Wilderness Festival 2027 – Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

Overview

Wilderness Festival 2027 – Oxfordshire, United Kingdom is a four-day, boutique, multi-arts and music festival set amidst the idyllic Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire. Wilderness is a celebration of the arts and the outdoors and includes lavish banquets by the UK’s finest chefs, debates and discussions, music, theatre, masked balls, cricket, vintage shopping, wild swimming, outdoor cinema, boating and spas.

The event takes place at Cornbury Park, near Chipping Norton, after West Oxfordshire District Councillors approved application for premises licence. Cornbury Park is a 5,000 acre plot and was previously a royal hunting estate. The venue is Cornbury Park’s ancient forests, lakes and parkland with 1,700 acre estate featuring lakes, woodland and parkland. The site previously hosted Cornbury Music Festival until organiser moved it to Great Tew.

The ground-breaking new festival, Wilderness, set within 5,000 acres of ancient forests, lakes and parkland, attracted capacity audience of 10,000 people in its first year. Today the event has approximate capacity of 30,000 and is described as true escape for music, arts and food lovers. Official information is available at https://www.wildernessfestival.com/ and enquiries can be directed to info@wildernessfestival.com.

What Makes This Event Special

Multi-Arts Curated Weekender: What is Wilderness? A multi-day festival boasting multi-arts programme including impressively eclectic musical bill. It looks less like standard festival booking grid and more like curated cultural weekender where dance music, indie, food and theatre all share same field. Returning for its 15th edition in 2026, it continues that ethos.

Food as Headliner: Wilderness is delighted to welcome culinary maestros as hosts of festival’s two flagship outdoor dining experiences. Skye Gyngell and Petersham Nurseries Cafe as well as Sam and Sam Clark and Moro restaurant have been hosts, with lavish banquets by UK’s finest chefs and luxurious banquet hall dining options. Chef’s Table is dedicated dining venue.

Nature and Wellness: Whilst music remains at its heart, everything around bands makes Wilderness its own thing. There is wild swimming and boating pond which are both free to use, and adorning it are saunas and spas that can be booked for those looking to unwind even more. Forest bathing, wild swims, invigorating massage and facials, Greencrafts Village and forest bike rides create countryside freedom.

Theatre and Ideas: The festival welcomes theatre, cabaret shows, comedy, shows by 47-piece Wilderness Orchestra and Miss Wilderness event and talks and debates with lineup including Philip Pullman, His Dark Materials creator, in conversation. Forum hosts debates and discussions.

Secret Venues and Cricket: Wilderness 2026 promises weekend of immersive world-building delights from ten new secret venues, beloved neon-clad cricket match, Club House presented by Village Circus, Grand Irrational, Night Games, Disco Dodgeball with House of Dinosaur and other playful arenas.

Lineup / Featured Artists

Wilderness Festival blends big-name music with spa treatments, wild swimming and champagne bars. Past and recent lineups illustrate eclectic curation across electronic, indie, folk and pop.

Recent Headliners: 2026 lineup is led by Scissor Sisters, Carl Cox and The Last Dinner Party leading 15th edition. Also announced are Soulwax, Saint Etienne and Baxter Dury. 2023 featured Christine and the Queens, Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers and Arlo Parks. 2025 review noted Wet Leg triumph at blissed-out bonanza with cross-generational appeal as blistering dance tunes go head to head with Britpop revivalism and cutting-edge indie.

Historic Headliners: Previous headliners include Stevie Wonder, Bjork, Underworld, Grace Jones, Flaming Lips, Robyn, Bombay Bicycle Club, Groove Armada, Bastille, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Antony and the Johnsons, Laura Marling, Gogol Bordello, Empire of the Sun, Noah and the Whale, Rodriguez, Martha Wainwright, Michael Kiwanuka and many more.

Programme Structure: 17 named venues and stages are listed for Wilderness Festival including The Wilderness Stage, The Valley, The Atrium, The House of Sublime, The Dive, The Chef’s Table, The Playing Fields, The Club House, The Forum and The Family Field. New Atrium Stage hosts Roy Ayers, Wilderness Orchestra tribute to David Bowie, James Rhodes, London Contemporary Voices Choir and others.

