What to do in 2022

The forecast for 2022 is an optimistic one - meaning we can be pretty certain that events, festivals and general goings on will take place as planned this year (which is handy, as there's a lot going on).

The events calendar for the year ahead is already starting to fill up, with the likes of Victorious Festival, the Great South Run and Comic Con all making a welcome return. On top of this, there are a host of new events heading to the city over the coming 12 months, with one of the biggest being the inaugural Sea Angling Classic.

If that wasn't all, 2022 also marks a year of big anniversaries. Of course, HRH The Queen celebrates an unprecedented Platinum Jubilee this year - and there are events being organised to mark the occasion here in Portsmouth, especially around the extra long bank holiday weekend in June.

This year also marks the 40^th anniversary of the raising of the Mary Rose. Stay tuned for events taking place at the museum to celebrate four decades since it returned to the surface. It will also be 40 years since the Falklands conflict, for which there will be commemorative events at the Guildhall Square Cenotaph, as well as other locations across the city.

Take a read of the highlights below for more information on the big events taking place this year, and be sure to bookmark our Events page so you can keep checking back on what's being organised throughout 2022 at the Great Waterfront City.

  

Charles Dickens' Birthday

February will mark 210 years since the birth of Charles Dickens, right here in Portsmouth. The boy who would go on to become one of the country's best-loved authors was born in a small terraced house in what is now Old Commercial Road.

Each year the community comes together to celebrate Dickens and his links to Portsmouth. 2022 will be no exception, with a small service attended by the Lord Mayor, before the doors to the Charles Dickens' Birthplace Museum are thrown open for free entry for one day only.

  

Southsea Bandstand

What could be better than live music in the sunshine, with views out to sea - all totally free of charge? It's little wonder the Southsea Bandstand events prove to be so enduringly popular.

This year will see live music back at the bandstand, with a host of local and national acts playing sets across Saturdays and Sundays throughout spring and summer. What's more, each weekend is typically organised around a theme or genre, so you can be sure of finding something you'll enjoy.

  

Portsmouth Comic Con

Get your geek on this May, as Comic Con returns to Portsmouth Guildhall. The largest Comic Con on the South Coast is back, bringing with it the very best in comic, film, TV and pop culture entertainment. As well as all the activities you'd expect (panels, exhibitions, displays, workshops, merch stands and more), there will also be an impressive Artists Alley, welcoming some of the greatest artists and writers in the industry.

Tickets are available now and are likely to sell out, so don't delay.

  

Civic Silver Exhibition

Portsmouth has always had an impressive collection of civic silver dating back generations. However, it is rarely put out on display. All that is set to change this year with the Civic Silver Exhibition. Don't miss your chance to see some rare and beautiful artefacts belonging to the city of Portsmouth, which don't often see the light of day.

  

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

Portsmouth will join towns and cities around the country in celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of HRH The Queen. There will be street parties, beacon lighting, a Big Lunch event and loads more besides taking place across the city.

Keep your eyes peeled for updates on what is set to go ahead over the extra long bank holiday weekend in early June.

  

D-Day Anniversary

June is also the anniversary of the D-Day landings, an event commemorated every year at The D-Day Story on Southsea Seafront. With Landing Craft Tank 7074 now fully open to visitors, this year's anniversary could be the ideal time to head back to the museum, or even make your first visit if you've never been before.

  

Falklands Anniversary

April to June 1982 saw the Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina. Portsmouth had a close involvement with the conflict, being where the two aircraft carriers - Invincible and Hermes - set off from on their journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

In remembrance of the events of 1982 there will be a number of civic ceremonies taking place - head to the Events page or see the Portsmouth City Council website for further details as and when they are announced.

   

Sea Angling Classic

This year Portsmouth plays host to a brand new event, the Sea Angling Classic. The competition will welcome anglers from across the country to the waters of the Solent, with some top prizes up for grabs. In addition to the action on the water there will be parades, as well as a host of events aimed at growing the sport and helping sustain fish stocks.

   

PortsFest

Portsmouth's premier festival of culture is back for 2022, and will certainly be bringing with it a rich and varied programme of events. Whilst the specifics are still being finalised at the time of writing, previous events tell us that there will be a heady mix of live music performances, fascinating lectures, and the installation of brand new exhibitions. What's more, many of the events are free to attend.

Be sure to check back for the line up announcement shortly.

  

Victorious Festival

Get your glad rags on, the city's biggest annual festival returns to Southsea Common over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Tickets are available now for the three-day event, which welcomes some of the biggest names in popular music to Portsmouth. The likes of Stereophonics, The Wombats, Sugababes, Self Esteem and Nothing But Thieves have already been announced and there are hundreds more acts still to come - including the Saturday and Sunday headliners. So keep an eye on our Events listings to find out who will be gracing the stages in 2022.

   

Portsmouth International Kite Festival

Another popular event for Southsea Common is the annual Kite Festival, where flyers from all over the world come to exhibit. You will see kites of all shapes and sizes, from large novelty ones to agile dancers that put on a mesmerising show. Plus, if all the kites have got you thinking of trying it out for yourself, there are usually stallholders on hand with all the products and know-how you need to get off to a flying start.

   

Heritage Open Days

Sites across England open their doors each September to mark Heritage Open Days - the free event that showcases some of the country's most historic places, but which may not always be open to the public. For these two weekends in September there are open days, guided tours and plenty more.

If you've ever wanted to peek inside somewhere fascinating, or even take a behind-the-scenes look at your favourite museum, check out the Heritage Open Days listings to see what has been organised for this year - all around the 2022 theme; Astounding Inventions.

   

The anniversary of the raising of the Mary Rose

It was 40 years ago this autumn when TV sets in schools around the country were wheeled out so that people could watch the raising of the Mary Rose live. Those who saw it will still remember the heart-in-the-throat moment when it dropped suddenly, leaving many to think the operation may be scuppered not long after the timbers breached the water's surface for the first time in 437 years.

Thankfully the operation was a success and today the hull of the Mary Rose is in a better condition now than it has been for centuries. The Mary Rose Museum will be marking the 40^th anniversary of the raising with a host of events later in 2022, to showcase the ship, its vast collection of Tudor artefacts, and all the learning it has helped inform about life in Tudor England.

Check back for all the details as and when they are unveiled.

   

Great South Run

Want to set yourself a challenge in 2022 or beat that PB? If so the Great South Run could be the event for you. The world's premier 10-mile race takes place right here in Portsmouth. What's more, it's famously flat and fast - making it the ideal race for runners of all ages and abilities. Even if you're not looking to smash your own records, the race is great fun to take part in, with stunning views (including Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and out to sea), supportive local residents and lots of entertainment along the way.

   

Of course, all these are just some of the vast number of events taking place across Portsmouth over 2022. To find out more about what’s going on, or for further details on any of the above, check out our Events pages, where you can also find pricing information for ticketed events and links through to book.

Be sure to check these pages regularly, as they're always being updated with all the latest goings on.