Brighton Eats: Foodies Festival Returns for a Bank Holiday Feast

Brighton knows how to spend a bank holiday properly, and this May, Foodies Festival returns to Preston Park from 2–4 May with three days dedicated to eating, drinking and a little nostalgia-fuelled dancing in the sun.

Now in its 21st year, the travelling festival lands in the city with a crowd-pleasing mix of celebrity chefs, local culinary heavyweights and live music that leans joyfully into singalong territory. Expect performances from Scouting for Girls, Boyzlife and B*Witched, alongside sets from regional artists across the weekend.

On the food front, the chef line-up blends familiar TV names with some of the strongest talent from Brighton and the surrounding area. Among those appearing are recent MasterChef winner Harry Maguire, Alex Webb and cake designer Mich Turner. Representing the local scene are chefs from some of Sussex’s most respected kitchens, including Mare, The Little Fish Market, Etch, The Chilli Pickle, Med and Burnt Orange.

Beyond the demonstrations, the appeal is in wandering. There are drinks masterclasses covering wine, beer, cocktails and Champagne, an artisan market packed with producers, street food from every angle, and enough samples to ensure no one leaves hungry. For the brave, the chilli-eating contest returns, while the new Ready, Steady, Cook! live battles promise a louder, faster kind of kitchen theatre.

Families are well catered for too, with cookery sessions for children, treasure hunts, fairground rides and a dedicated kids’ zone. Dogs, importantly, are also welcome.

For Brighton, it feels like the kind of weekend the city does best: good food, open skies, music you forgot you knew every word to, and the chance to spend an afternoon eating far more than originally intended.

There’s even a special 30% off discount code if you use FF30 at checkout!

Foodies Festival Brighton
Preston Park
2–4 May 2026

Tickets and information available via the official festival website.