Family Arts: Family Field features Storystock, Flying Seagulls, Tootles and Nibs, Pachamama Crafts and Mortimer Nannies providing children’s entertainment alongside main music.

Full lineup for 2027 will be announced via official website with day splits and further acts revealed in spring.

Event Experience

Wilderness Stage and Valley: Wilderness Stage is main stage with big-name headliners and eclectic bill, while Valley offers late-night dance and electronic. House of Sublime and Dive provide club experiences and immersive performance.

Atrium and Theatre: Atrium Stage hosts orchestral tributes, choir performances and experimental artists. Theatre and cabaret shows, comedy and talks create intellectual and playful counterpoint to music.

Food and Banquets: Chef’s Table and banquet experiences offer lavish outdoor dining with UK’s finest chefs, sumptuous spreads designed for festival. Petersham Nurseries Cafe and Moro restaurant provide flagship dining. Local produce market and street food stalls also available.

Outdoors and Wellness: Wild swimming in lake, boating pond free to use, forest bike rides, Hunter Gather Cook, Greencrafts Village, saunas, spas, invigorating massage and facials. Club House presented by Village Circus offers circus skills, Wilderness Cricket with Bearded Kitten offers surreal sporting spectacle.

Family Field: Family Field offers dedicated family camping and programming with storytelling, crafts, circus and childcare support, making festival all ages with variety of camping options including quiet camping and boutique camping.

Date & Schedule

Event Dates: 5 to 8 august, 2027

Schedule Structure:
Thursday: Arrival day with campsite opening from early afternoon. Multiple entry routes and postcodes apply depending on campsite and ticket type. Evening entertainment begins with smaller stages, Atrium performances, cinema and welcome banquets. This marks start of four-day escape.

Friday: Full multi-arts programme from late morning until late night across 17 venues. Wilderness Stage headliner Friday evening, Valley late-night dance headliner, plus theatre, comedy and banquet sittings.

Saturday: Full day with music, theatre, masked balls, cricket, vintage shopping, wild swimming and spas from morning until late night. Saturday headliner on Wilderness Stage with full supporting bill across Atrium, House of Sublime and other stages.

Sunday: Final full day with closing headliners, immersive world-building delights, neon-clad cricket match and luxury banquet hall dining options. Festival closes Sunday night with campsite remaining open until Monday morning for staggered departure.

In wet weather, paths and ground may become muddy or slippery in places, footwear and caution advised. Always check official app for stage times.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Location & Venue

Venue: Cornbury Park

Address: Cornbury Park, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 3HR, United Kingdom

Venue Overview: Cornbury Park is 5,000 acre plot previously royal hunting estate near Charlbury and Chipping Norton. Venue is idyllic countryside with ancient forests, lakes and parkland providing irresistible combination of culture, cuisine and countryside freedom. Location near Charlbury station allows rail access.

Capacity: Event has approximate capacity of 30,000 attendees with boutique feel. First year attracted capacity audience of 10,000 people.

Site Layout: Site includes 17 venues including Wilderness Stage, Valley, Atrium, House of Sublime, Dive, Chef’s Table, Playing Fields, Club House, Forum and Family Field. Wild swimming lake and boating pond centrally located with saunas and spas nearby.

Facilities: Facilities typically include showers, toilets and dedicated campsite team to assist. Please bring own camping equipment for general camping. Meadow camping offers pre-pitched tents unfurnished, boutique camping located right beside arena includes luxury showers, toilets and pamper parlour.

Event History

Founding Vision: Wilderness was announced as pioneering new festival of music, food, learning, literature and rejuvenation. Lord and Lady Rotherwick of Cornbury Park Estate indicated intention to host festival on same weekend as previous Cornbury Music Festival. Site previously hosted Cornbury Music Festival until organiser Hugh Phillimore moved it to Great Tew after company went into liquidation.

2011 Debut: First edition took place from 1 to 3 July 2011 featuring James Blunt, Ray Davies and Status Quo among lineup, plus talks and debates with Philip Pullman in conversation with BBC producer John Lloyd. Billed as celebration of arts and outdoors in wilds of England with 10,000 capacity.

