Festival Season in the City: A Guide to Newcastle's Festival Calendar
Our round-up of some of the most exciting events in the city's forthcoming festival season
Now we’re easing into spring, festival season is almost upon us and as ever, Newcastle is stuffed to the gills with all sorts of fabulous events.
With festivals celebrating everything from food and drink to music and the arts, it's going to be a busy few months for sure so we've gathered together some of the most exciting upcoming festivals for you to peruse and get tickets for.
Food & Drink
Food Battles @ Wylam Brewery
Wylam Brewery’s legendary food battles are back for 2026 and well under way already, bringing together the North East’s best street food vendors to cook up a storm. There are several food battles scheduled from now until November – including the pizza-themed Slice Wars, the self-explanatory Mexican Stand-Off and the curry-centric Argie Bhaji – and with great beers and music too, each promise good vibes aplenty.
April – November 2026, Free entry (tokens cost extra)
Newcastle Beer & Cider Festival @ Northumbria University Students’ Union
Newcastle Beer & Cider Festival makes a welcome return to Northumbria University this spring. Now in its 47th year, the festival is bringing a smorgasbord of beer and cider to the city – more than 70 of the former and 30 of the latter – and all manner of other tipples as well as a packed schedule of musical entertainment.
Wednesday 15th – Saturday 18th April 2026, Ticket prices vary
Newcastle Food Festival @ Exhibition Park
Newcastle Food Festival is also back for its third edition this year and returning to its original home at Exhibition Park. Taking place over the May Day bank holiday weekend, there’ll de dozens of traders dishing out delicious street food from across the globe and an artisan market to shop for foodie treats – plus family-friendly entertainment, a Chilli Challenge and a fantastic musical line-up. It’s dog-friendly too and there’s even a Family Dog Show!
Saturday 2nd – Monday 4th May 2026, Day tickets from £7.95 (adults) / £5.95 (under 16s), Weekend tickets from £11.95 (adults) / £7.95 (under 16s), Free for under 5s
Blackfriars Beer Festival @ Blackfriars Restaurant
Following a popular debut last year, Blackfriars Beer Festival is back for 2026 with three whole days of hoppy fun over the late May bank holiday weekend. Guests will be able to sample beers from nine amazing local breweries – including Blackfriars’ very own St. Dominic’s Brewery – in the gorgeous surroundings of the restaurant’s cloister garden and medieval banquet hall. Plus, on Saturday and Sunday, there’ll be street food straight from the Blackfriars BBQ and live music to keep the good vibes going. Tickets are under a tenner and include a branded schooner filled with your choice of St. Dominic’s Brewery beer on arrival.
Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th May 2026, £9.50
Newcastle Wine Week @ Multiple Venues
Newcastle Wine Week wowed local lovers of the grape when it debuted last summer and we’re happy to report that it’s returning this June for a second instalment. The growing event shines a light on Newcastle’s wine scene by offering exclusive deals on glasses and flights at some of the city’s best wine spots – St. Vincent, Kaltur and Hotel du Vin included. Sounds like wine o’ clock all week long to us!
Friday 19th – Sunday 28th June 2026, Wristbands on sale soon
3rd Bite for Cancer Research UK @ Wylam Brewery
Wylam Brewery is set to welcome back another foodie favourite this summer with 3rd Bite for Cancer Research UK. The brainchild of Sian and Cal Byerly, owners of acclaimed Northumberland restaurant Pine, the festival brings 20 Michelin-starred chefs from across the UK to cook up some seriously tasty street food dishes with a fine dining twist – all while raising stacks of cash to support the amazing work of Cancer Research UK.
Sunday 19th July 2026, Free entry / Tokens £10 each
Music
Aelius Alternative @ Various Locations
Newcastle has a strong reputation for a thriving and evolving underground music scene, which every now and then throws up a band or artist that go on to conquer the charts and stages of the UK and beyond. And it’s festivals like Aelius Alternative – which returns to the Toon for a third time this year – that help get those bands noticed. Taking place at three beloved city centre venues – The Globe, Head of Steam and Mosaic Tap – the festival promises and impressive and varied line-up of North East grassroots musicians including the likes of Newcastle alt-rock trio Cane Rouge and Stockton neo-soul songstress Marina Josephina.
Saturday 18th April 2026, £17 plus booking fee
Great British Tribute Festival @ Times Square
Tribute bands are such an important part of the British cultural landscape that they even get their own festivals now, like this one-day extravaganza event in Times Square over the late May bank holiday weekend. Where else can you see the likes of Sam Fender, Oasis, Arctic Monkeys and Blur (or something very much like them) in one day on one stage and still have change from a twenty?!
