The Big Cat Sanctuary has opened its gates and welcomed the first three thousand visitors to the inaugural Big Cat Fest 2026, in what is being celebrated as the world’s first festival dedicated entirely to wild cat rescue and conservation.
With 30,000 visitors expected over the festival’s 10 days, Big Cat Fest 2026 is set to be the biggest event the Sanctuary has ever hosted.
Official host & TV personality Tasha Ghouri took to the main stage to open a packed schedule of expert conservation talks from Giles Clark to Cam Whitnall, interactive keeper Q&As, live music, and family entertainment.
Festival-goers also enjoyed meeting the Sanctuary’s famous residents, including recent arrivals Tocho the puma and Kemala the Sumatran tiger, alongside fan favourites Maya the jaguar, Willow the cheetah, and the rescued lions residing at The Lion Rescue Centre Yuna, Rori, Vanda, Amani, and Lira.
Spanning a landmark ten-day run from 29th July to 2nd August and 5th to 9th August, opening day was highlighted by an exclusive milestone: for the very first time, the public was granted access to explore two brand-new habitats.Â
The Premier Coatings Small Cat Rescue Centre, is the purpose-built forever home for Ursa the Eurasian lynx who was rescued from war-torn Ukraine as well as other rescued cats. The Rusty-Spotted Cat Conservation Centre, is the UK’s largest habitat for the world’s smallest wild cat, and will spearhead an international breeding programme.
Cam Whitnall, conservationist and Managing Director of The Big Cat Sanctuary, said: ‘The energy across the Sanctuary for our opening day has exceeded every expectation. Big Cat Fest isn’t just a celebration; it’s a vital platform to raise awareness and critical funds for species fighting for survival in the wild.
‘Seeing families enjoying the festival, engaging with our talks, and learning about our rescue operations demonstrates just how much people care about wild cat conservation.’
A shared love of cats
The landmark festival brings together key national and regional partners dedicated to animal welfare and conservation advocacy.
John May, representing Cats Protection, added: ‘Cats Protection is immensely proud to stand alongside The Big Cat Sanctuary as Headline Partner for this pioneering event. Day one has demonstrated the extraordinary power of bringing people together through a shared love of cats; both domestic and wild. Feline welfare knows no borders, and supporting an initiative that educates and inspires the public on this scale is a real privilege. It has been a spectacular start to what promises to be an unforgettable festival.’
Big Cat Fest represents the first time the Sanctuary has secured dedicated event partners and sponsors, including Cat Protection, Silverhand Estate, Coppard, Ambassador Marquee & Furniture Hire, Countrystyle Recycling and InsideKent.
With around 30,000 visitors expected across the two festival legs (29th July–2nd August and 5th–9th August), it’s set to be the biggest event the Sanctuary has ever hosted.
Limited tickets for Big Cat Fest are still available from thebigcatsanctuary.org, with the proceeds from every ticket sold going directly toward supporting the Sanctuary’s five core pillars: welfare, breeding, education, conservation, and rescue.
The Big Cat Sanctuary is a registered animal charity (No. 1104420) and global leader in wild cat conservation, with over 25 years of experience. It is home to around 35 cats spanning 14 species, many classed as Vulnerable or above on the IUCN Red List. In 2025, BCS became the world’s first IUCN SSC Centre for Species Survival focused on wild cats, working in close partnership with the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group.
