2023 Events

Key Events in Durham

Durham hosts an exciting programme of events across the county every year, which attract visitors and encourage longer stays. Below you will find a selection of key events for 2023, which can be used in your own marketing activity to give your customers a reason to visit, or return.

For further information on what’s on across the county, download or register to receive a weekly copy of the This is Durham Week Ahead e-newsletter - a valuable tool to enable you to let your customers know what's going on in Durham. The week ahead is updated and available for download every Friday.

Do you have an event to promote? Complete the event submission form to have your event listed on thisisdurham.com, the official tourism website for the county.

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Durham Pride - 10th anniversary

Durham Pride - 10th anniversary

29 May | Durham City

Read More about Durham Pride - 10th anniversary
Fire & Ice

Fire & Ice

February 24-25 | Durham

Read More about Fire & Ice
Bishop Auckland Food Festival

Bishop Auckland Food Festival

22 – 23 April | Bishop Auckland

Read More about Bishop Auckland Food Festival
Durham Miners Gala

Durham Miners Gala

8 July | Durham Cathedral

Read More about Durham Miners Gala
Durham Brass Festival

Durham Brass Festival

9 - 16 July | Durham

Read More about Durham Brass Festival
Kynren – An Epic Tale of England

Kynren – An Epic Tale of England

29 July – 9 September | Bishop Auckland

Visit Website Find out more about Kynren
Seaham Food Festival

Seaham Food Festival

5 - 6 August | Seaham

Read More about Seaham Food Festival
England v New Zealand IT20

England v New Zealand IT20

30 August | Seat Unique Riverside

Read More about England v New Zealand IT20
Wolsingham Show

Wolsingham Show

2 – 3 September | Wolsingham

Read More about Wolsingham Show
Durham Book Festival

Durham Book Festival

Dates 13 - 15 October | Durham

Visit Website Find out more about the Durham Book Festival
North Pennines Stargazing Festival

North Pennines Stargazing Festival

20 October - 5 November | North Pennines

Visit Website Find out more about the North Pennines Stargazing Festival
Lumiere Durham

Lumiere Durham

16 - 19 November | Durham

Visit Website Find out more about Lumiere
Durham Christmas Festival

Durham Christmas Festival

1 – 3 December | Durham

Visit Website Find out more about Durham Christmas Festival

More 2023 Event Highlights

Raymond Briggs: A Retrospective at The Bowes Museum - 12 November - 26 February 2023

Fire & Ice - 24 - 25 February

World Heritage Site Lates - From 23 February

The Power of Image at Ushaw - 1 April - 25 June

World Heritage Site Day - 10 April

Bishop Auckland Food Festival - 22 - 23 April

Beamish Coronation Weekend - 6 - 8 May

Durham Pride - 10th anniversary - 25 - 29 May

Durham Regatta - 10 - 11 June

Sin: Exhibition organised by the National Gallery, London with The Auckland Project - 17 June - 1 October 2023

The Durham Shakespeare Festival - 8 - 30 July

Durham Brass Festival - 9 - 16 July

Durham Miners' Gala - 8 July

Movement: Celebrating 250 years of the world’s most famous Silver Swan - 8 July 2023 – 7 January 2024

Gaia - Durham Cathedral- 10 July - 10 September

Durham City Run Festival - 14 & 15 July

The Who Hits Back - 19 July

Durham Fringe Festival - 26 - 30 July

Adventure Cinema series at Raby - 28 - 30 July

IncludFEST - 29 July

Kynren - an epic tale of England - 29 July - 9 September

BeachFest at Dalton Park - 31 July - 20 August

Seaham Food Festival - 5 & 6 August

Hardwick Festival - 18 - 20 August

Derwent Fest 2023 - 25 - 28 August

Weardale Show - 26 August

ODI England Men v New Zealand Vitality IT20 - 30 August

Wolsingham Show - 2 - 3 September

Heritage Open Days - 8 - 17 September

ODI England Women v Sri Lanka WIT20 - 9 September

Beamish Autumn Transport Gala - 9 - 10 September

Luxmuralis, Durham Cathedral - 11 - 15 October

Durham Book Festival - 13 - 15 October

North Pennines Stargazing Festival - 20 October – 5 November

Pyromusical Firework Spectacular - 4 November

Lumiere - 16 - 19 November

Gala Pantomime - Cinderella - 23 November 23 - 6 January 24

Durham Christmas Festival - 1 - 3 December

The Flying Scotsman Centenary Festival - Locomotion - 16 December - 2 January 24

See more events at thisisdurham.com