The Festival of Leicestershire and Rutland Archaeology is back for 2026, bringing a month-long programme of talks, excavations, guided walks and family events to communities across Leicestershire and Rutland. Running from 4 July to 2 August, the festival invites people of all ages to explore the rich heritage hidden beneath their feet and discover how archaeology helps us understand the landscapes we live in today.

This year’s theme, ‘Archaeology and Nature’, highlights the deep relationship between people and the environment through time. From climate and geology to wildlife, plants and changing landscapes, the festival will showcase how the natural world has shaped human history – and how people, in turn, have shaped the places around them.

Visitors will have the chance to uncover stories spanning more than half a million years of history, from Ice Age hunters and Iron Age communities to medieval castles, Roman Leicester and the discovery of Richard III.

Dig Into History

The ULAS team are delighted to be supporting events across the two counties. One of the festival’s most exciting new events is Charnwood Forest Uncovered, a community archaeology project taking place in Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves on 4–5 July. Residents and volunteers are being invited to help excavate archaeological test pits in gardens, village greens and open spaces as part of a National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported investigation into the area’s past. Led by Professor Carenza Lewis and archaeologists from University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS), the project offers a rare opportunity for the public to become active participants in archaeological research.

Another new excavation will take place at Ridgeway Primary Academy in Market Harborough, where archaeologists will investigate potential Iron Age remains identified through geophysical survey. Visitors are welcome to watch the excavation and learn more about the discoveries being made.

Explore Castles, Hillforts and Hidden Landscapes

The festival programme includes a series of guided walks led by experienced archaeologists, offering unique access to some of the region’s most fascinating historic sites.

Highlights supported by ULAS include:

• Mountsorrel Castle Guided Walk (7 July), exploring the turbulent history of the medieval fortress once nicknamed the “Nest of the Devil”.
• Hallaton Castle tours (12 and 26 July), visiting what is widely regarded as Leicestershire’s finest motte-and-bailey castle.
• Beneath the Bracken: The Archaeology of Bradgate Park (17 July), revealing discoveries from five years of archaeological research across one of Leicestershire’s most iconic landscapes.
• Old Dalby Knights Hospitaller Preceptory (18 July), exploring the landscape of ‘bumps and lumps’ which was once a thriving estate centre run by warrior monks.
• Rambling Around the Ramparts (19 and 26 July), combining a countryside walk with expert interpretation of Burrough Hill Iron Age hillfort and its surrounding landscape.

Talks Bringing the Past to Life

Throughout July, ULAS archaeologists will present engaging talks covering every era of local history.

Among the highlights are:

• From Hunters to Farmers (9 July) – a journey through 500,000 years of prehistoric Leicestershire and Rutland.
• Murder and Mayhem in Medieval Leicester (16 July) – uncovering grisly crimes, executions and scandals from the city’s medieval past.
• The Archaeology of Leicester Market Place (21 July) – revealing new discoveries from recent excavations in the heart of the city.
• Kathleen Kenyon and the Jewry Wall Roman Baths (21 July) – charting the story of Leicester’s most impressive Roman monument and the pioneering archaeologist who helped unlock its secrets.
• Ferral And Docile: Animals And Landscapes In Pre-Medieval Leicestershire (22 July) – exploring what archaeologists can learn about the past from ancient flora and fauna
• Richard III: Bloody Will Be Thine End (28 July) – exploring the life, death and rediscovery of England’s last medieval king with one of the archaeologists involved in the search.

Something for Everyone

The festival isn’t just for history enthusiasts. Many events are free, family-friendly and designed to encourage people to connect with their local heritage, including an Archaeology Family Fun Day at Bradgate Park on 29 July, featuring hands-on activities, crafts and opportunities for young archaeologists to discover what lies beneath one of Leicestershire’s most treasured landscapes.

Join the Adventure

Whether you’re excavating an archaeological test pit, walking the earthworks of a medieval castle, exploring an Iron Age hillfort or hearing the latest research from leading experts, the Festival of Leicestershire and Rutland Archaeology offers a unique opportunity to discover the extraordinary stories hidden within our local landscape.

So, why not step outside this July, explore somewhere new, and rediscover the remarkable archaeology that surrounds us!