NE1 Unveils Exciting Summer Plans for Newcastle – 2026
Summer in Newcastle is back, and NE1 are gearing up to deliver another packed programme of free events, family activities and unforgettable city-centre experiences.
NE1 has big plans for the summer and will be bringing back many of its popular, signature events, creating memory-making moments, and delivering free fun for all the family, which last year brought in over 200,000 visitors.
A varied programme will give people more reasons to visit the city, and to keep coming back throughout the summer.
NE1’s Screen on the Green
Monday 29th June – Monday 31st August 2026
First off in NE1’s summer events programme is the return of the multi-award-winning, Screen on the Green.
You know it’s summer in the city when NE1’s large open-air movie experience returns to its traditional summertime residency at Old Eldon Square in the heart of the city. A staple of NE1’s summertime schedule for ten years, Screen on the Green attracted over 110,000 visitors last year. This year, the event runs from Monday 29th June to Monday 31st August, for a summer of sports, films, and fun.
Opening the show will be live sporting action from Wimbledon. The famous lawn tennis championships will be broadcast live for two weeks. Deckchairs will be lined up ready for sports enthusiasts to take a seat and enjoy the most famous tournament on the international tennis tour.
After Wimbledon fortnight and before the school summer holidays start in earnest, NE1 will be screening a selection of North East themed shows and children’s programmes to cater for a pre-school audience.
Then, when the bell rings and schools break up for summer, NE1’s Screen on the Green will come alive with a six-week movie schedule crammed with blockbusters, new releases and classics. There will be something for everyone to enjoy with over 100 free movies and up to three films every single day.
Tiny Toon gives young visitors a mini-Newcastle to explore, featuring scaled-down versions of some of the city’s most historic, iconic and recognisable businesses and buildings. This year’s experience will introduce a range of brand-new interactive spaces designed to encourage imaginative play, creativity and hands-on discovery, while continuing to celebrate the places and organisations that help make Newcastle city centre unique.
Stay and Play Zone
Monday 20th July – Monday 31st August
As Screen on the Green returns to Old Eldon Square, the other quadrants of the square will be transformed with key elements of NE1’s summer activity programme.
To complement the free films, NE1 has designed an interactive Stay and Play Zone, designed to attract people of all ages and keep them entertained throughout the summer. From games to relaxation spaces, picnic spots to brand activation days, the zone is perfect for families to enjoy between the movies.
Last year saw the launch of NE1’s new Stay and Play zone, a hugely successful addition to the summer festivities. Sand pits, sensory zones, reading nooks and picnic tables created a welcome breakout and activity zone for families. People can come and go between watching movies at Screen on the Green and enjoying imaginative play sessions at the ever-popular, Tiny Toon.
NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week
NE1’s much-loved Newcastle Restaurant Week will return this August, bringing another week of fantastic dining deals to the city. Exact dates will soon be announced, with more than 100-restaurants expected to take part, each offering specially created menus for just £15, £20 or £25 per person.
As one of the highlights of Newcastle’s summertime calendar, last August’s event attracted over 59,000 diners and generated over £1 million for participating businesses, transforming one of the city centre’s traditionally quieter weeks into one of the busiest. There is always a huge appetite for the event in the city and diners will eagerly await the date announcement.
Newcastle’s boasts one of the most diverse and vibrant restaurant scenes in the UK with everything from much-loved independents to leading national and international brands. Newcastle Restaurant Week celebrates and shines a spotlight on the sector, giving diners the perfect excuse to try somewhere new or return to an old favourite, all at exceptional value.
NE1 Dog on the Tyne
Saturday 1st August
Britain is a nation of dog lovers, and this is very evident when it comes to Dog on the Tyne. Thousands of dog owners and canine lovers make a beeline for the Quayside to take part and enjoy the event which puts our four-legged friends in the spotlight.
Returning for a third year, NE1’s Dog on the Tyne is a free, fun day of activities for dogs and their owners, celebrating all things canine.
