Norfolk Deaf Festival is back and is now part of The Forum family
Norfolk Deaf Festival returns to The Forum on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 June, promising to be bigger than ever before, and you’re invited!
This two-day celebration of D/deaf culture and community, now part of The Forum’s family of festivals, will bring you entertainment from the likes of world-renowned comedian John Smith, whose lived experience of being deaf in a ‘hearing world’ is said to be “redefining comedy with fearless wit and unstoppable energy.” John will be performing a ticketed show on the Friday evening for adult audiences, and will also welcome visitors to the festival on both days, as official host.
The amphitheatre (outside of The Forum) will get a takeover with not one but two showcase events, courtesy of Deaf Rave, with an opening and closing party. MC Geezer will command the mic, joined by Storm in a Teacup with bubble displays and sign-song performers. Haptic (vibrating) vests will be available to help you feel the beat (literally!) in this multi-sensory day-rave.
Anyone who wants to unleash their own inner MC will have an opportunity to jump on the decks and have a go in our DJ taster workshops with Deaf Rave, or why not try your hand at being a roving reporter through the filming workshops, delivered by The Offshoot Foundation.
Younger ones will be able to bring their toys to get hearing aids from the Toy Like Me Bear Ear Clinic, from story-times in British Sign Language (BSL) with a guided draw, to colouring competitions
Enjoy a spectacular and nonsense one-person circus show from Tit for Tat, or join in with circus and poi artist Terry, who'll be showing people how to do their own tricks.
Discover how AI is transforming BSL from the innovators shaping the future of interpretation in an exclusive panel discussion, or take part in BSL and lipreading workshops. Deafblind visitors can book a guided tour of the festival with interpreters Kim or Sarah and everyone is welcome to enjoy the various choir performances.
In April, young people took part in a filming workshop, hosted by The Offshoot Foundation, supported by Deaf Connexions and funded by Norwich Freeman’s Charitable Trust, centered on their own lived-experiences. The mini films worked on will get their premieres in between the programme.
Eleanor Smith, Norfolk Deaf Festival Event Producer at The Forum said:
“Together with the Norfolk Deaf Festival Committee, and The Forum, we are so excited to be back this year! A huge thank you to all our supporters, funders and volunteers for making it possible for us to bring the festival back and we can't wait to show you all our exciting plans.
We have so many inspiring deaf talents joining us, lots of opportunities to learn and take part in raising deaf awareness and, of course, having lots of fun. Everyone is welcome, whether you are deaf, deafblind, hearing or just curious — this festival is for everyone.”
The programme is live on The Forum's website. All but one event or activity are totally free to come and take part in, although some do require pre-booking.
Browse the line-up and we’ll see you there next month!
Printed copies of the festival programme will be available from The Forum, Norfolk from week beginning 25 May, which people can pick up while they’re attending Norwich Games Festival, which launches Saturday 23 May and runs until Saturday 30th.
About Norfolk Deaf Festival
Norfolk Deaf Festival (NDF) returns to The Forum on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 June 2026, after a little break, with the last one held in 2023.
The festival is a celebration of equality, empowerment, education and inclusion. It promotes deaf awareness and accessible communication through sign language and technology, showcases inspiring deaf role models, offering skill-building and volunteering opportunities, and helping professionals better support the D/deaf community.
Most of all, it brings everyone together — deaf and hearing — to connect, learn and celebrate.
The festival was established in 2017 and originally run by volunteers, it's now been brought into The Forum's family of festivals, which includes Norwich Science Festival, Norwich Games Festival, Norwich Book Festival, alongside Norfolk HODs.
Norfolk Deaf Festival is supported by Norwich Freemen’s Charity and Anguish’s Educational Foundation, alongside R C Snelling Charitable Trust, Birkdale Trust and Ovingdean Hall Foundation. Our gold sponsors are National Deaf Children’s Society, Deaf Connexions and Rotary House. Silver sponsors are Signly and Lipspeaker UK