The Reigate and Redhill Festival takes place for nearly two weeks every May, in several venues across Reigate and Redhill. We offer amateur musicians and actors the chance to perform to a supportive and appreciative audience, and to be offered encouragement and inspiration by a team of professional adjudicators.

There is a competitive element to the Festival, but we see it as a celebration of music-making and acting. We offer a supportive platform for children and other amateur performers to sing, play, act and recite, and although some performers will win cups and other prizes, the emphasis is very much on enjoyment.

A short while after the end of the Festival, we hold our Gala Showcase. Performers are chosen by our Chairman, in conjunction with the adjudicators. Sometimes they are class winners and sometimes they are chosen for other reasons, but they are always inspiring and the audience is always appreciative.

We aim to promote the Performing Arts in our area and sometimes hold taster sessions, masterclasses and concerts run by other organisations.

You can find our latest Syllabus here.

Our History

The Reigate and Redhill Festival, previously known as The Reigate & Redhill Music and Drama Festival and, originally, as The Reigate, Redhill and District Musical Competition Festival) was born in 1925, with the first Festival taking place in March 1926, just over 100 years ago. At that time, the Festival took place over the course of just one day, a Saturday, with competitive sessions in the morning and afternoon and prize-giving and concert in the evening. One of the Vice-Presidents was a certain Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Our Festival has moved on considerably since those early days. For some years now, it has lasted for nearly two weeks, with some additional events as well, and there have been Classes for a full range of instruments, as well as a large and thriving Speech and Drama Section. Most recently, we have added Organ Classes, and our Rock, Pop and Urban Section. in 2026, we welcomed over 1000 entries! At the end, we wrap everything up with a Gala Showcase Concert featuring a cross-section of the talented performers who have entered the Festival that year.