Friday 22nd May 2026, From £15 plus booking fee
In The Park Festival @ Exhibition Park
Exhibition Park is certainly gearing up for a busy summer because it’s also welcoming back In The Park Festival which is bringing three top-class acts to the Toon this July. The fun kicks off with a two-night run from Lewis Capaldi on 8th and 9th July before the legendary Paul Weller takes over on 10th July. And last but by no means least, London rockers Wolf Alice and special guests Keo round out what looks like an amazing weekend for music lovers.
Wednesday 8th – Friday 10th & Sunday 12th July 2026, From £55.95
Lost Minds @ Exhibition Park
Now a staple in Newcastle’s festival calendar, the dance music extravaganza that is Lost Minds returns to Exhibition Park for its fifth year this July, bringing with it another solid line-up that boasts Holy Priest, Oliver Heldens and Darren Styles. There’s an official after party at World Headquarters too, in case you’re not ready to call it a night!
Saturday 11th July 2026, From £71.76
Noughty 90s @ Leazes Park
Taking place in Leazes Park, Noughty 90s Festival aims to recapture the spirit of the nineties and noughties with three stages of nostalgic acts. Vengaboys, Basshunter and Andy Whitby are set to headline its three stages with other acts booked to appear including East 17, Kelly Llorenna and Gareth Gates. The Bounce Generation stage boasts a host of rave acts too – so there’s plenty to keep everyone buzzing!
Saturday 29th August 2026, From £35
Arts & Culture
ClassicsFest @ Multiple Venues
The Lit & Phil is once again joining forces with a handful of fellow cultural venues to host ClassicsFest - taking over the city this May with fascinating discussions, engaging lectures and mesmerising performances. This year, the theme is “Food & Feasting in Antiquity” bringing together historians, academics, chefs and performers to explore food, wine and hospitality in the Ancient Greek and Roman eras.
Wednesday 6th – Saturday 16th May 2026, Free unless stated otherwise
The Late Shows @ Multiple Venues
The Late Shows really are one of the greatest things to happen in Newcastle all year -two evenings of special happenings in venues, art spaces and the like across the city. As with previous years, the Friday night is focused on the thriving artistic community around Ouseburn, while Saturday broadens out to the rest of Newcastle and into Gateshead. From tours and art exhibitions to crafting and live music, The Late Shows really does show the best Newcastle has to offer.
Friday 8h – Saturday 9th May 2026, Free
Newcastle Pride @ Newcastle City Centre
Newcastle Pride returns this summer, with a brand-new organiser (not-for-profit Curious Futures) and a brand-new theme, “City of Hope, Streets of Joy” - celebrating the city as a place of hope, joy and visibility for its LGBTQIA+ community. There’s a packed programme of free things to do during Pride’s two-day run – including its Market Village, Family & Youth Zone and the epic march through the city – and the ticketed Pride Arena at Times Square boasts top acts like Nadine Coyle, Katy B, Urban Cookie Collective and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK favourite Danny Beard.
Saturday 25th – Sunday 26th July 2026, Free / Pride Arena tickets from £9 (adults/14+) or £6 (under 14s)
NOVUM Festival @ Multiple Venues
After a brief hiatus, NOVUM Festival is back for 2026 and once again set to turn the city into a cultural playground for three days this August. Exact details have yet to be announced but a packed programme of free and family-friends is guaranteed with everything from outdoor performances and installations to workshops and music to enjoy. In true NOVUM style, there’ll also be a monumental artwork weaving its way through the city that you definitely won’t want to miss!
Friday 7th – Sunday 9th August 2026, Free
Mela in the City & Newcastle Mela @ Grey’s Monument / Exhibition Park
Rounding out our summer of festival fun is Newcastle Mela, the city’s annual celebration of Pakistani, Bengali, Indian and other South Asian cultures that takes over the Toon every August bank holiday weekend. The fun kicks off with Mela in the City at Grey’s Monument on 29th August before the main event at Exhibition Park from 30th to 31st August where there’ll be art, food, dance, music for the whole family to enjoy.
Saturday 29th – Monday 31st August 2026, Free
This might be the city’s biggest festival season ever, with barely a weekend passing without some big event in one of Newcastle’s open spaces or cultural centres. From brilliant food, wine, culture and community fests to a steady run of big music events, there’s a dozen reasons to get off your sofa and out into the sun this spring and summer.
Main image: Lost Minds
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