WHAT'S ON IN COLCHESTER

Keep Colchester Cool is your guide to what’s on in Colchester, covering live music, theatre, comedy, arts and local events across the city. Discover gigs, festivals and cultural events happening this week and beyond.
 
From Colchester Arts Centre and the Mercury Theatre to independent venues and community spaces, explore the latest Colchester events below and plan your next day or night out.

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UPCOMING EVENTS IN COLCHESTER

Thespians

THESPIANS - ANCIENT GREECE THE MUSICALMISCHIEF, the team behind the multi award-winning The Play That Goes Wrong, rewrite ancient history with a brand-new musical comedy, THESPIANS, the first musical created[...]

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09 - 23 May 2026 7:30 pm
Mercury Theatre Colchester, Mercury Theatre Colchester
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Mexico & Colombia Zumba Masterclass

Price £25Class Running Time 10:30am - 12:30pmThis event is for those who feel obliged to dance!To book your place, please contact: 07791 496767 or go to: https://www.zumba.com/class_detail/dbd0129a-5387-4440-9bf8-269984551228?utm_medium=social_media&utm_source=native_shar

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17 May 2026 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Church St, CO1 1NF Colchester, United Kingdom,

Colchester Arts Centre’s Daytime Disco with DJs Ben Howard & Sam Leppard

Tickets £10.Doors open 2pm, finishes 6pm.This event is for a standing audience.Featuring legendary Colchester DJs BEN HOWARD & SAM LEPPARDExpect classic pop, disco, soul, indie, rave and dance anthems -[...]

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17 May 2026 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Church St, CO1 1NF Colchester, United Kingdom,

FRENCHIE CAFE – COLCHESTER

Ring the Alarm because Frenchie Cafe is coming to Colchester for the first time ever 🎉Join us at POP+BARK's most loved event at Slug & Lettuce for what might just[...]

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17 May 2026 2:05 pm - 5:05 pm
Slug & Lettuce Colchester, Slug & Lettuce Colchester
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Football Quiz (Colchester)

Test your knowledge of the beautiful game, and help raise money for an incredible cause!- £3 a head (CASH ONLY)- Maximum 6 to a team- Food served throughout - Book[...]

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17 May 2026 6:40 pm - 9:40 pm
Three Wise Monkeys Colchester,

Pint of Science Colchester

Tickets Now On Sale!! 🎟️🍺✨Come and quench your thirst for knowledge with us as leading local scientists talk about their research in Colchester's best watering holes!Get to hear about all[...]

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18 May 2026 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Colchester, UK, Colchester, UK
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Jon Boden & The Remnant Kings *

Tickets £24.50.Doors open 7.30pm, starts 8pm.This gig is for a seated audience.‘Ambitious, genre-busting folk’ The Guardian Live, Boden’s Waitsian parlour ballads and Napoleonic power-pop, are performed alongside the band’s sixteen-year[...]

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18 May 2026 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Church St, CO1 1NF Colchester, United Kingdom,

Daniel Foxx: How Lovely

General tickets go on sale Friday 17th October, 11am.Mailing list presale Thursday 16th October, 11am.Tickets £18.50.Doors open 7.30pm, show starts 8pm.This show is for a seated audienceDaniel was determined to[...]

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19 May 2026 7:30 am - 10:30 am
Church St, CO1 1NF Colchester, United Kingdom,

Mini Museum Explorers

Sessions are at 10 – 11 am and 11:15 am – 12:15 pm.Designed for children aged 2 1/2 to 5, along with their parents, grandparents, and carers, these monthly sessions[...]

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19 May 2026 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Colchester Natural History Museum, Colchester Natural History Museum
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Open Arts Creative Session

Unfinished crochet project? Empty sketchbook yet to be filled? Want to try a new craft but unsure what? Feeling unmotivated to be creative?Join us every 3rd Wednesday of the month[...]

