Heritage Open Days
Heritage Open Days is back for 2026 - and this year's theme is: Everyday Histories.
So get yourself ready for a host of exclusive cultural events taking place around Portsmouth (as well as the rest of England), exploring daily working life through the ages. The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker - what did your ancestors do, and what was their daily life like? This year will see event organisers tell the stories of working lives, covering everything from learning a craft to establishing routines and cherished rituals. What will you discover in our factories, kitchens, dockyards, gardens and beyond?!
Heritage Open Days started in 1994 as a way for people across the country to explore the heritage and history within their communities. It encouraged museums, attractions, theatres, historic sites and many more besides to throw open their doors for a weekend of free activities, talks and displays. Visitors could then see for themselves the hard work and dedication that goes into keeping these places going all year round.
Now, more than three decades later, Heritage Open Days has grown into a huge celebration of culture, with hundreds of events taking place right across the country.
A host of Portsmouth attractions have already lined up their events for Heritage Open Days 2026 (which this year takes place from 11 to 20 September). There's everything from guided tours to interactive activities and live performances. You can also go behind the scenes at many top museums and attractions to see items not usually on public display.
Take a look at the events taking place in Portsmouth below, or head directly to the Heritage Open Days website for further information or to see what else is going on in the surrounding area.
