History fans in their thousands defy heatwave to attend this year’s star-studded Chalke History Festival

With over 200 speakers and over 600 living historians and history interpreters, visitors were spoilt for choice as sold-out audiences listened to household names such as Alexander Armstrong, Mary Beard, Antony Beevor, Al Murray, Harriet Walter and Anthony Scaramucci.  Sunshades and ice-creams were the order of the day, but the history fans adopted a ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ attitude as thermometers rose and the crowds poured in.

Creative Director and historian, James Holland, said: “Chalke is, for me, quite simply the best week of the year. This 2026 lineup has been super impressive and packed full of unique events punters just wouldn’t find at any other festival. From the Ukraine: The Latest expert panel discussion on the Friday to The Generals Review on our preparedness for war on the Saturday, audiences at the festival were given access to talks that will leave a lasting impression. I’d like to thank all our speakers – old friends and new young voices - for battling through the heat to deliver such an incredible, wide-ranging series of talks.”

The Iron Age Romano-British chariot in action in The Arena  Photo: Martin Cook

A particular highlight of the week included the reconstruction of a magnificent Iron Age Romano-British chariot by the Remaking History team of intrepid artisans, followed by an impressive and dramatic racing display in the Arena with the chariot – pulled by two rare fell ponies – marking the first time in a couple of thousand years that native ponies have participated in such an event. On the Saturday evening, a stunning procession of heritage crafts practitioners, living historians, archaeologists and musicians staged a chariot burial ceremony, watched on by hundreds of visitors.

Managing Director, James Florence, said: “It’s been a truly memorable week here at the festival. Despite sweltering conditions, the public has turned out in really impressive numbers and we are thrilled to say that across the seven days we are in line with the record number of 25,000 visitors of 2025. This is a huge achievement, and I’d like to thank all our volunteers, and our incredible team of staff, for their hard work in the most challenging of circumstances. We also welcomed around 3,000 pupils, staff and home educators to our Schools Festival at the start of the week, when they enjoyed a packed curriculum-based programme of talks and activities. It’s always great to see so many young pupils actively engaged in learning about history and having such fun.”

Next year’s Chalke History Festival will take place from 21^st to 27^th June 2027. In the meantime, festival fans can join the Chalke History Club, where talks from this year’s festival are scheduled to be published after the summer.  

About the Chalke History Festival

Attracting the finest and most distinguished historians, academics, leading thinkers, and writers from the UK and abroad, the Chalke History Festival is now firmly established as one of the must-attend events of the festival summer. Taking place on a 70-acre farm, in the heart of the Wessex countryside just outside Salisbury in Wiltshire, it blends inspiring literary talks, discussions and panels with eye-catching and entertaining living history and historical experiences.

About Evelyn Partners

Evelyn Partners is a leading wealth management group, created through the merger of Tilney and Smith & Williamson in 2020, with a rich heritage of supporting individuals, families, and charities with the financial affairs for 189 years. With £67.0 billion of assets under management (as at 30 September 2025), we are one of the largest UK wealth managers ranked by client assets.

Through an extensive network of offices in 21 towns and cities in the UK, as well as the Republic of Ireland and the Channel Islands, we support private clients, family trusts, and charities, as well as provide investment solutions to financial intermediaries. Our diverse client base includes entrepreneurs, C-suite executives, partners of professional firms and sports professionals.

Our expertise spans both award-winning financial planning and investment management, enabling us to offer clients a truly holistic total wealth management service. Through Bestinvest, we also provide an online investment platform and coaching service for self-directed investors, consistent with our purpose of ‘placing the power of good advice into more hands’.