11th - 20th September 2026
Winchester Heritage Open Day’s 11th annual festival took place from 11th - 20th September 2026 with a theme of ‘Everyday Histories’, exploring the often overlooked and forgotten stories of ordinary people through time. Over 120 organisations, community groups and historical sites came together to share their stories with Hampshire, creating a rich and varied programme for visitors to enjoy across the county.
To view our Winchester HODs 2026 festival review, click here.
To download our printed programme, click here.
An Afternoon of History, Ideas and Discovery
As part of the 2026 festival, Hampshire History Trust hosted a fascinating afternoon of talks, bringing together four speakers to explore a diverse range of historical subjects and spark new conversations.
The afternoon featured Dr Ellie Woodacre, Garry Honey, Dr Alex Beeton and Dr Helen Lawrence Beaton, each sharing their knowledge, research and enthusiasm for history with an audience of curious minds.
From thought provoking historical perspectives to intriguing discoveries, the talks offered an opportunity to explore the past in greater depth and celebrate the wealth of historical expertise within our community.
Discover Winchester: The Heritage Trail
Our 2026 Heritage Trail invited visitors to explore Winchester’s rich history, uncovering fascinating details and hidden stories along the way.
Designed to encourage people to look a little closer at the city around them, the trail offered a fun and accessible way to discover Winchester’s heritage at their own pace.
Those who completed the activity were also entered into a prize draw to win a voucher from the Wykeham Arms, adding an extra incentive to get exploring!
Thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the trail such an enjoyable part of the festival.
On the Trail of Mythical Beasts
Dragons, fantastical creatures and mythical mysteries took over Winchester during our 2026 Mythical Beasts Scavenger Hunt!
Families and younger festival visitors were challenged to search for mythical beasts hidden throughout the city, following clues and keeping their eyes peeled as they explored.
Combining a little history, imagination and adventure, the scavenger hunt provided a fun way for families to engage with the festival and discover more of Winchester together.
Congratulations to everyone who took part, and to our lucky prize draw winners!
