Peterborough Cathedral, in partnership with Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery, is delighted to announce the return of the Katharine of Aragon Festival, taking place from 24 January to 1 February 2026. This annual commemoration honours Katharine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII, who was laid to rest in the Cathedral on 29 January 1536. Her presence in Peterborough makes the Cathedral one of the most significant Tudor sites in the country, and the festival remains a cornerstone of the city’s cultural calendar.

This year’s programme places a particular emphasis on deepening public understanding of the Tudor world through a series of compelling historical talks. Renowned historians and acclaimed authors including Alison Weir and Dr Owen Emmerson among others, will gather at the Cathedral and Museum to share new insights into courtly life, the politics of the era, and the extraordinary story of Katharine herself. Their contributions promise to illuminate the complex forces that shaped the English Reformation and to offer audiences a richer appreciation of a queen whose courage, scholarship, and steadfastness have resonated across the centuries.

These expert-led talks will be complemented by the festival’s wider programme at both the Cathedral and Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery, bringing Peterborough’s Tudor heritage vividly to life. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the Cathedral’s historic spaces through guided tours that trace the events surrounding Katharine’s final days, her burial, and the transformation of the former monastery during the turbulent years that followed as well as taking part in workshops, an after dark light and sound experience and so much more.

At the heart of the events remains the annual Commemoration Service and wreath laying, marking the anniversary of Katharine’s burial. This poignant civic observance draws together local dignitaries, school groups, visitors, and members of the Cathedral community in a shared act of remembrance, honouring a queen whose legacy continues to inspire admiration and respect. The festival also features opportunities for families to engage with Tudor history through creative activities, both free and ticketed, as well as a special fundraising banquet (SOLD OUT!) in support of the Cathedral’s Education Department.

The Very Reverend Christopher Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough said:
‘It’s a real joy to welcome you to this year’s Katharine of Aragon Festival at Peterborough Cathedral and in partnership with Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery. Recalling her burial here, this festival gives us an opportunity to reflect on Katharine’s extraordinary legacy, as a woman of faith, courage and dignity, not just a victim of a volatile king but a person of real importance in her own right; a diplomat, a pioneer of education for women and girls and a leader. As we honour her part in our nation’s history so these few days offer an opportunity for us all to celebrate the enduring impact of her story for us today.’

The Cathedral’s strong partnership with Peterborough Museum further strengthens the festival, with Tudor sword fighting workshops and Tudor musical performances to name but two. All of this will help to ensure that the story of Tudor England and Peterborough’s place in the story is told with depth, integrity, and imagination across both sites.

Laura Hancock, Heritage Engagement Manager at Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery said:
‘The 2026 Katharine of Aragon Festival is set to bring some fantastic events to the city, and Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery are pleased to be partnering with the Cathedral again this year. We’re excited to be holding some new events at the Museum as part of the programme, including a concert with music from Katharine’s era and Tudor sword fighting workshops. Plus, visitors can also explore over a century of Tudor intrigue, transformation, and legacy with our temporary exhibition: Queens, Cousins & Courts.’

As custodians of Katharine’s resting place, Peterborough Cathedral alongside Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery is proud to preserve and interpret her story for new generations.
The Katharine of Aragon Festival 2026 has been kindly sponsored by Paragon, Yale University Press, Simply Tudor Tours, The Cambridgeshire Community Foundation and History with Jackson.

🖌️Katherine of Aragon by Unknown artist, circa 1520. Image © National Portrait Gallery, London. By permission of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Church Commissioners; on loan to the National Portrait Gallery, London.