The Newcastle Food Festival has confirmed its return to Exhibition Park for the 2027 edition, scheduled for the May Bank Holiday Weekend from May 1-3. The fourth annual event follows an 'amazing 2026' according to organisers, who are preparing a fresh entertainment programme, greater variety across the festival and expanded partnerships with independent traders and performers from the North East.
Plans for the 2027 edition
Festival Director Michael Johnston reflected on the event's continued growth over the past three years. He said: "We're incredibly grateful to the independent traders, local businesses, entertainers and thousands of festival-goers who've joined us over the last three years."
"Their continued support is what makes our event possible, and we want to give everyone who joins us the best festival experience we can. We're always looking for ways to develop the event, so there are plenty of exciting ideas in the works for 2027."
What visitors can expect
Organisers are hoping to showcase more than 90 independent businesses across the Street Food Arena, Artisan Markets and Streets of Independent Bars. Festival-goers will be able to explore a wide array of international flavours, homemade treats, handcrafted goods and freshly-prepared drinks from traders, makers and artisans across Tyne and Wear and the wider North East.
Four live stages will run throughout the three-day celebration, offering musical performances, demonstrations, performing arts and interactive competitions. The Sizzling Showdown Arena returns with four audience-participation shows each day: Wally Woof's Family Dog Show, The Foodie Olympics, The Chilli Challenge and the brand-new Pies Down, Eyes Down Bingo with Barry Bingo.
Entertainment and charity partnerships
At the Main Stage, local musicians and bands will perform a mixture of original songs and covers, while the Cookery Theatre will welcome regional chefs and culinary experts for live demonstrations. The Live Entertainers Stage will complete the programme with magic, circus and performing arts shows.
Additional attractions include a mobile animal farm, traditional fun fair, festival scavenger hunt, circus skills workshops and Viking Heritage Kitchen. Through partnerships with local businesses and entertainers, a selection of brand-new attractions are set to be introduced to the 2027 programme, with further details to be announced over the coming months. Roaming entertainment will also be scattered throughout the festival grounds, including stilt walkers, comedy acts, bubble performances and other eccentric encounters.
Tyneside and Northumberland Mind will be the festival's primary charity partner. Between the Newcastle Food Festival and its sister events, over £210,000 so far has been raised for mental health charities across the UK, a milestone organisers hope to build on in 2027. Additional charity partnerships will be announced in the coming months, with more information available on the Newcastle Food Festival website.
