festé transforms Derby into a stage under the open sky. From aerial performances and circus artistry to theatre, dance, and even a dash of parkour, the programme is crafted to ignite the senses and captivate the imagination.
This year’s theme reflects our relationship with the natural world—its beauty, its fragility, and the pressing need for collective action. Performances range from the whimsical and humorous to the thought-provoking and deeply moving, ensuring there is something to intrigue audiences of all ages.
Interactive experiences add to the fun. Visitors can help cartoonist Scott Walker create a giant street doodle, lounge beneath a vast spinning parasol at the festival’s urban beach, or join in with the playful chaos of Big Mob’s roving Slinkies where audience participation highly encouraged.
Accessibility is at the heart of Festé, with many non-verbal shows designed to be enjoyed by deaf audiences and those for whom English is not a first language. Local talent will also take centre stage, with Derby-based groups Maison Foo and Hubbub Theatre among the highlights.
Fringe events curated by the city’s cultural partners will keep the party going into the evening, making Derby Festé not just a festival, but a celebration of community, creativity, and connection.
Full details of what is going on for #Feste25 will be found here.
When is Derby Feste 2025?
27 September.
For more ideas of what to do when in Derby, read, Things to Do in Derby: from Pubs to Suffragettes.
Other Festivals in Derby
In addition to the Feste, the city also has The Great Derbyshire Beer Festival in April and Derby Folk Festival in September / October.
To learn more about Derby Festé
Click here.
For tourist information on things to do in Derby
Visit: www.visitderby.co.uk.
Main image : Out of The deep Blue, Credit Peter Lopeman
