The World Town Crier Championships come to Chester

 

22–26 September 2026 

 

Chester is preparing to welcome town criers from around the world for the World Town Crier Championships 2026. Taking place from 22 to 26 September 2026, the World Town Crier Championships will bring a week of competition, ceremony, community activities and international spectacle to the historic city of Chester. Whether you're a Chester resident, visiting the city or simply fascinated by the tradition of town crying, there will be plenty to see and hear throughout the week. 

 

The World Town Crier Championships bring together town criers from across the world to compete in a series of traditional and entertaining challenges. The championships celebrate the historic role of the town crier while also showcasing how the tradition continues to connect communities today. The 2026 championships in Chester are about more than the competition. Throughout the week, the visiting town criers will meet local people, visit schools and care homes, and share the tradition of town crying with different generations. 

 

There will be something happening across Chester throughout the championships, with key events taking place in some of the city's best-known locations. 

 

The World Town Crier Championships 2026 officially begin on Tuesday 22 September with the Home Town Cry at Town Hall Square, Chester. This opening competition gives the visiting town criers the opportunity to introduce themselves and their home towns as the championship gets underway. Expect ceremonial dress, impressive voices and the unmistakable sound of town criers from around the world filling the heart of Chester. 

 

The championships aren't just about what happens on the competition stage. On Wednesday, the visiting town criers will head into the Chester community, meeting school pupils and care home residents. These visits are an important part of the championships, helping to introduce the tradition of town crying to people of different generations. It's also a wonderful opportunity for local people to meet the international competitors and hear their stories first-hand. 

 

On Thursday 24 September, the World Town Crier Championships continue at Eastgate Square in Chester. The town criers will take part in another day of competition, giving residents and visitors the chance to watch the championship action in the city centre. With competitors representing different places and communities around the world, it's a unique opportunity to experience an international event right here in Chester. 

 

As the championships move towards their final day, the town criers will continue to take part in activities around Chester. The week is a celebration of the history and tradition of town crying, as well as the role it can still play in bringing communities together. Look out for the visiting criers around the city as the excitement builds towards Saturday's final. 

 

The final day of the World Town Crier Championships Chester 2026 takes place on Saturday 26 September. The final competition sees the criers tackle the Accommodation Cry, before the championship reaches its climax. After a week of competition and community activities, the World Town Crier Champion 2026 will be crowned. It promises to be a memorable finale to a very special week for Chester. 

 

The World Town Crier Championships are about much more than deciding who has the loudest voice or the best cry. The event celebrates community, tradition, ceremonial dress and international friendship, bringing together town criers and audiences from different backgrounds. For Chester, it's also a fantastic opportunity to showcase the city and welcome an international community of competitors and visitors. From the opening Home Town Cry in Town Hall Square to the final competition and crowning of the World Champion, 22–26 September 2026 promises to be a memorable week in Chester. So if you're in Chester during the championships, keep your ears open — you never know when you might hear the traditional cry of a town crier! 

 

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