Chalke returns to Broad Chalke on 21–27 June 2027. A history trip here needs its travel and accommodation planned alongside the talks, especially if you will return to Salisbury or Shaftesbury in the evening. Six past sessions below show subjects from the 2026 programme. Choose your future talks through the new official programme when it is published.
Confirmed for 2027
The 2027 programme hasn’t been announced yet.
2026 headline events
These events took place in 2026.
The House of Boleyn
· Moot Tent, Broad Chalke
Borman explored the Boleyn family’s rise and fall, tracing dangerous ambition from Hever Castle to the court of Henry VIII.
2026 event detailsAt 3 festivals in 2026
Eleanor: A 200-Mile Walk in Search of England's Lost Queen
· Forum Tent, Broad Chalke
Loxton retraced Eleanor of Castile’s funeral journey from Lincoln to London, bringing the queen and her medieval world into focus.
Regina: A New History of Women and Power
· Moot Tent, Broad Chalke
Williams explored royal women’s power across centuries, from Cleopatra and Hatshepsut to Diana, looking beyond the myths surrounding their lives.
2026 event detailsAt 2 festivals in 2026
The Mirror of Great Britain: A Life of James VI & I
· Moot Tent, Broad Chalke
Jackson examined James VI and I through his writings and correspondence, exploring monarchy, religious conflict, plots and political upheaval.
Fashioning the Crown: A Story of Power, Conflict and Couture
· Moot Tent, Broad Chalke
Picardie explored how royal clothes projected authority during war, abdication and political upheaval, revealing couture’s role in diplomacy and defiance.
Mythica: A New History of Homer’s World, Through the Women Written Out of It
· Forum Tent, Broad Chalke
Hauser revisited Homer’s world through the women behind its legends, drawing on archaeology, ancient texts and DNA research.
Explore the guide’s 2026 programme highlights.
Book your room first
Choosing the town and dates can come before choosing individual talks. If you reserve at that stage, compare the actual rate’s payment and cancellation conditions and keep its deadline with your festival plans. The search starts with the first festival night, two adults and one room; change it to fit your stay.
Where to stay for Chalke History Festival · Chalke History Festival visitor guide
Authors who appeared in 2026
Tracy Borman, Jonathan Freedland, Hallie Rubenhold, Andrea Wulf, Antony Beevor, Charlie Higson.
Plan the festival visit
Broad Chalke is a rural destination, so put the return journey alongside the talk you most want to hear. A village inn and a Salisbury or Shaftesbury room involve different daily plans. Check the operator’s current service for the event date if a bus is part of the visit, and arrange any essential taxi in advance. The guide covers arrival at the site; the stay page distinguishes the officially identified walkable inn from wider transport bases. Include every day’s transfers when deciding whether to visit once or stay for several festival days.