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20 May 2026 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Community360, Winsley’s House, High St, CO1 1UG Colchester, United Kingdom, Community360, Winsley's House, High St, CO1 1UG Colchester, United Kingdom
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Wonderful Wednesdays – Beacons, Icons & Dykons: Billy Twirling Through Time

Pay what you can affordDoors open 7:30 pm, Show starts 8 pmThis show is for a seated audienceInspired by the iconic film Billy Elliot, this queer Joyful performance pirouettes, spins,[...]

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20 May 2026 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Church St, CO1 1NF Colchester, United Kingdom,

Mercury Creatives Masterclass – Fundraising and Income Generation with Steve Mannix

A Rough Guide to Fundraising and Income Generation with Steve MannixA practical session full of top tips and suggestions to start or continue your fundraising journey across all art forms[...]

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21 May 2026 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Mercury Theatre Colchester, Mercury Theatre Colchester
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COLLIDESCOPE Creatives @ House of Joy

Book you tickets here - https://tickts.co.uk/events/collidescope-creatives-at-house-of-joy❤️🧡💛💚💙💜Everyone is welcome to join us for an novel evening literally inspired by books! COLLIDESCOPE creatives is a unique evening themed around joy featuring a[...]

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21 May 2026 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
House of Joy, House of Joy
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Life Drawing – Thursday, 21st May 2026

We are a local life drawing group in Colchester. We meet up for untutored drawings with professional models from all backgrounds.All abilities are welcome. Just drop in, draw and pay[...]

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21 May 2026 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Straight Road Community Centre, Straight Road Community Centre
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Namvula

Tickets £15 / £13 concessions.Doors open 7.30pm, starts 8pm.This gig is for a seated audience.* * * * “A true original…a soulful performer. An adventurous and impressive set that blends[...]

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21 May 2026 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Church St, CO1 1NF Colchester, United Kingdom,

Music BinGlow

Get ready to sing, dance, and shout “Bingo!” as Music Binglow lights up the night! This neon-themed music bingo experience turns your favourite hits into a glowing, high-energy party. Mark[...]

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22 - 23 May 2026 6:30 pm - 12:00 am
JobServe Community Stadium, United Way, CO4 5UP Colchester, United Kingdom, JobServe Community Stadium, United Way, CO4 5UP Colchester, United Kingdom
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Danny Baker: Aye Aye! Ahoy Ahoy! *

Tickets £29.Doors open 7pm, show starts 7.30pm.This show is for a seated audience. Aye Aye! Ahoy Hoy! The Unstoppable Talking Panjandrum Is Back In Town!Celebrating 50 Years Afloat On The[...]

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22 May 2026 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Church St, CO1 1NF Colchester, United Kingdom,

Hip Hop Fridays Launch night with Shoesy, Bobby Skillz, Komplikated & Chelle

We're launching a new weekly hiphop night with Shoesy, Bobby Skillz, Komplikated and Chelle. Led by Shoesy, every Friday will be Hip-Hop (apart from special one-off events), with some of[...]

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22 - 23 May 2026 7:00 pm - 12:00 am
1 St Nicolas Passage , CO1 1jz Colchester, United Kingdom, 1 St Nicolas Passage , CO1 1jz Colchester, United Kingdom
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Oasis Only (Oasis Tribute)

Hailing from Essex and gigging throughout the South-East and surrounding areas Oasis Only are the must-see Oasis Tribute band for any Oasis fan “Mad Fer It”!Oasis Only has an extensive[...]

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22 May 2026 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom, 60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom
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Sound Bath Meditation

✨ A Beautiful Way to Begin Your Weekend ✨Join us for a deeply nourishing Sound Bath Meditation — a vibrational relaxation experience and curated sonic journey designed to soothe the[...]

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22 May 2026 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
upstairs, 26b Hythe Quay, Colchester CO2 8JB , CO2 8JB Colchester, United Kingdom, upstairs, 26b Hythe Quay, Colchester CO2 8JB , CO2 8JB Colchester, United Kingdom
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