Surrey Day 2026: Celebrating the County We Call Home Through Poetry, Community, and Culture

From hidden treasures and heartfelt poetry to community celebrations across the county, Surrey Poet Laureateship was proud to play its part in this year’s unforgettable Surrey Day celebrations.

Mark Carter DL, Vice Lord-Lieutenant HH Judge Robert Fraser MVO DL, High Sherrif of Surrey Joosje Hamilton DL, Surrey Poet Laureate Adam Gary, Chair of Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum Neelam Devesher MBE DL, Chair of Visit Surrey Christine Howard DL.

On Saturday, Surrey came alive in celebration as communities, organisations, businesses, and residents united for Surrey Day 2026 - a county-wide celebration of everything that makes Surrey so special. This year’s theme, “Hidden Treasures”, encouraged people to reflect on the places, people, and stories that make Surrey unique. For the Surrey Poet Laureateship, it was a day filled with poetry, partnership, and pride, as we were honoured to take part in multiple events across the county and celebrate Surrey through the power of the spoken word.

A County United in Celebration

Founded in 2019 by Mark Carter DL, Surrey Day has quickly become one of the county’s most cherished annual celebrations. From bustling town centres to quiet countryside villages, communities across Surrey hosted events that showcased local culture, heritage, creativity, and identity.

This year’s “Hidden Treasures” theme resonated deeply with the Laureateship’s mission to uncover and amplify the voices, stories, and beauty found throughout Surrey. Surrey Poet Laureate Adam Gary shared his own hidden treasure during the day: the breathtaking viewpoint at Ether Hill, which he described as:

“The perfect pondering spot for any poet.”

With its sweeping views and peaceful atmosphere, Ether Hill became a fitting symbol for the day itself, a reminder that Surrey’s treasures are not only found in landmarks and history, but in moments of reflection, creativity, and connection.

Surrey Poet Laureate, Adam Gary, and Surrey County Council Chair, Tim Hall

Sharing Poetry with Surrey’s Communities

As part of Surrey Day celebrations, Adam Gary had the privilege of attending an event hosted by the Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum (SMEF), where he performed his much-loved poem, Ode to Surrey. The event brought together members of Surrey’s richly diverse communities in a celebration of culture, storytelling, and belonging.

The Laureateship was deeply grateful to Neelam Devesher MBE DL, Chair of SMEF, for the invitation and warm welcome. Beyond the performance itself, one of the most meaningful parts of the day was hearing the personal stories of attendees and learning about their own journeys with poetry and creativity.

Surrey Poet Laureate Adam Gary reflected:

“I have long admired this great county. I love it dearly. I have known about the great landscapes, urban areas, fantastic wildlife and woodlands... and of course the amazing poetry community. However, being able to visit various events today had really introduced me to the wonderful, wonderful people we have here in Surrey too. Today has been a massive privilege and honour, and I am so glad that we have a day to all come together and celebrate everything about Surrey!”

Helping Close Surrey Day with Visit Surrey

The celebrations continued into the evening as the Surrey Poet Laureateship was honoured to help close Surrey Day alongside Visit Surrey at the beautiful Flower Farm in Godstone. Against a stunning Surrey backdrop, Adam Gary once again performed Ode to Surrey, celebrating the county’s landscapes, communities, and spirit through poetry.

Guests were also treated to a wonderful performance from Sing it Out Choir, whose uplifting set perfectly captured the warmth and unity that defined the day.

The evening marked what both organisations hope will become a long and thriving partnership between the Surrey Poet Laureateship and Visit Surrey, one rooted in a shared passion for championing Surrey’s culture, creativity, and communities.

A Fitting Finale on BBC Radio Surrey

To conclude an extraordinary day, Adam Gary joined Mark Carter DL live on BBC Radio Surrey to discuss Surrey Day, the growth of the Surrey Poet Laureateship, and the importance of celebrating local culture and creativity. Listeners were also treated to one final reading of Ode to Surrey, bringing the county-wide celebrations to a moving and memorable close.

Surrey Poet Laureate, Adam Gary, and BBC Surrey presenter, Mark Carter DL.

The interview served as a reminder of how far Surrey’s poetry community has come in such a short time. What began as a grassroots initiative has now become an increasingly visible and celebrated part of Surrey’s cultural life, helping people connect not only with poetry, but with each other.

Poetry at the Heart of Surrey

Surrey Day 2026 was a powerful reflection of what makes this county so extraordinary: its landscapes, its history, its diversity, and above all, its people. For the Surrey Poet Laureateship, it was a privilege to stand alongside so many organisations and communities who care deeply about celebrating and strengthening Surrey’s identity.

As the Laureateship continues to grow, with expanding Poetry Hubs, sold-out open mic nights, outreach programmes, and community partnerships, days like Surrey Day remind us why this work matters. Poetry has the power to bring people together, to preserve stories, and to help communities see themselves reflected in new and meaningful ways.

And if Surrey Day showed us anything this year, it’s that Surrey’s greatest hidden treasure may just be the people who call it home.

Want to be part of Surrey’s growing poetry community in 2026? Join one of our Poetry Hubs across Surrey, attend a Laureate’s Lounge open mic night, or support our mission to make poetry accessible to all.

Visit Surrey Poet Laureateship to learn more.

Contact Information

For partnerships, events, or media enquiries, email info@surreypoetlaureateship.org or follow us on social media @SurreyPoetLaureate.