Sunderland Food and Drink Festival 2026 - here's what you need to know
Sunderland Food and Drink Festival returns this weekend - and it’s serving up plenty to eat and enjoy.
Last year, the free festival attracted bumper crowds of 50,000 over three days and it’s hoped even more will attend in 2026.
Here’s everything you need to know:
When & where
The festival will return from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 7, 2026, with stalls in Keel Square and High Street West, including the old Argos site.
On the Friday and Saturday timings are 10am - 7pm. On the Sunday, timings are 10am to 4pm.
Weather
The weather forecast so far for Friday is highs of 16degrees with rain showers and a moderate breeze. For Saturday, it’s 16degrees with drizzle and a light breeze. And on Sunday, it’s 17degreees with drizzle and a light breeze.
Traders
Traders so far are:
Streat Eats, Habibi Shawarma, Little China Noodle Bar, Alaminos, Sunrise Patisserie, Chipstix, Pimentos Grill, Le Petite Cafe, Kharhi & Spice, Aunt Annie's Fudge, Doughvine Desserts, The Taste of Greece, Saji's Restaurant, Noodle Bar, Twisted Chick, On The Stick, INY Homemade, K-Top25, Mexican Burritos, Bites Baking, YumYaba, Granny Sally's Fudge, Walnut Foods, Musafari Grills, Ravenscroft's, Street Eats, Gingerbread Company, The Little Poffertje Pancake Shack, Top Notch Scotch Egg Co and more.
Bars and drinks include: Good Grounds, Gotham Coffee, Wear Beer, O'Donnell Moonshine and Shake and Sip.
There will also be a number of craft stalls to browse.
Entertainment
Friday, June 5
On the opening day of the festival, the music will start at 10am with Deja Brew, playing much-loved hits covering everything from jazz to funk to soul.
Local performer Alex Winn – a familiar face at the Stadium of Light – will take to the stage at 12.30pm, followed by Will Swindle, who also plays with Alex in the band Swindled.
Welsh folk singer/songwriter Ruby Kelly will be next to appear, followed by Caleb Adams and up-and-coming girl group, Northern Daughters later in the afternoon.
Internationally-known singer, Ami Vaziri, will set the stage for the last act of the day, Re-Live the 90s performing the greatest hits of that era.
Saturday, June 6
Saturday’s line-up starts off with a bang at 10am with the Hunters, a tribute to K-Pop Demon Hunters, who were a huge hit at Sunderland’s Lunar New Year event.
Hot on their heels will be the the Rock Choir who will be uplifting everyone’s spirits, then visitors can enjoy two powerhouse performances one after another, with James Berry followed by Ruby Kelly.
Eddie Scott, who draws inspiration from the pop-punk and power pop music of the 90s and 00s, will be take to the stage around 2pm, followed an hour later by Lyla-Mae Morton.
The first tribute act of the weekend can be seen later that day, when Katy Perry Live will perform all of the iconic singer’s hits.
There’s a change of genre when Will Jennison Presents Country Roads and at 6pm visitors can enjoy the music of one of the world’s best loved bands, when Voulez 2 shows why they are regarded as the ultimate ABBA tribute.
Sunday, June 7
Sunday’s programme kicks off at 10.30am with a performance by Jenny Dean, followed by the young talent from Inspire Stage School.
Then visitors can enjoy Liam Dickman and local singer Isabel Maria – flagged as one to watch by the BBC – who is set to appear early in the afternoon.
The first of the day’s tribute acts can be seen around 2pm, when the Story of Styles, featuring Starstruck’s Brandon Hunt, will bring to life the greatest hits of One Direction and Harry Styles.
Bringing the programme to an end is Run To You, which pays homage to one of the greatest divas of all times – Whitney Houston.