The Sunderland Food and Drink Festival will return for 2026 over the weekend of 5-7 June, with organisers preparing for a record-breaking event at Keel Square and High Street West. Following a surge in popularity that saw approximately 50,000 people attend in 2025, the city is readying itself for another influx of visitors to the annual celebration.
This year, Sunderland BID has secured Stagecoach North East as the headline sponsor to help manage the increased attendance. The transport operator will work alongside organisers to support travel arrangements for those visiting the festival throughout the three-day weekend.
Roberta Redecke, Head of Business Services at Sunderland BID, is leading the preparations for the event. The festival will feature a wide range of food and drink vendors, arts and crafts stalls, and a full entertainment programme. Live performances will include tribute acts such as Voulez 2, Katy Perry Live, and Run to You – Whitney, alongside performances from Northern Daughters, Ami Vaziri, Re-Live the 90s, Will Jennison Country Roads, The Story of Styles, and Inspire Stage School.
The event is part of the work carried out by Sunderland BID, a business-led partnership funded by a levy on city centre firms. The organisation, which has a five-year mandate to boost the local economy, has seen the festival grow significantly in recent years, with attendance rising from 15,000 in 2023 to record levels in 2025.
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