Free UK festivals & carnivals
Region-by-region guide to 45+ events
Festival season is back for 2025! Whether you want to listen to pop, house, rock or jazz music, or carnivals or parades are more your scene, there are free UK festivals and carnivals for all tastes – and most are suitable for families. We've rounded them up by area of the UK...
Alternatively, it's also possible to get into some big paid-for festivals for free, including Reading and Leeds Festival, in return for working there – see the volunteering and working at festivals guide below.
Choose which region of the UK you want to look at
It's worth noting that some festivals are spread across different venues and may have concerts that cost extra, so always check with the organisers before you go.
Where: Caledonian Road, London
Dates: Sunday 6 July
Description: A street festival with music, performances, art, stalls, creative workshops and food stalls.
Where: Trafalgar Square
Dates: Saturday 21 June - Sunday 22 June
Description: Live performances of a variety of West End hit musicals and theatre shows.
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/your-visit/things-to-do/river-stage/
Where: National Theatre, London
Dates: Every Friday - Sunday from 5 - 28 July
Description: Live music, dance, family workshops and more.
Where: Central London
Dates: Saturday 5 July
Description: Celebrating London's LGBTQ+ diversity with a huge parade that runs through central London.
https://www.greenwichpeninsula.co.uk/whats-on/turning-tides-music-festival
Where: Design District, Greenwich
Dates: TBC
Description: A day of music from UK and international artists with a focus on community spirit.
Where: Central London
Dates: Throughout September
Description: A whole month of celebration and entertainment. The 2025 line-up hasn't been announced yet, but in previous years it's included the Mayor's Thames Festival, the Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Festival and the Great River Race. Although the festival itself is free to attend, some of the activities charge a fee.
Where: Notting Hill, London
Dates: Sunday 23 August - Monday 25 August
Description: A huge community-led street festival with floats, costumed performers, music and food stalls – celebrating Caribbean culture and traditions, and a diverse and vibrant London.
Free Archives - Dulwich Festival
Where: Various locations around Dulwich, South London
Dates: Saturday 10 May - Sunday 18 May
Description: Dulwich Festival focuses on the arts with 14 events being free, including a 'Giant Teddy Bear's picnic' on Saturday 10 May and the 'Love West Dulwich Spring Fair' on Saturday 17 May.
Where: Greenwich Peninsula
Dates: Sunday 18 May
Description: A free one-day music and arts festival, featuring pop-ups, entertainment and market places – although there is a charge for some classes and workshops. There'll be street food vendors, debates and workshops for all ages..
Where: Brockwell Park, Herne Hill
Dates: Saturday 7 June - Sunday 8 June
Description: Wide variety of music and entertainment, arts and crafts, trade stalls, animals, steel orchestras and samba bands.
Home - The Great Exhibition Road Festival
Where: Various locations South Kensington, London
Dates: Saturday 7 June - Sunday 8 June
Description: Science and arts-based festival with various events across the two days. Events include 'science cabaret', pond dipping, guided local walking tours and a 'quantum disco'.
Where: Belfast
Dates: Friday 18 July - Sunday 27 July
Description: Celebrating Belfast's LGBTQ+ diversity with a week-long celebration including a huge parade, debates, music, comedy and film.
https://portstewartca.org/red-sails
Where: Portstewart
Dates: Sunday 20 July - Saturday 26 July
Description: A family-friendly festival with free music from local bands and orchestras, a puppet theatre show, exhibitions, and a spectacular firework display to end the festivities. The festival is mostly free but some events may charge.
Where: Dumfries
Dates: Saturday 28 June - Sunday 29 June
Description: Aimed at young people aged 12-25 and featuring celebrities as well as local bands. Register for a chance to get free tickets via the link above. Acts in previous years have included Ella Eyre, Pixie Lott and Jonas Blue.
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival – Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival
Where: Edinburgh
Dates: Friday 11 July - Sunday 20 July
Description: Established in 1978, the Edinburgh Jazz Festival is a mixture of free and ticketed events spread over a week in July.
Where: Glasgow Green
Dates: Saturday 19 July
Description: A celebration of Scotland's LGBTQ+ diversity. It includes a huge parade going through the city centre, with thousands of people taking part. Entry to the musical festival charges a fee.
