Registration for the Heritage Open Days (HODs) festival is now open, inviting venues, organisations, and community groups across the county to take part in England’s largest free celebration of heritage and culture.
The national festival will run from Friday 11 – Sunday 20 September this year, with the help and participation of the community, Norfolk could once again deliver one of the most diverse and exciting local programmes in the country.
Norfolk’s contribution to the festival is coordinated by The Forum, which supports local organisers in developing events, promoting the county-wide programme, and producing the annual printed brochure.
In 2025, Norfolk’s HODs programme showcased 397 events, contributed by more than 200 local organisations, including Jarrolds, Carrow House (Norwich Unity Hub), Gressenhall Workhouse & Museum, to name a few. Norwich hosted the largest city‑wide programme in England, and the county as a whole ranked second nationally for total event numbers, demonstrating the huge appetite for storytelling and the rich heritage in the county.
Survey responses from 2025 organisers demonstrated the festival’s exceptional reach and value:
Heritage Open Days welcomes an exciting and eclectic mix of event types, allowing organisers to showcase stories in the way that suits them best. Popular formats include guided walks, building tours, talks, and behind-the-scenes visits, as well as creative workshops, craft sessions, reenactments, performances, and family activities. Many venues choose to open their doors for free for the festival, offering visitors rare access to historic sites, private spaces, archives, or collections. From small community popups to large-scale experiences.
The national theme for 2026, Everyday Histories, encourages organisers to explore the working lives, skills, routines, and family traditions that shaped their communities. From craftspeople and traders to dockyard workers, gardeners, and home cooks, the theme invites stories from daily life — but participation in the theme is optional. Any heritage story is welcome.
Katie Ellis, Norfolk Heritage Open Days Event Producer, said,
“Heritage Open Days is a celebration shaped entirely by the people of Norfolk — their stories, their spaces, and their passion for sharing the county’s rich and varied history. Every year we’re amazed by the creativity and commitment of local organisers, and 2026 promises to be no different. With the theme of Everyday Histories, we’re excited to see communities shine a light on the working lives, skills, and traditions that have quietly shaped our county. Whether it’s a small community pop‑up or a large-scale event, every contribution helps make Norfolk one of the most vibrant and engaging programmes in the country.”
How to Get Involved
Participation is free, and anyone with a story, place, collection, craft, or community archive to share is welcome to register as a Norfolk organiser.
Those wishing to appear in the Norfolk printed brochure — with 25,000 copies distributed across the region — must submit registrations by Sunday 31 May 2026.
Information, guidance, and registration details are available at:
norfolkheritageopendays.co.uk/get-involved
For enquiries, organisers can contact:
[email protected]
