The Bolton Food and Drink Festival will remain free to attend when it returns for its 21st anniversary from Friday 28 August to Monday 31 August 2026. Confirmation came via the festival’s official website, where organisers stated that the August Bank Holiday event is free, with only select celebrity chef demonstrations and special experiences requiring advance booking. The four-day gathering will once again spread across Bolton town centre, anchored by Victoria Square.
The free programme includes live music on two stages at Le Mans Crescent and Victoria Square. Soul group The Real Thing headlines Saturday evening, while Liberty X — featuring original members Jessica, Michelle and Kelli — takes the main stage on Sunday night. Across the site, visitors will find street performers, children’s activities and regional chef cookery demonstrations at Victoria Square, all offered without charge. Organisers had previously said the aim was to deliver a packed schedule of entertainment right across the festival footprint.
Last year’s 20th anniversary edition drew 554,600 people, the strongest attendance in four years and part of an event that has grown into one of the UK’s largest food festivals. An economic impact report by GC Insight calculated that visitor and organiser spending across the four days reached £15.1 million, with a direct gross value added contribution of £7.6 million. Bolton Council invested around £700,000 in the 2025 festival, which also won the NABMA Great British Market Awards 2026 Best Large Speciality Market accolade, praised for setting a national benchmark in scale and social value.
Celebrity chef James Martin returns for a 16th consecutive year, with cookery demonstration tickets already on sale alongside Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, both taking place on the Saturday. Marco Pierre White is also confirmed for the 2026 line‑up. Organisers urged anyone hoping to attend ticketed sessions to book early, noting that demonstrations regularly sell out well before the gates open. Around 180 food and drink traders are expected, reflecting the scale of the 2025 market that featured 179 stalls alongside arts and crafts sellers.
Festival guides will be available for collection at Victoria Square, and the full listings can be found on the festival website. Bolton Council, which runs the event in partnership with venues including the Octagon Theatre, said the 21st edition aims to match the momentum of previous years while keeping entry free for all.
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