Applications for the middle and top tier, 2027 Potfest events will be open at the beginning of November.

Applications for the unselected Potfest events will open early 2027.

 

NEW TOP TIER EVENT Potfest Surrey – West Horsley Place April 30th-May 2nd – Applications open early Nov 2026

Potfest South East – Glynde Place May 21st-23rd 2027 – Applications open early Nov 2026

Potfest in the Pens (Penrith) Spring – 2027 Date TBC

Potfest Scotland – Scone Palace June 11th-13th 2027 – Applications open early Nov 2026

Potfest by the Lake – Compton Verney June 25th-27th 2027 – Applications open early Nov 2026

Potfest Oxfordshire – 2027 Dates & Venue TBC

Potfest in the Park – Hutton-in-the-Forest July 23rd-25th 2027 – Applications open early Nov 2026

Potfest Suffolk – Haughley Park Aug 6th-8th 2027 – Applications open Nov 2026

Potfest in the Pens (Penrith) Autumn – 2027 Date TBC

Potfest in the Pens Melton Mowbray – 2027 Date TBC

Potfest SW – Frome – Date TBC

Potfest in the City Scotland – 2027 Date TBC

The first Potfest in the Pens was held in 1994 with the ethos of inclusion, fair play and allowing everyone to access an audience.

While the shows have developed over the last three decades, these core principals remain.

Although the shows are primarily a selling opportunity I would like to think that they have developed and become are more than just a market to those that take part. There is a wonderful community that has grown around these events and the social side of a Potfest is what sets these events apart.

With new venues and developing audiences, in 2026 we welcomed over 40,000 visitors to Potfest shows up and down the country. Across the year, this resulted in well over £3.5 million being spent by visitors on ceramic work.

There are now three tiers of Potfest events –

1

Potfest in the Pens

Potfest in the Pens (Penrith Spring & Autumn and Melton Mowbray), Potfest in the City- Glasgow and a new show for 2027 in Frome remain true to the show’s original founding principles - there is no selection process and these shows are open to everyone to take part. You simply apply and your name is added to the draw, spaces are awarded as they are drawn with a waiting list being established once each show is full. This unselected forum creates a unique atmosphere and buzz at each of the Pens events, there are no egos and seasoned, professional potters exhibit alongside those that are wanting to take their first steps in selling their work whether that be a student fresh from college or someone wanting to progress a hobby. These shows are a lovely way to put yourself in front of a large audience and become part of a wonderful community.
Applicants will only be permitted to exhibit at one of the Cumbrian shows and I will endeavour to fit everyone who applies into at least one of the Pens style events.
2

Our middle tier shows

Potfest South East - Glynde Place, Potfest Scotland – Scone Palace, Potfest Suffolk – Haughley Park, and now a new show in the Oxfordshire, are all selected events but are curated to showcase a wide and diverse range of work to suit all budgets and tastes. These shows should also be considered a stepping stone for those wanting to progress into taking part in our flagship events.
3

Flagship Events

The top tier, or flagship Potfest events, are Potfest in the Park – Hutton-in-the-Forest and Potfest by the Lake – Compton Verney. We have a new venue joining us for 2027 in this tier of events; Potfest Surrey - West Horsley Place. These events showcase the very best in ceramics and are now some of the most prestigious ceramics events in Europe.

Applications for 2027

Which shows to apply for

Potfest isn’t a travelling circus with the same exhibitors taking part in each of our events, I endeavour to give each show its own character and make it different from the one before. I would encourage exhibitors to travel to new areas and develop new audiences away from their home counties. I try to swap out in the region of 20-30% of exhibitors at each show, year on year. This means that visitors get to see new (alongside returning) artists and keeps each show fresh and exciting.

It’s obviously easier for me to put together a superb looking show with applications from as many people as possible so by all means apply to as many of the shows as you can fit in your calendar, I will try my utmost to accommodate exhibitors where I can. That said, the popular shows can be oversubscribed by more than 300% so please don’t take it personally if your application/applications are unsuccessful.

I don’t send out reminders or invitations to apply so if you would like to take part in a Potfest event in the coming year, put a reminder in your diary/calendar to check back on this page in November.

Applications for the first batch of (Selected) shows will open early November and remain open until midnight of December 24th. I try to get the applications for the unselected shows (the Pens and City events) open early in the new year with these applications being open for a few weeks.

Potfest South East – Glynde Place

Applications now closed

Spring Potfest in the Pens – Penrith

Applications now closed

Potfest Scotland – Scone Palace

Applications now closed

Potfest by the Lake – Compton Verney

Applications now closed

Potfest in the Park – Hutton-in-the-Forest

Applications now closed

Potfest Suffolk – Haughley Park

Applications now closed

Autumnal Potfest in the Pens – Penrith

Applications now closed

Potfest in the Pens – Melton Mowbray

Applications now closed

Potfest Scotland – Christmas – Potfest in the City

Applications now closed

Potfest South West – Shaftesbury

Applications now closed