Music, Art & Culture in Sherborne

Sherborne has had a long association with the creative arts and has a wealth of music and art events on offer year-round. You’ll be spoilt for choice with festivals, music and art events.

Festivals and events

The annual Sherborne Abbey Festival is a must for any visitor to Sherborne. The festival held in spring is a week-long celebration of music, with events held in a variety of locations throughout the town. Every year the festival welcomes people from all over the UK to experience a wide range of genres including opera, classical music, jazz and much more. There is also a smaller mini festival held every autumn.

Sherborne Literary Society hold various events throughout the year, inviting well-known authors to give talks about their latest books. Event details and information on how to get tickets can be found on the Sherborne Literary Society website.

Music Events

Opera in Oborne is an unmissable event for music lovers. Every August, St Cuthbert’s Church in Sherborne is transformed into a theatre for a weekend of sublime music. ​The event aims to make opera accessible to everyone and encourages first time opera goers to experience this amazing form of theatre. The back-house crew are all enthusiastic locals, while the cast are all international soloists. Proceeds from the event go to the upkeep of the church.

During term time, Sherborne School join other local schools to offer a range of public concerts from the free weekly lunchtime recitals to ticketed events such as Dinner and Jazz. The events showcase and celebrate music making in Sherborne. Tickets can be booked on the Sherborne School website.

Art in Sherborne

There are two galleries located in the centre of town that visitors can explore, the Jerram Gallery and the Swan Gallery.

The Jerram Gallery in Sherborne holds regular exhibitions throughout the year showcasing work by emerging and established British Contemporary Artists. The gallery is conveniently located in the centre of town and is open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 5.00pm.

The Swan Gallery has a diverse selection of prints, maps, oil paintings and water colours that attracts buyers from all over the world. Make sure you leave enough time to explore their collection on your visit.

Another not to miss event is the annual Dorset Art Weeks that takes place in May. The event includes many different venues throughout the county and includes artists in Sherborne. The events take place in individual studios, galleries, workshops and pop-up events. The event caters for a wide range of tastes and interests in the visual arts, covering a wide variety of mediums including ceramics, jewellery, film, installation, painting, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, woodwork and more. It's a great opportunity to see ideas at their source and to appreciate talent that resides in the town.

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Shops & Markets

This traditional high street is packed with boutiques, art galleries, delis and antique shops.

Eating Out

From light lunches to sumptuous feasts at award winning restaurants, you're spoilt for choice.

What's On

Sherborne Castle and Gardens hosts a variety of events throughout the year.

Where To Stay

You'll find lots of options for places to stay overnight in Sherborne.