Summer always brings a fresh wave of things to see, taste and experience. From food festivals to family days out in the countryside, the season is packed with events that celebrate the best of local culture, creativity and community spirit. We’ve rounded up a mix of highlights happening across Cardiff and the Vale, so here’s what to add to your summer calendar.
Cowbridge Open Art Exhibition
17 – 31 August 2026
Old Hall, Cowbridge
Cowbridge is already renowned for its music and food festivals, and now its thriving arts scene continues to grow with the third biennial Cowbridge Open Art Exhibition, presented in association with the Cowbridge Arts Group and The Bear Hotel.
Artists have been invited to submit work in two categories: 2D art, digital and print; and 3D work and applied art. Selected entries will be exhibited in the historic Old Hall, Cowbridge on 17 – 31 August 2026.
Find out more at www.cowbridgeopen.art
Bubble Rush for Llamau
26 July 2026
Pontcanna Fields, Cardiff
The fun-filled, family-friendly 5K event like no other is back again in 2026. Get ready to run, walk, dance or wheel your way through clouds of colourful bubbles and foam, with four epic bubble stations and a festival atmosphere that’s fun for everyone. This event is all about enjoying the experience with your family and friends. And by taking part, you’ll be supporting Llamau’s vital work to put an end to homelessness for young people and for women across Wales.
The Vale of Glamorgan Agricultural Show
12 August 2026
Penllyn Estate, Cowbridge
The Vale of Glamorgan Agricultural Show brings together the best of rural life for one of the region’s biggest family days out. Expect livestock competitions, craft and produce stalls, arena displays and plenty of hands-on activities that celebrate the area’s farming heritage. With food vendors, trade stands and a lively community atmosphere throughout the day, it’s a great chance to explore local agriculture up close and enjoy a classic summer tradition in the Vale.
Exciting Summer of Theatre
It’s an exciting season for theatre lovers, with stages across South Wales buzzing throughout the summer. At Wales Millennium Centre, audiences can look forward to Annie on 7 – 18 July 2026, the iconic musical The Bodyguard on 20 – 25 July 2026, and the high-energy Karate Kid Musical running 28 July – 1 August 2026. Over at the Sherman Theatre, the programme is just as lively, with Guys and Dolls on 1 – 6 July 2026, the Cardiff-set comedy Clueless in Cathays on 23 – 25 July 2026, and Tom Read Wilson: The A-Z of Me on 9 September 2026. Together, they make this a standout summer of live performance, offering something for every kind of theatre-goer.
Local theatre is also taking centre stage this season, with two community groups bringing plenty of character and creativity to their summer programmes. Cowbridge Amateur Dramatics Society (CADS) present a one-act double bill of Dumb Waiter and The Real Inspector Hound at the Market Theatre on 22 – 25 July 2026, offering an evening of sharp writing and classic comedy. Later in the year, Penarth Operatic and Dramatic Society (PODS) return to the Paget Rooms with their production of Hi-De-Hi! on 7 – 10 October 2026, bringing the beloved holiday camp sitcom to the stage.
Vale Foodbank
Since 2011, Vale Foodbank has supported thousands of people across the Vale of Glamorgan, providing emergency food to around 8,000 people every year through its eight local centres.
This summer sees the launch of a new fundraising appeal, including:
- a Waitrose Cowbridge food drive on 18 July,
- a Pilgrimage Walk fundraiser with local historian Graham Loveluck-Edwards on 22 August,
- and a fundraising concert by Cowbridge Male Voice Choir on 25 September
But the Foodbank is about far more than food. Through workshops, community gardening, sewing groups, cookery sessions, its weekly Connect Community Café and campaigning work, the charity helps tackle the cause of hardship while bringing people together.
Food donations, financial contributions and volunteers are always welcome.
Find out more at vale.foodbank.org.uk
St Fagans Food Festival
12 – 13 September 2026
St Fagans National Museum of History
A firm favourite in Wales’s foodie calendar, St Fagans comes alive with over 80 food, drink and craft stalls nestled among the historic buildings. Enjoy a feast of family-friendly foodie activities, cookery demonstrations, live music, circus skills and tasty treats from some of Wales’ finest producers.
As this issue celebrates The Power of Voice, these events remind us that communities find their voice in many different ways. Through music, theatre, food, fundraising and shared experiences, they bring people together and create the memories that make the summer.