Growth: Over years festival welcomed headline appearances by Robyn, Bombay Bicycle Club, Groove Armada, Grace Jones, Bastille, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Bjork and Ben Howard among many others. Music laid back and chilled out with lineup including Empire of the Sun, Noah and the Whale, Rodriguez and others in early years.

Recent Era: Held annually since 2011, last years welcomed Fatboy Slim, Christine and the Queens, Sugababes, The Chemical Brothers and Arlo Parks. After premises licence granted by West Oxfordshire District Councillors, festival secured long-term future at Cornbury Park. 2026 marks 15th edition with Scissor Sisters, Carl Cox and The Last Dinner Party leading lineup.

Getting to the Event

By Train: Nearest stations are Charlbury and Oxford Parkway with shuttle buses to Cornbury Park. Charlbury is closest with short taxi ride. Approximate fares from Charlbury $25 to $32 and from Oxford Parkway $63 to $76. Mainline connections from London Marylebone and Paddington to Charlbury.

By Bus and Coach: Big Green Coach operates direct coach services from London, Bristol, Birmingham and other cities to Cornbury Park. Local shuttle buses from Charlbury station operate during festival.

By Car: Multiple entry routes and postcodes apply depending on campsite and ticket type. See Your Arrival page for detailed directions. Official car parks require advance booking. Car sharing encouraged. Cornbury and Wychwood area in West Oxfordshire District accessed via country lanes.

By Bicycle: Cycle routes through Oxfordshire countryside lead to estate, with bike racks near entrances. Forest bike rides also part of festival programming.

Accessibility: Wilderness Festival is committed to accessibility with accessible viewing platforms, accessible toilets and showers, accessible camping and dedicated accessibility team. Family camping and quiet camping areas also available.

Where to Stay Nearby

On-Site General Camping: Weekend camping tickets grant access to designated camping areas within beautiful grounds of Cornbury Park. Facilities typically include showers, toilets and dedicated campsite team. Please bring own camping equipment.

Boutique Camping: Boutique camping located right beside arena includes luxury showers, toilets and pamper parlour. For 2026 new Boutique Campsite features luxury amenities. Boutique options cost more than general camping.

Meadow Camping: Meadow camping offers pre-pitched tents but unfurnished so you still need to bring sleeping bags and so on. Suitable for those wanting convenience without full boutique price.

Family and Quiet Camping: There is quiet camping area plus family camping site with dedicated facilities for families with children, including proximity to Family Field programming.

Off-Site Hotels: Premier Inn and other Oxfordshire hotels near festival offer alternative accommodation. Hotels in Chipping Norton, Charlbury and Oxford provide options within 20 to 40 minutes drive. Chipping Norton offers pubs and boutique hotels.

Things to Do Before or After the Event

Cornbury Park Exploration: Explore ancient forests, lakes and parkland of 5,000 acre estate outside festival footprint with guided nature walks and estate tours available outside event.

Charlbury and Chipping Norton: Market towns offer independent shops, cafes, pubs, historic church and local markets ideal for pre or post festival meals.

Oxford Culture: Oxford offers university colleges, museums, Botanic Garden and punting on River Cherwell within short drive, providing cultural extension to boutique festival.

Cotswolds: Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty nearby offers hiking, cycling and scenic villages including Great Tew and other stone villages.

Wellness Extension: Continue wellness theme with local spas, forest bathing experiences and wild swimming in Oxfordshire countryside beyond festival lake.

Restaurants & Dining Nearby

Festival Banquets: Chef’s Table and banquet hall dining options offer luxurious banquet experiences with UK’s finest chefs including Skye Gyngell and Petersham Nurseries Cafe and Sam and Sam Clark Moro restaurant. Menus released mid-May with sumptuous spreads.

Street Food: Festival street food stalls include gourmet burgers, wood-fired pizza, Thai, Indian, vegan bowls and local Oxfordshire produce alongside local produce market.

Charlbury and Chipping Norton Dining: Market towns offer traditional pubs serving Oxfordshire lamb, Italian restaurants, Indian cuisine and cozy tea rooms near Cornbury Park.

Oxford Dining: Oxford offers extensive dining including Michelin-starred restaurants, gastropubs, artisan bakeries and food markets, ideal for pre or post festival meals.

Late Night: Inside festival, late-night food stalls near Valley and House of Sublime serve noodles, burgers and breakfast baps for those enjoying late-night dance sets.

