Gloucester Cathedral is celebrating after being named Best Cultural Venue of the Year at the prestigious SoGlos Gloucestershire Lifestyle and Community Awards 2026.
The award recognises the Cathedral’s outstanding contribution to culture, heritage and community life across the county and highlights Gloucester Cathedral’s role as the region’s leading cultural destination, hosting concerts, festivals, exhibitions and family events throughout the year.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Cathedral has received a Gold or Highly Commended award, reflecting its continued impact as one of the region’s leading cultural and heritage destinations.
This year’s recognition comes during an exciting chapter for the Cathedral, with its Year of Music 2026 programme celebrating the power of live performance and creativity.
This includes the Organ Festival, celebrating the launch of its new £3 million organ, alongside the return of the internationally renowned Three Choirs Festival later this summer.
The Cathedral thanked supporters, visitors and the local community for helping secure the award, describing the recognition as a testament to the dedication of its staff, volunteers and partners.
The Very Reverend Andrew Zihni, Dean of Gloucester Cathedral, said:
“We’re delighted to receive this award from So Glos. Thank you to all who voted for us. To be recognised as Gloucestershire’s Best Cultural Venue is a wonderful affirmation of the work of our whole Cathedral community and an encouragement to us to continue offering the very best in worship, music and heritage to all who come through our doors – whether to pray, to explore or simply to wonder “.
Lisa Wiltshire, Gloucester cathedral Volunteer, said:
“Culture has such a powerful role in bringing people together, helping wellbeing and creating a sense of belonging, so it’s incredibly rewarding to see the impact we can have through shared experiences and creativity. It’s wonderful to see this recognised with a So Glos award this year.”
The SoGlos Awards celebrate the very best of Gloucestershire’s business, lifestyle and community sectors, recognising outstanding local organisations, venues and individuals and highlight everything from restaurants, cultural venues and independent shops to entrepreneurs, charities and innovative businesses.
Winners are chosen through a combination of public voting and expert judging, with thousands of votes cast each year. The awards culminate in high-profile celebration events across the county, bringing together finalists, sponsors and community leaders to champion Gloucestershire’s creativity, talent and economic success.
