Brand New Brilliance and The Wilderness Classics
Our people. It is with extreme pleasure that we welcome you back to the Wilderness. We will gather and we will dance, right back where we belong in the glorious wilds of Cornbury Park.
Wilderness is a multi-faceted beast. We pride ourselves on the vast scope of our programming and truly offer something for everyone. You’ll find an all-guns-blazing tour of the arts - from woodland theatre to sublime cabaret to fancy dressed footie via Letters Live. You’ll find dancefloors alight at the hands of some the most innovative in the game. There’ll be secret sets and day raves, stand up comedy and forest feasts, poignant panels and neon-clad night games. Your tastebuds will be tantalised, your ribs tickled. There’ll be games to play, yoga to do, songs to sing.
This year, our themes are as heavenly as ever. Remind yourself before you start packing HERE.
We invite you to fly your flag high on the breeze, donning your most deliriously celebratory persona, vibe, look. It’s about the pure joy of being yourself in a divine setting and filling your gold cowboy boots with new experiences and among friends.
We have some stunning new arrivals to thrill, to entertain and to sate you…
Mysterious new venue created by festival insiders Will Kayll and Jemima Howden, The Riddle will take you on a kaleidoscopic journey. Expect total immersion, surprise performances and a secret garden - if you can find your way in. The line-up is also pretty tasty…
You are the people and this is The People's Front Room. Kick back in the lounge for a rotating menu of grassroots musicians, poets, improv jams and electronica. Make yourself at home on the Persian rug....
Mam Sham, ‘London’s most exciting events duo’, (The Independent) are bringing their signature sell-out special of comedy plus food. They’ll be serving up incredible dinners that bring the performance to the plate.
Bloodshot Supperclub create debauched gatherings and have just announced their Wilderness line-up of delectable chefs: Robin Gill, Ruben Dawnay, Terri Mercieca and Josh Angus will be preparing the feast and surprises.
In The Wild is a new concept, taking programming outside the arena and deep into the forest. Explore more HERE.
Making its Wilderness debut in the Sanctuary, the Slow Motion Sauna is an antidote to 21st century living brought to you by Robby and Josie da Bank and featuring two beautiful hand-made wood-fired saunas, three cold plunges and an invigorating exfoliating salt scrub finale.
Returning Favourites ~ The Wilderness Classics.
These are the experiences that are unmistakably Wilderness, the things you just don't get anywhere else.
The Choir. Join a choir of hundreds to rehearse then perform a four-part harmony of a well-known tear-jerker - which this year is Elbow anthem ‘One Day Like This’. This is what being at Wilderness is all about.
The Cricket. This year at the Bearded Kitten Cricket match, Team GB take on USA…. Wilderness falls at the peak of the Summer Olympics being held just over the channel in Paris. The WCC has decided that since Paris has flatly refused to allow cricket in the 2024 Olympics (they were up for French Cricket but that’s mainly for grannies), we will host the final on their behalf at Wilderness on the Sunday. Featuring the newest addition to the cricketing fraternity Team America vs. the inventors of cricket Team GB.
The Wilderness House Band is a 42-piece symphony orchestra. Glorious. Monumental. Tear Jerking. They soundtrack many moments and events: God’s Jukebox, this year - film scores with Mark Kermode and of course, The Choir…
Letters Live. Words fail us. The most spine tingling letters read by the most magnetic of performers. Unmissable.
Alternative Miss Wilderness. The alt-beauty pageant that flips the concept entirely and everyone wins. Hilarious and liberating in equal measure.
Grand Irrational Derby Cup. Horse racing using humans. What can possibly go wrong?
The Wilderness Family Jam. A lovely family friendly singalong at The Atrium. The perfect first gig for little ones.
DJ Drop In Tutorials. Is your child obsessed with becoming a DJ? The Roundhouse have brough their kit and are offering drop in DJ sessions in the kids field.
The Hustle throw open their daytime doors for a Kids Sensory Rave (Saturday and Sunday) complete with pirate-obsessed immersive theatre troupe Faceplant helping your charges locate the treasure. Late-night Hustle vibes deliver the special combination of upfront tunes on a custom-built resonant dancefloor with cocktails on tap.
Wild Swimming (Showering in the waterfall! Where else can you shower in a waterfall?!)
Wild Runs with the Midnight Runners. Do you have it in you to do a gorgeous 5km circuit round the beautiful Cornbury Park?
Yoga Brunch Club. Yoga followed by brunch. What else do you need to start your day right?
Festival impresarios attempting to save your soul, Oh My God! It’s The Church are this year opening The Wilderness Stage.
The infamous Valley awaits your moves… A forest amphitheatre featuring some of the best DJs and producers on the planet.
The Emporium. This year you can learn the crafts directly from the makers themselves at a workshop. Get crafty.