Newcastle is set to host a new three-day women's lifestyle festival this weekend, featuring more than 55 sessions, experiences and workshops across the city and at Event Northumbria. Show Up North runs from Friday October 9 until Sunday October 11 and has been created by North East businesswoman and Show Up Club founder Claire Goodliff.
Festival programme and venues
Believed to be the first event of its kind in the region, the weekend brings together fitness, wellbeing, confidence, health, style, careers, money, food and entertainment under one event, with women able to build their own experience from a pick-and-mix programme.
The festival begins on Friday night with activity across Newcastle, including at Eldon Square, before the main weekend moves to Event Northumbria on Saturday and Sunday. Eldon Square is supporting the event as one of its key city partners.
What's on offer
Women can take part in Friday night sessions across the city before choosing from a packed weekend programme that includes an 8am Hydration Rave with a live DJ, reformer Pilates, barre, Hotpod, Powerhoop, shuffle skipping, line dancing and a Taste of Hyrox session. Away from fitness, there are sessions covering women's sleep, hormones, nutrition, thyroid health, investing, career change, confidence and personal style, alongside creative workshops, food experiences and a marketplace of independent brands and businesses.
Around 90% of the instructors, speakers, coaches, brands and businesses involved in delivering Show Up North are from the North East, which Claire says has been central to the event from the beginning. With the ability to pick and mix their own timetable in 40 minute slots, many visitors can try new experiences, and if they enjoy them, take them up in their spare time as many are female led businesses already available in the area. There will also be a market place where visitors can browse other local businesses such as Deep North, Blackman's Blooms, Doctor Seaweed, Little'n, Oddballs, HYCO and NCL Wellness Club.
Support and next steps
The event has attracted support from main sponsor Square One Law, Fenwick Newcastle, Scott Sports, Smart Works North East, PilatEASE and a growing number of independent North East businesses and brands. Claire said: "I wanted this to feel like something you genuinely couldn't do in a normal weekend. You can try things you've never done before, learn something that could change the way you think about your health, your career or your money, discover brilliant local businesses and meet women you might never otherwise cross paths with."
Helen Cowie, Centre Director at Eldon Square, said: "Show Up North is a brilliant new addition to Newcastle's events calendar, bringing together the energy and ambition of women from across the region in a way that feels genuinely exciting. We're proud to support Show Up North as a key city partner, helping to bring the opening night into the heart of Newcastle and look forward to welcoming everyone to Eldon Square this October."
Claire said: "There isn't anything like this happening here, and somebody has to be the first to create it. I want women from the North East to feel like this is theirs, but I'm also delighted that so many women from outside the region are booking a weekend in Newcastle because Show Up North is happening." She added: "This first year is about showing what is possible and creating something people leave already wanting to come back to." Show Up North takes place from Friday 9th October to Sunday 11th October 2026 in Newcastle, with the main programme for Saturday and Sunday at Event Northumbria. Tickets are available on Show Up North's website.
