Residents and visitors in Bournemouth and Christchurch will have a variety of entertainment options to choose from during the upcoming late May Bank Holiday weekend, which runs from 22 May to 25 May 2026. This period features a broad mix of food festivals, sporting events, and family activities throughout the area.
The Bournemouth 7s Festival returns to Chapel Gate from 22 May to 24 May. This sport and music event is set to host more than 460 teams across eight different sports, alongside more than 100 live acts and DJs performing across 10 arenas. Organisers note that this year’s lineup, featuring headline acts Rudimental on Sunday and Hedex on Saturday, is the largest in the event’s 19-year history.
For those interested in culinary experiences, the Christchurch Food Festival will take place at Christchurch Quay from 23 May to 25 May. The event is free to attend and regularly draws approximately 60,000 visitors. Additionally, the Christchurch BID is organising Food Fest Local on Christchurch High Street. This two-day, family-friendly event also offers free entry and is set for 23 May and 24 May.
Families looking for activities during the half-term period can visit RockReef and PierZip at the end of Bournemouth Pier. From 23 May through 31 May, the venue will host a range of adventure activities, including indoor climbing and the pier zip wire, designed to provide entertainment for children and families.
More information regarding these and other events can be found on the official tourist information website.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
