The Big Cat Sanctuary is delighted to announce that television personality, model, and passionate animal advocate Tasha Ghouri will be the official host for the inaugural Big Cat Fest 2026. In a major coup for the Kent-based charity, Tasha will be on-site for the full 10-day duration of the festival, which runs from 29th July to 2nd August and again from 5th to 9th August. The announcement comes as the Sanctuary prepares to welcome 30,000 visitors to what is being hailed as the world’s first festival dedicated entirely to feline conservation.
Tasha, a long-time supporter of animal welfare, will co-host the festival’s main stage activities, introducing expert talks, interviewing the Sanctuary’s keepers, and engaging with fans. Her involvement marks a personal milestone, as she joins her partner, the Sanctuary’s Managing Director Cam Whitnall, to champion the protection of the world’s most endangered wild cats.
Cam Whitnall commented “We are absolutely thrilled to have Tasha hosting Big Cat Fest. Anyone who knows Tasha knows how deeply she cares about animals and our mission here at the Sanctuary. This festival is the biggest event in our 20-year history, and having Tasha’s energy and platform to help us tell the stories of our cats, like that of our lions rescued from Ukraine, is incredible. It’s going to be a very special ten days.”
Tasha Ghouri added: “I am so excited to be part of the very first Big Cat Fest! I’ve spent so much time at the Sanctuary and have seen first-hand the incredible work Cam and the team do for conservation and rescue. These animals are breathtaking, and being able to host the event and meet all the supporters who make this work possible is a dream come true. We’ve got so much planned, from street food to conservation talks, it’s going to be the ultimate summer family day out with a real purpose.”
Home to around 40 cats representing a range of species, the Sanctuary stands as the world’s first and only Centre of Species Survival for wild cats. Guests will be able to meet the Sanctuary’s incredible residents, including recent arrivals like Tocho the Puma and Kemala the Sumatran Tiger, popular cats such as Maya the Jaguar and Willow the Cheetah, alongside the famous residents of The Lion Rescue Centre – Yuna, Rori Vanda, Amani and Lira.
Tickets and Information In addition to Tasha hosting the event, Giles Clark will be doing a talk called ‘Saving Cheetahs’ during week one and Cam Whitnall a talk called ’Rescuing Ursa’ during week two. Get your ticket now at www.thebigcatsanctuary.org.
The proceeds from every ticket sold go directly toward the Sanctuary’s five pillars of welfare, breeding, education, conservation, and rescue. Cat Protection is headline partner for Big Cat Fest 2026.
ENDS
