On Saturday 5th September, the streets of Bridport were once again transformed into a colourful celebration of creativity at the this year’s Bridport Hat Festival.
Started in 2010, the annual festival is a popular and much-loved event in the Dorset calendar, bringing together locals and visitors for a day filled with spectacular headwear, and entertainment.
From elegant hats to wonderfully quirky creations, mostly made for the ‘Fun Hat’ competition, and even dogs in hats, there is always plenty to look at. People of all ages attend, with many going to great lengths to create eye-catching outfits and extremely imaginative hats. But the festival is a celebration of more than just hats; it is about community, creativity and having fun, and always creates a real sense of occasion throughout Bridport town.
I took my camera along to capture some of the wonderful hats and memorable moments from this year’s festival, so have a look at the video below for a taste of Bridport Hat Festival 2026.
