The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival returns to The Muni Theatre for 35th anniversary in 2026

The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival is set to celebrate its 35th anniversary in style, returning to the iconic Muni Theatre for the first time since 2022.

It will mark a special reunion with a venue which hosted the festival in its debut year, back in August 1990.

A highlight of the Lancashire summer, the 2026 festival will take place from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th August, promising a weekend packed with live music and blues magic.

The Muni Theatre, which recently reopened in August 2025 following a major £1.5 million refurbishment, will once again take its place as a main venue alongside the Pendle Hippodrome and The Little Theatre. The refurbishment included structural repairs, new roofing, windows, heating and lighting.

As part of the project, the ‘Lesser Muni’ has been renamed the Albert Room, available for private bookings.

The festival draws thousands of blues lovers to Lancashire every year. Colne Blues Society, the festival’s artistic directors, are already busy booking artists, with announcements expected soon.

Early bird tickets have already sold out, but full festival tickets, full day tickets, afternoon tickets and evening tickets are still available, making the event accessible to all.

The popular festival campsite at Colne & Nelson Rugby Club will return for 2026, offering full festival camping for tents and caravans.

Nathan Cutler, events and facilities officer at Colne Town Council, said: "It’s fantastic to have the Muni back as a main venue for this year’s festival. It will be great for the town and a real boost to the local community and economy."

Simon Shackleton, festival co-ordinator, said: "The Muni has long been part of the festival’s history and it was there at the very first event in 1990. It’s wonderful to have it back for our 35th festival in 2026, and this will be very popular news with our long-term supporters."

Tickets for the 2026 Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival can be booked now at: www.bluesfestival.co.uk/tickets