Where: Edinburgh
Dates: Friday 1 August - Monday 25 August
Description: A huge arts festival with thousands of performances packed into hundreds of venues across the city. Many free events and shows to suit all ages including comedy.
www.southtynesidefestival.co.uk
Where: South Shields
Dates: Sunday 13 July, Sunday 20 July, Sunday 27 July and Sunday 3 August
Description: Live music and parades across four Sundays with acts including Nik Kershaw, Shayne Ward and Bjorn Again. All concerts are free but there are some 'priority plus' tickets for £6 which give early access and dedicated bars and toilets.
www.rothburymusicfestival.co.uk
Where: Rothbury, Northumberland
Dates: Friday 11 July - Sunday 13 July
Description: The festival offers traditional outdoor music, Highland dancing, craft stalls, competitions and workshops. Some events are ticketed and charge a fee - for 2025, the Joe Hutton celebration on Saturday afternoon and the final fling on Sunday morning are free. The acts on the outside stage are also free to watch.
Where: Stockton
Dates: Friday 1 August - Sunday 3 August
Description: Lots of free family events, including street theatre, a mobile football stadium, circus acts, dance shows, music and a community carnival.
https://www.festivalofthrift.co.uk/
Where: Billingham
Dates: Saturday 20 September - Sunday 21 September
Description: A weekend dedicated to celebrating creativity and sustainability through workshops, performances, talks and more.
https://talgarthfestival.co.uk/
Where: Talgarth, near Brecon
Dates: Saturday 23 August - Sunday 24 August
Description: Includes live music, stalls, a dog show, bouncy castle and kids' activities.
The Caerphilly Cheese Festival 2025
Where: Caerphilly Town Centre
Dates: Saturday 30 August - Sunday 31 August
Description: A festival including local and headline musicians along with food and drink stalls, workshops and craft sessions.
Where: Lowestoft
Dates: Saturday 21 June - Sunday 22 June
Description: A free beachfront festival with performing arts, music and DJ sets. The festival will open with the performance of a new sea shanty called Sunrise Upon Us. There will also be wellbeing classes, youth theatre and poetry performances.
Where: King's Lynn
Dates: Saturday 28 June - Saturday 12 July
Description: Music and entertainment festival celebrating its 40th year in 2025. Acts for 2025 include Ash, Ella Henderson, Tony Hadley as well as cover acts Taylored Swift and Noasis.
www.ipswichentertains.co.uk/ipswichmusicday/
Where: Christchurch Park, Ipswich
Dates: Sunday 6 July
Description: The largest free one-day music festival in the UK. 6 stages of live entertainment plus fairground rides and street food. This year the event will also include an Indian Summer Mela, with dedicated stage, food and workshops.
Where: Norwich city centre
Dates: Saturday 26 July
Description: Norwich's Gay Pride festival with a parade, live bands, stalls and arts and crafts
Where: Aldeburgh, Suffolk
Dates: Saturday 16 August - Monday 18 August
Description: A seaside street festival with floats, swimming races, food stalls and fireworks.
Where: Stowmarket
Dates: Saturday 24 May - Sunday 25 May
Description: Two-day music festival showcasing some of the best talent from East Anglia and further afield.
Where: Great Yarmouth
Dates: Thursday 28 May - Saturday 31 May
Description: A circus and street arts festival the whole family will enjoy.
Where: Winchester
Dates: Saturday 5 July
Description: Family-friendly festival of street performance and outdoor arts. Expect dance, acrobatics, clowning, street theatre, music and song around the city centre. Some of the acts are hatters - street performers who traditionally put a hat down on the ground following their performance to collect donations. This is where the festival gets its name, and it's completely optional to put a tip in their hat.
Where: Exmouth, Devon
Dates: Thursday 10 July - Sunday 13 July
Description: From comedy improv all the way through to a 'Stories from the sea' art exhibition, this three-day event hosts musicians and artists as well as a singing workshop, Ukulele band and puppet parade.
https://www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.co.uk/
Where: Tewkesbury
Dates: Saturday 12 July - Sunday 13 July
Description: Free Medieval festival featuring crafts, music, entertainers a battle re-enactment, historical displays, markets and a parade on Sunday through the town.
www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk
Where: Bristol
Dates: Friday 18 July - Sunday 20 July
Description: A showcase of international & local artists, plus street theatre talent and a display of ships, boats and fireworks.