With dog yoga, an agility course, doggy selfie stations, organised walks, market stalls and lots more canine-themed fun, it is a great day out for pups and their people.
The event gets bigger and better each year with lots of new additions to look forward to this summer.
NE1 Quayside Carnival
Saturday 22nd August
Basking in the phenomenal success of its first year, NE1’s Quayside Carnival is returning bigger and better this year on 22nd August. A full road closure will provide a larger stage for the carnival, more space for play and the introduction of new play zones and activities.
Over 10,000 people attended last year’s event, highlighting the huge demand for a free, interactive family festival of this scale. The carnival was a celebration of city centre businesses and offered real bucket-list moments for the public to enjoy including free river boat trips on the Tyne.
NE1’s Quayside Carnival was for many the highlight of the summer with something for everyone to enjoy – people are encouraged to mark the date in the diary to avoid missing this year’s event.
Mela in the City, Grey’s Monument
Saturday 29th August
As a rich celebration of South Asian culture, Newcastle Mela is held over two days during the August Bank Holiday weekend. A free, family-friendly event staged largely in Newcastle’s Exhibition Park with live music and entertainment and food and market stalls representing the rich heritage of Pakistan, India, and other South Asian cultures.
NE1 will once again host Mela’s city centre-based activities which bring the celebrations to the heart of Newcastle on Saturday 29th August, giving more people the opportunity to enjoy Mela’s colourful and lively festivities. Visitors can expect an afternoon filled with live performances, vibrant dance and music, interactive activities, and a lively atmosphere celebrating the rich cultures and communities that help make Newcastle such a diverse and welcoming city.
NE1’s Newcastle Dragon Boat Race
Saturday 26th September
Last but by no means least, NE1’s Newcastle Dragon Boat Race on the Tyne brings the summer schedule to a lively and adrenaline-fuelled close. Over 50 boats and hundreds of contestants will battle it out on the River Tyne for the coveted title of Dragon Boat Race Champions 2026.
This year the Dragon Boat Race has an important new dimension as NE1 has teamed up with the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation to raise funds for the charity and support its efforts to build the Sir Bobby Robson Institute. The new institute will bring more clinical trials and new cancer treatments to the region.
The Dragon Boat Race provides a great competitive sporting spectacle, with activity on and off the water. Supporters are encouraged to come down to the Quayside to cheer on the racers and enjoy a host of dry-land activities. Face painters, market stalls and free family fun will be on offer, making it a great day out for all the family and marking the official end of the summer in the city.
Last year’s Dragon Boat Race raised over £40,000 for charity, including more than £30,000 for the event’s dedicated charity partner, The Great North Children’s Hospital Foundation, and with even more boats taking part this year, NE1 look to raise even more for worthy causes across the region.
Can’t wait for summer? NE1’s Grey Street Gathering and Relaxation Stations have returned to get people in the summer spirit.
Grey Street Gathering – a colourful pop-up park with seating, greenery and a relaxed vibe
NE1 has already started to get the city centre summer-ready with the return of Newcastle’s favourite pop-up park, Grey Street Gathering. The colourful tables, chairs and built-in benches returned at the end of April, along with beautiful planters and grass creating an ideal spot for city centre workers to take their well-earned lunch breaks, or for visitors to sit and enjoy the views of Grey Street. Back for the summer and looking resplendent, the temporary installation provides a welcome and much-loved green space in the heart of the city. It’s a worthy addition to one of the UK’s favourite streets.
Relaxation Stations: Picnic benches and seating areas with iconic river views
On the Quayside, NE1 has also been working its magic, bringing back the Relaxation Stations, a series of tables and benches lining the half-mile stretch on the banks of the Tyne. These popular relaxation and picnic spots are well used by those wanting to enjoy a slice of pizza or sausage roll from the riverfront food retailers, while taking in the most iconic views of Newcastle.
With the pop-up park and relaxation stations making a welcome return, NE1 is now turning its attention to finalising the details of the full summer events and activities programme.
For information on all events in NE1’s summer schedule visit: www.getintonewcastle.co.uk.