Ticket Information

Tickets can be purchased from official Tickets Page via Wilderness Festival website. All pricing is shown in USD, converted from previous UK pricing where 2027 pricing has not been announced. Early Bird and Lazy Bird tiers often sell out fast.

Weekend Camping: Weekend ticket for Wilderness Festival will set you back around $354 and includes access to general camping area as long as you bring own tent. Basic price range listed as $15 child to $354 adult. Tickets which start at $335 are currently on sale for 2026 with Early Bird sold out. Weekend tickets for 2025 still available from $373 per adult or $57 per child. General, family and non-camping tickets for Wilderness cost around $354 but boutique options cost more. Ticket cost listed as $354 plus in some guides from $301.

Child Tickets: Child weekend tickets priced significantly lower, around $57 to $80 depending on age. Basic price $15 child listed for youngest age group.

Boutique and Meadow: Meadow camping offers pre-pitched tents at extra cost over general camping. Boutique camping located beside arena includes luxury amenities at higher price point, often $500 to $800 plus general ticket.

Day Tickets: Day tickets have been priced at $70 adult and $25 young person in local discounted sales from Charlbury Post Office, with adult weekend at $102 local discounted. Standard day tickets higher at $120 to $180.

Add-Ons: Wilderness Spa sessions have been priced at $13 for hour in first year and banquet seats at $34 per person, now higher with luxury pricing. Wild swimming and boating pond free to use, saunas and spas bookable at extra cost.

Tips Before You Go

Budget for Full Experience: Weekend ticket around $354 includes general camping but you also need to budget for transport to and from festival, food and drinks while at festival, merch and other goodies, plus optional extras like spa treatments and banquets that require advance booking.

Book Boutique Early: Boutique camping located right beside arena includes luxury showers, toilets and pamper parlour and sells fast. Meadow camping offers pre-pitched tents but unfurnished so bring sleeping bags. Quiet camping and family camping provide calmer options away from Valley late-night.

Pack for Boutique Outdoors: In wet weather paths and ground may become muddy or slippery, footwear and caution advised. Bring wellies, warm layers for nights, swimwear for wild swimming, and fancy dress for masked balls and cricket match.

Use Multiple Entry Routes: Multiple entry routes and postcodes apply depending on campsite and ticket type. See Your Arrival for detailed directions and use correct postcode for your campsite to avoid delays on country lanes around Cornbury Park.

Embrace Multi-Arts: Wilderness is four-day boutique multi-arts and music festival where music is only part of story. Plan to explore theatre, debates at Forum, Greencrafts Village, forest bike rides and Chef’s Table to fully experience celebration of arts and outdoors.

Official Event Information

Official Website: https://www.wildernessfestival.com/

Contact: info@wildernessfestival.com

Venue: Cornbury Park, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 3HR, United Kingdom

Organizer: Wilderness Festival

Capacity: Approximately 30,000

Format: Four-day boutique multi-arts and camping festival

First Held: 2011

Stages: 17 venues including Wilderness Stage, Valley, Atrium, House of Sublime, Dive, Chef’s Table, Playing Fields, Club House, Forum and Family Field

Attendee Experiences

Refined Escape: Attendees describe Wilderness as more refined affair compared to standard summer festivals, with irresistible combination of culture, cuisine and countryside freedom where guests can feast, dance, explore and discover own version of wild.

Food as Highlight: Reviews highlight lavish banquets by UK’s finest chefs, Petersham Nurseries Cafe and Moro restaurant as standout experiences with sumptuous spreads and luxurious banquet hall dining that rivals music.

Wellness and Nature: Visitors praise wild swimming and boating pond free to use, saunas and spas bookable for unwinding, forest bathing and invigorating massage as best addition to festival ever with clean, chilled-out festival-goers.

Immersive World-Building: 2026 promises weekend of immersive world-building delights from ten new secret venues, beloved neon-clad cricket match and Club House circus, creating personality-filled lineup where dance music, indie, food and theatre share same field.

Cross-Generational Appeal: Reviews note eclectic weekender has cross-generational appeal as blistering dance tunes go head to head with Britpop revivalism and cutting-edge indie, with all ages and families welcome and variety of camping options.