The city of Chelmsford is set to embrace its audio heritage with a modern twist as the Essex Podcast Festival announces its return for 2026. The event, running from February 18 to 26, will transform the city centre into a hub for live podcasting, showcasing a vibrant mix of established and emerging audio talent.
A City-Wide Celebration of Audio Storytelling
Organised by Chelmsford For You, the festival will host live recordings across multiple venues in the heart of the city. The programme promises an eclectic range of subjects, including music, literature, comedy, the paranormal, and sport, all performed in front of live audiences. This initiative aims to highlight Chelmsford's evolution from its famous title as the 'Birthplace of Radio' into a contemporary centre for podcast culture.
The festival's creative direction has been handled in partnership with Nick Hearne, host of the 'Are You Creative?' podcast. His curation ensures a line-up designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of listeners, featuring both well-known UK podcasters and exciting new voices from Essex and beyond.
Spotlight on Local Talent and National Stars
The event is strategically designed to position Essex as a leading community for podcast creation in the UK. By providing a platform for outstanding local creators and underrepresented voices, the festival hopes to inspire a new generation of Essex-based podcasts. It offers a unique opportunity for these stories to be shared alongside established names in the industry.
Sara Tupper, chief executive of Chelmsford For You, expressed her enthusiasm: "We're thrilled to bring the Essex Podcast Festival back. Chelmsford is proudly known as the birthplace of radio, and this festival allows us to celebrate its evolution into the era of podcasting. We're excited to see so many local and national podcasts keen to come into the city centre to record live episodes and share their work with our audiences."
An Unfiltered and Dynamic Live Experience
Nick Hearne, the festival's creative director, added a colourful preview of what attendees can expect. "Guglielmo Marconi would be buzzing to see podcasts taking over Chelmsford, 130 years after he invented the radio," he said. He highlighted specific events, including the "mysterious weirdness" of Broken Veil at the Chelmsford Theatre Studio and a talk with Essex indie music legend Steve Lamacq at Patch.
Hearne emphasised the unpredictable nature of live podcasting: "You'll hear the freshest, unfiltered tea - sometimes so hot it might not even make the final edit." He also pointed to the chaotic humour of Richard Herring's RHLSTP podcast, which will feature guest Vittorio Angelone for what promises to be a "wild ride" at Chelmsford Theatre.
The full Essex Podcast Festival programme, including all timings and ticket details, is available to view and purchase online at www.chelmsfordforyou.co.uk/essexpodcast.
