The time has come to share our 2026 Jane Austen Festival Fashion Themes. Thank you to everyone who shared your ideas with us on social media and via email.

As always Fashion themes are just for fun, and we like to think we've picked themes that can be embraced even with a small costume detail. So no pressure to sew a whole new wardrobe - unless you want to!

Those of you who have been attending the Jane Austen Festival for a few years will notice some new themes, as well as some old favourites from the past (or should that be… from behind the black veil?)

Friday 11th 

Frilly Friday

Think frilly caps, chemisettes and ruffles on dresses!

Saturday 12th 

Spectator Saturday

Promenade Finery; An opportunity to show off your best outfit as we promenade through the town.

Sunday 13th 

Sleevils Sunday

We love a fancy sleeve - although sewing them can sometimes be a challenge. Tassels, pintucks and trimming galore! Show off your fanciest sleeves on Sleevil Sunday

Monday 14th 

Millinery Monday

A day dedicated to hats and bonnets! Perhaps you might even have a new one to show off, purchased at our Festival Fayre?

Tuesday 15th 

Gothic Day

By overwhelming popular demand, gothic day is back

Wednesday 16th 

On Wednesdays we wear PINK!

It wouldn't be Wednesday at the Jane Austen Festival if we weren't wearing pink!

Thursday 17th 

Redcoats and Red Cloaks

In honour of our Thursday excursion to Lacock, a.k.a Meryton! We invite you to embrace your Lydia and Kitty, or perhaps even Wickham?

Friday 18th 

Fun Fabric Friday

Tartan, stripes, florals! Show us your fun fabric.

Saturday 19th 

Second Chance Saturday

We would love to see any dresses made out of second-hand fabrics, or perhaps a re-wear of an outfit already worn this week.

Sunday 20th 

Botanical Beauty

Take inspiration from all things Botanical as we finish the festival with a promenade around the beautiful Botanical Gardens

All the Balls at the Jane Austin Festival require Regency costume, with some balls, as detailed below, having an optional, special invitation to reflect their specific theme in your attire.  

Both the Mollands Assemblies and the 1811 Sense & Sensibility Ball, whilst still costume-madatory events, have no specific theme.  

Regency costume is welcome but not madatory for dance workshops.

Both our Harvest-themed Balls are costume-mandatory events and we request that all ladies and gentlemen dress in the style of the Regency or late 18th Century period.

We invite you to add a nod to the season of harvest time - wheat, autumn colours, and any other way to reflect “the last smiles of the year upon the tawny leaves” in your Regency outfit for the evening.

The 1815 Emma - themed "Switched Off" Regency ball is a mandatory costumed event and we request that all ladies and gentlemen dress in the style of the Regency or late 18th Century period.

We invite you to add a reference to our 1815 theme in your Regency attire for the evening- consider fashion plates from the year, a nod to Emma’s strawberries and apple blossom, or Waterloo military references.

The Rose Ball is a mandatory costumed event and we request that all ladies and gentlemen dress in the style of the Regency or late 18th Century period.

We invite you to continue our "On Wednesdays, we wear pink" theme into the evening and include some pink in your Regency costume for this event!

If you are attending any of the Masquerade events, please remember that your costume must, at its core, be a Regency costume. Leaf crowns, draped vine leaves or owl embroidery are very welcome- bare shoulders, ankles and glittery thunderbolts are not. Masks are welcome as part of your Regency outfit. You might enjoy a glance at the British Museum’s page on gods and goddesses of the Greek and Roman Pantheon for inspiration.

Please note that we don’t have a “grand unmasking” at the end of the ball, as masks can get a bit hot and uncomfortable when dancing. So, please feel free to take your mask off whenever you see fit.

If you have questions or queries about how to put together your Regency costume for this event, please contact to the Jane Austen Festival team.

Top Tips for attending a Jane Austen Festival Regency Costumed Event.

• Heeled shoes will not be permitted inside Ball events for safety reasons. Please arrive in flat shoes. 
• Long trains must be pinned up when dancing to avoid tripping anyone up.  Our stewards will be on hand to assist with this.
• Please ensure you are able to move freely in your Regency outfit without needing to hold it up with your hands, as both hands will need to be free for dancing!
• Gentlemen please wear soft soled dance shoes where possible, please leave your boots at the door. 
• Our ballrooms can get a little warm, so bring a traditional folding fan to avoid overheating.
• No spurs or weapons are permitted inside Festival venues.