The National Forest awakens with creativity at its 2026 walking festival
The National Forest Walking Festival returns this spring for its 17th year, offering two inspiring weeks of discovery, creativity and connection with nature. It runs from Friday 15 to Friday 29 May.
Thanks to the dedication of the festival’s volunteers, the event continues to bring people together. They come to explore the beauty and diversity of the National Forest.
The National Forest is one of the country’s boldest environmental regeneration projects. It covers 200 square miles across parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
Over the past three decades, it has transformed a post-industrial landscape through the planting of ten million trees. This has created a dynamic forest where people and nature can thrive together.
The Walking Festival celebrates this ongoing transformation. It invites people to experience the Forest’s woodlands, villages and open spaces in new and creative ways.
The National Walking Month falls during May. We think this is one of the best times of the year to be outdoors in the National Forest.
The drama of spring blossom, the heady scent of bluebells carpeting ancient woodlands, and the chance to see wildlife in abundance, are all wonderful for the body and soul.
This year’s theme, arts and creativity, encourages walkers to see the Forest through a fresh, imaginative lens.
The 2026 programme features a wide range of more than 85 guided walks that celebrate how art, nature and community intertwine. From exploring the sounds and textures of the landscape to uncovering the stories and heritage that shape it, there is much to discover.
The Youth Landscapers Collective will join the festival as artists in residence, to mark their tenth anniversary.
With a spirit of curiosity and creativity, they will appear at selected walks to collect the sights and sounds of the forest in imaginative ways.
Recordings and images will be used in an exhibition later in the year.
Elsewhere in the programme, walkers can join experiences that uncover the treasures of the woodland. Additionally, they can take part in guided walks that link social history with the shaping of the natural environment. They can also explore the connections between people, place and culture.
Zoe Sewter, volunteer and wellbeing officer at the National Forest, said: “Walking has always been a wonderful way to connect with the landscape, but this year’s festival adds a creative twist.
“By blending art, sound, storytelling and exploration, we are encouraging people to experience the Forest with fresh curiosity and to see how creativity can deepen our relationship with nature.
“We hope everyone will find something that inspires them, whether that is a new route, a new idea or simply a new way of seeing the Forest.”
The National Forest Walking Festival is coordinated and funded by South Derbyshire District Council and the National Forest. It is supported by East Staffordshire Borough Council and North West Leicestershire District Council.
The festival is a celebration of community, creativity and the landscapes that continue to inspire both art and adventure. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether to discover new routes, connect with others or simply see the Forest in a new light.
Event dates: Friday 15 to Friday 29 May 2026
Location: The National Forest, across Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire
More information on the Walking Festival, including a downloadable guide https://www.nationalforest.org/explore/events/national-forest-walking-festival
