A True Hidden Gem: ALSO Festival 2026

This tiny festival in the heart of rural Warwickshire is seldom heard of but has now had 13 editions. Centred around talks and conversations, ALSO Festival might not have booked huge musicians to play but does offer an unparalleled weekend vibe not found at many festivals. A beautiful location with over 50 acres of rolling parkland and a tranquil lake to relax by, ALSO really offers a weekend of relaxation instead of the festival usual of darting from stage-to-stage maybe 20 minutes walk away from one another. A small, but idyllic site means everything is a stones throw away.

Despite some of the talks featuring heavy topics, the festival doesn’t take itself too seriously.  The big tongue and cheek Costa del ALSO sign set the tone perfectly. The festival’s main stage was fully programmed with many topical conversations throughout the weekend. Punters took cover under a sea of umbrellas to keep out of the sweltering heat. Further braving the hot sun waiting for respected artist Grayson Perry to deliver his talk whilst also dressed as his famous alter ego.

Although ALSO doesn’t put music at the forefront of their programming, the festival still offers several places of musical escape. Bunker 52 comprised of a small tent surrounded by stacked up hay bails with a selection of drum & bass and techno, running as the festival’s late night venue. Afternoon sets by the lake were taken care of by the rum shack, serving great cocktails and playing special sets in front of the festival’s idyllic lake. 

This said, the undisputed highlight of the weekend was the immersive dining experience. The dining marquee was ivy-draped with candles, flowers and long wooden tables with benches to get in the mood for a proper feast. The food was excellent, the company even better, and the evening had a wonderful sense of playful unpredictability about it. That unpredictability reached its peak when a game being played around the tent resulted in one lucky winner being handed an unusual responsibility: choosing someone to distribute Ferrero Rocher to the entire room. That someone in question turned out to be none other than Grayson Perry himself, taking on the role with elegance. He was attending the meal just as a punter, not to perform.

Straight after the banquet one of England’s World Cup games was shown on a big projector. This created a brilliant atmosphere, one, coupled with good weather, only a summer tournament would conjure up.

This remarkable little cult-followed festival has fought against the odds of a shrinking festival market to deliver something truly unique. 

Tickets for 2027’s festival are available now at https://www.also-festival.com