NE1's Summer Calendar: Must-Do Events in the City
Our selection of some of the summer's most essential events
It seems like every summer in Newcastle there’s even more going on than usual, a dizzying array of excitement and entertainment catering to all sorts of interests.
You might be a parent desperate for things for kids to do in the school holidays, a keen film fan looking for something to watch al fresco or a music-minded fan of beats or riffs hoping for some festy fun in the sun.
Whatever you’re looking for, our city will come up with the goods, and we’ve assembled this handy guide to some of the most essential events happening in Newcastle this summer that you won’t want to miss.
NE1’s Summer in the City, July to September 2025
The NE1 team work hard to make sure there’s always something exciting going on in our city, as last year’s Summer in the City programme showed. Expect everything from HIIT workouts and family yoga classes, to tales on the Tyne and a teddy bear picnic! 2025’s programme also sees the return of the woof-tastic Dog on the Tyne, and the brand-new Quayside Carnival, an action-packed day out complete with circus workshops and a challenge zone! Best of all, the events are completely free to enjoy – you’ll just need to reserve your place by visiting the NE1 Summer in the City website.
Lost Minds Festival, Saturday 12th July 2025
Another returning event for July’s calendar is the Lost Minds Festival, which’ll be taking over Exhibition Park for an incredible day of live music. Scooter is set to headline the main stage, but you’ll find Alex Farell, Aly & Fila and David Rust completing the line-up elsewhere across the site. Plus, there’ll be fully stocked bars and loads of delicious food stalls so you’re fueled up to boogie the night away!
NE1’s Screen on the Green, July to August 2025
The arrival of the big NE1 screen in Old Eldon Square is one of the signs that summer is finally here and this year it'll be making its grand return once again. From July to August, you’ll be able to watch blockbusters, musicals, comedies, family favourites and a whole programme of live sport for free in the heart of the city. This year, we'll be showing over 100 free films alongside action from Wimbledon and Tour de France. There's even more kid-friendly fun to be had at Old Eldon Square with the return of the award-winning Tiny Toon, and a brand-new stay and play addition. Check out the full Screen on the Green schedule and get set for some summer fun at Old Eldon Square.
Newcastle Fringe Festival, Tuesday 22nd July – Saturday 2nd August 2025
Newcastle Fringe Festival is a fantastic fortnight when some of the very best theatre, comedy, music and more arrives in the city to present Newcastle audiences with a brilliant overview of the performing arts. Based around the tirelessly innovative and inspirational Alphabetti Theatre, the shows that make up this year’s Fringe include cutting edge dance performances, gritty modern drama, live music and lots and lots of comedy including names like Si Beckwith, Amy Matthews and Matt Reed. Times, venues and prices vary so check the website for all the details.
Newcastle Pride, Saturday 19th – Sunday 20th July 2025
Pride really is one of the most fabulous and important events in the city’s calendar, a brilliant celebration of the LGBTQ+ community that everyone is invited to. Across its two days, the festival – presented in conjunction with NE1 - will entertain, educate, campaign, celebrate and commemorate. This year it’s based in the city centre and the main stage in Times Square will host names like Pixie Lott, Gok Wan and Michael Marouli, while there will also be events across the city, with a Curious Arts Stage, a Family & Youth Zone, a Health & Well-Being Zone, and a market village at Monument. The traditional focus is the march, which starts at the Civic Centre on Saturday and the whole thing ends with a candlelit vigil in Times Square to honour those we’ve lost.
Come Together Festival, Wednesday 20th & Friday 22nd August 2025
For their debut event on the Town Moor, the Come Together Festival have gone all-out with a line-up that’s guaranteed to get you grooving! From Robbie Williams and the Kaiser Chiefs, to Kings of Leon and Courteeners, there’s something for every gig-goer here. Even better, there’s local talent taking to the stage too, including Andrew Cushin and Sonny Tennet.
Newcastle Mela, Sunday 24th – Monday 25th August 2025
Newcastle Mela has been brightening up the city for a quarter of a century, making August Bank Holiday a riot of colour, sound and flavour in NE1. It's a multi-cultural explosion celebrating Pakistani, Bengali, Indian and South Asian culture with music, food, entertainment, workshops, stalls and more. The festival kicks off with Mela in the City at near Grey's Monument on the Saturday with exciting performances before the action moves to Exhibition Park on the Sunday and Monday where around 40,000 people are expected to head for singers, musicians, delicious food, crafts, activities and stalls selling all kinds of goods.
NE1’s Newcastle Restaurant Week, August 2025
The biannual NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week is now a firm fixture in the city, a seven-day celebration of this city’s fast-changing and highly regarded food scene. Restaurant Week seems to get bigger every time, with more restaurants participating and more people passing through their doors to take advantage of amazing dining deals and delicious cuisine. We’ll be announcing the details of participating restaurants soon, so it's time to invest in a bigger belt!
Noughty 90s Festival, Saturday 23rd August 2025
Another one-day festival that’s bound to appeal to retro-minded music fans is Noughty 90s, which summons up the spirit of those two decades on three stages in Leazes Park. If your idea of a fantastic night is watching Atomic Kitten, Darren Styles, DJ Sammy, N-Trance and the rest tearing it up like it’s 1995 or 2003, with added attractions to ramp up the fun, this is a must-visit.
Newcastle’s Dragon Boat Race, Saturday 27th September 2025
Closing out a packed summer is the annual Dragon Boat Race, hosted by NE1 to raise money for an important local charity which this year is The Great North Children's Hospital Foundation. Intrepid teams of racers will paddle their dragon boats down the Tyne as friends, family and onlookers cheer them on. There’s always a lot going down on the Quayside too in a day packed with family fun and fundraising.
It’s looking like there’s another action-packed summer ahead of us in Newcastle with a fantastic variety of things happening to help us make the most of the holidays. The only question left is what to enjoy first!
Main image: Summer in the City - Photo by Tynesight Photography
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