Last Updated on 8 July 2026 by Dave King
The Brighton Foodies Festival is the city’s big food, drink and live music weekend, and in 2026 it lands on the early May bank holiday at Preston Park for what is being billed as its biggest celebration yet. Expect MasterChef champions cooking live, baking and barbecue stages, drinks tastings, a street food village and headline bands across three days. This guide covers when the festival is on, what is in the line-up, what tickets cost, and how to get there, so you can plan the day before you go.
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Brighton Foodies Festival 2026 at a Glance
| Dates | Saturday 2 to Monday 4 May 2026 (early May bank holiday) |
| Times | Saturday and Sunday 11am to 9pm, Monday 11am to 8pm |
| Venue | Preston Park, Brighton |
| Tickets | Adult tickets from £27, young adult tickets from £8, family tickets from £59, plus 3-day and upgrade options |
| Good for | Food lovers, families, a day out with live music |
| Dogs | Welcome on a short lead |
What is the Brighton Foodies Festival?
Foodies Festival is the UK’s largest touring food festival, and Brighton is one of its flagship dates, held each year in the wide green space of Preston Park. It mixes live cooking demonstrations from well-known chefs with drinks tastings, a market of artisan producers, street food from around the world and live music, all on one ticket. The 2026 Brighton edition is billed as its biggest celebration yet, with a packed programme aimed at all ages. It is a polished, large-scale event rather than a scrappy local market, so go expecting a proper festival set-up. For where it sits among the city’s packed May calendar, our Brighton events calendar shows what else is on around it.
What’s on in 2026
The heart of it is the line-up of stages and theatres. The Chefs Theatre brings MasterChef champions, Michelin-starred names and top local chefs cooking signature dishes, while the Cake and Bake Theatre features Great British Bake Off stars showing off show-stoppers. The Fire Stage handles barbecue and firepit cooking with a Hot Wings Challenge, and the Drinks Theatre runs cocktail, wine and beer tastings with expert hosts.
Around the stages there is plenty to wander between: a Kids Cookery School for younger visitors, food challenges including the Hot Chilli Challenge, artisan producers, and street food from around the world. The 2026 edition also includes a Wellness Village, Kids’ Cookery, food challenges and plenty of family-friendly programming, so it genuinely covers all ages.
Live music
It is as much a music event as a food one. Each day the Music Stage runs live sets from headline touring acts alongside local bands, and the 2026 bill includes names like Scouting For Girls, Boyzlife and B*Witched, so there is a strong nostalgia-pop flavour to the weekend. Headline performances are included with festival entry, with paid pit upgrades available if you want to get close to the stage. Check the official line-up for which acts play which day before you book.
Tickets and times
The festival runs across the early May bank holiday, on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 May from 11am to 9pm, and Monday 4 May from 11am to 8pm. Tickets work on tiers: adult tickets currently start from £27, young adult tickets from £8, and family tickets from £59 for 2 adults and 2 children, with three-day weekend tickets available. Upgrade options include Gold and Platinum tickets, with Platinum adding extras such as fast-track entry, VIP lounge access, chef meet-and-greets, a goodie bag and reserved theatre seating.
Prices vary by day, tier and how far ahead you book, and they are cheaper in advance than on the gate, so book early and check the official Foodies Festival website for current prices and any updates. One thing worth budgeting for: entry gets you in and into the demos and music, but the street food and drink are paid for on top, so bring extra.
Getting there
Preston Park is easy to reach and one of the better festival sites for it. Preston Park station is a five-minute walk from the gates, with direct trains from Brighton station and from London, which makes the train the simplest option, and our guide to getting the train to Brighton covers the lines. The 5 and 5A buses run past the park every few minutes, there are cycle lanes in from the centre, and limited parking sits at the north and south of the park. As one of the city’s largest green spaces, Preston Park is worth knowing anyway, and features in our guide to Brighton’s parks.
Is the Brighton Foodies Festival worth it?
For a food-and-music day out, it delivers, with big-name chefs, a lot to taste and see, and a proper festival atmosphere on a sunny bank holiday. The honest things to weigh up: it is a ticketed event run by a national touring brand rather than a free local fair, the food and drink are extra on top of entry, and it can get busy and pricey for a family once you have eaten and drunk your way round. Book advance tickets to keep the cost down, go early for the popular demos, bring cash for the stalls, and take the dog if you have one.
Treat it as a full day out rather than a quick browse and it earns its keep. If you would rather explore the city’s everyday food scene instead, our pick of the best restaurants in Brighton is a good place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Brighton Foodies Festival 2026?
It runs across the early May bank holiday weekend, Saturday 2 to Monday 4 May 2026, at Preston Park. Saturday and Sunday are 11am to 9pm, and Monday is 11am to 8pm.
Where is the festival held?
At Preston Park, one of the city’s largest parks, with Preston Park station a five-minute walk away and direct trains from Brighton and London.
How much are tickets?
Adult tickets currently start from £27, young adult tickets from £8, and family tickets from £59, with three-day weekend tickets and upgrade options. Prices vary and are cheaper booked ahead, so check the official site.
Is the festival dog-friendly?
Yes. Dogs are welcome on a short lead, according to the official festival information.
Is it suitable for families?
Very. There is a Kids Cookery School, food challenges, live music and family tickets available, so it works well as a family day out.
Final Thoughts
The Brighton Foodies Festival is a reliable, full-on day out: top chefs, tastings, street food and live music in the open air, timed for the early May bank holiday at Preston Park. Book ahead for the better ticket prices, budget for food and drink on top, and arrive early for the demos you most want to see. For 2026 it is going big, so if a festival of food and music sounds like your kind of weekend, it is one to get in the diary.
