THE HENLEY FESTIVAL
Early July · Henley-on-Thames · Five Evenings · Since 1982 · Music and Festival
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Arranged by the Court
- Dates7 to 11 July 2027
- WhereThe banks of the Thames, Henley-on-Thames
- DressBlack tie
- AdmissionOpen to the public
- The weatherIn July Benson, near Henley, reaches about 23°C by day and 12°C at night, and rain falls on about one day in four.
- Of noteMoorings inside the enclosure are sold to festival guests who come by boat, and everyone on board needs an entry ticket and keeps to black tie.
- In companyA member who means to go says so to the Secretary, and the Court seats its members together where the engagement allows.RSVP tells the Secretary that a member means to attend. Send passes the engagement’s name, its date and the address of its page to whomever the reader chooses, or, on a computer, copies the address; the Court itself sends and keeps nothing.RSVP
The Henley Festival is held on the banks of the Thames at Henley, with a floating stage on the river. It calls itself “the UK’s only black-tie festival”.
Evening dress, and the river.
The Floating Stage
The festival has been held on the banks of the Thames since 1982. Its headliners have included Diana Ross, Elton John and Madness.
The visual art takes in a Sculpture Garden and ten galleries, one of them given to RISE, the festival’s charitable programme for emerging talent.
Black Tie
In the festival’s own words: “Henley Festival is a black-tie event. … Think bow ties, long or short evening wear, with plenty of sparkle and glamour. Dark lounge suits, evening trousers and smart jumpsuits are also welcome.”
Denim and leather, trainers of any kind and informal footwear are not permitted, and a guest who does not meet the code may be refused entry. It holds on the water too: everyone aboard a boat moored in the enclosure needs a ticket and keeps the code. Playdate, the children’s festival on the Sunday morning, has none.
What to Know
The 2027 festival runs from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 July. At the last edition the gates opened at five each evening.
An entry ticket is needed for every restaurant, bar and food stand. The restaurants and Riverside Social can be booked ahead, and the Crooked Billet takes walk-ins only. No outside food or drink is allowed in the enclosure.
Wednesday to Saturday evenings are for those of sixteen and over, and Sunday evening for twelve and over.
The car parks open at four, and a pass for Car Park 2 is £40, by card. Moorings inside the enclosure must be booked 24 hours ahead. A car may set down outside the entrance; on foot it is about ten minutes from the centre of the town, across the bridge, with the entrance on the left.
The festival calls itself a black-tie event, and welcomes dark lounge suits. The Court wears black tie.
Questions
When is the Henley Festival 2027?
From Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 July 2027.
What is the dress code at the Henley Festival?
Black tie. In the festival’s words, “Dark lounge suits, evening trousers and smart jumpsuits are also welcome”; denim, leather, trainers and informal footwear are not permitted, and a guest who does not meet the code may be refused entry.
Can you arrive by boat at the Henley Festival?
Yes. Moorings inside the enclosure can be bought, and must be booked 24 hours ahead; everyone on board needs a ticket and must keep the black-tie code.
Is there an age limit at the Henley Festival?
Wednesday to Saturday evenings are for those of sixteen and over, and Sunday evening for twelve and over.
The Court
The Henley Festival is not the Court’s own. A table at one of its restaurants, the festival’s hospitality and a mooring inside the enclosure are sought on a member’s behalf, and the Court arranges the whole of it: getting there, where to stay, and the evening around it.
How one becomes a member is set out under Admission.
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