Where: Charlbury, Oxfordshire
Dates: Saturday 19 - Sunday 20 July
Description: A mixture of live music and crafts - bands include Kanadia, Sub Theory and The Standard and crafts including willow weaving and stone carving.
Where: Christchurch
Dates: Saturday 2 August
Description: Christchurch Quay will host an afternoon and evening of smooth jazz and big band music.
Where: Bristol
Dates: Friday 8 August - Sunday 10 August
Description: A huge hot-air balloon event with over 130 hot-air balloons, fairground rides, trade stands and entertainment.
Where: Somerset, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire, Devon, Dorset and Cornwall.
Dates: 5 April - 13 December (depending on location)
Description: eat: hosts festivals across the South West covering Somerset, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire, Devon, Dorset and Cornwall. A celebration of local and fresh produce, with a cookery school, demo stage and more.
Where: Portland
Dates: Thursday 11 September - Sunday 14 September
Description: A showcase of contemporary art, including workshops, talks, cinema and more. Some events will charge a fee.
Where: Bridgwater, Somerset
Dates: Saturday 1 November
Description: An evening procession of illuminated floats through the streets of Somerset town.
Where: Bristol
Dates: Saturday 19 - Sunday 27 July
Description: A huge street art festival with music and live painting including workshops across a range of venues including Bristol's Tobacco Factory.
Where: Wessex
Dates: Saturday 31 May - Sunday 1 June
Description: Free folk festival featuring live music, a ceilidh, workshops and Morris dancing on the quayside and in a host of local pubs
www.englishrivieraairshow.co.uk
Where: Torbay
Dates: Friday 30 May - Sunday 1 June
Description: The annual English Riviera Air Show will return to Devon with breath taking air displays over the bay’s stunning natural amphitheatre. Expect world-class food, family-friendly activities and a two-day programme of stunts, displays and flypasts.
http://www.birminghamjazzfestival.com/
Where: Birmingham
Dates: Friday 18 July - Sunday 27 July
Description: Jazz & blues artists from across the world alongside the best from the UK.
Where: Worcester
Dates: Friday 18 July - Sunday 20 July
Description: Set in and around the pubs and streets of Upton upon Severn, Worcester, this music festival features everything from blues rock to bluegrass, country blues to New Orleans, acoustic to soul and gospel. This is a free festival, but there is a charge to buy camping tickets.
www.worcestermusicfestival.co.uk
Where: Worcester
Dates: Friday 12 September - Sunday 14 September
Description: Live, local and original music staged in pubs, clubs, cafes, and historic buildings around or near the city centre.
https://riverfestival.bedford.gov.uk/
Where: Bedford
Dates: Sadly no festival in 2025 but it's set to return in 2026.
Description: Live entertainment and activities, boat races and a water sports arena.
Where: Nottingham
Dates: Saturday 26 July
Description: Stage acts, drag queen competition and community parade, starting at Lace Market Square, to celebrate LGBTQ+ diversity.
www.facebook.com/riversidefestival
Where: Nottingham
Dates: Friday 1 August - Sunday 3 August
Description: Bustling street fair with vibrant mix of live music and performances from national and international artists, river-based activities, kids' zone and fun fair.
Where: Skegness and Mablethorpe
Dates: Friday 13 June - Sunday 15 June
Description: A festival with lots of free events, including participatory art, music from unsigned and local bands, stunts, street theatre and installations.
www.bradforddragonboatfestival.co.uk
Where: Bradford
Dates: Saturday 28 June - Sunday 29 June
Description: Dragon boat racing on the river Aire, with landside entertainment including food and drink stalls.
https://experiencewakefield.co.uk/event/liquorice-festival/
Where: Pontefract, West Yorks
Dates: Sunday 13 July
Description: Family celebration of the town's links with the growing and production of liquorice confectionery.
https://www.themusiccollective.co.uk/clarence-park-festival
Where: Wakefield
Dates: Saturday 26 July - Sunday 27 July
Description: Features a host of local and national bands. There's also a beer tent, food stalls, and craft stalls.
Where: Hull
Dates: Friday 29 August - Sunday 31 August
Description: An eclectic, family-friendly, and largely free, three-day extravaganza of music, dance, theatre, poetry, visual arts and comedy that celebrates Hull's independent spirit and contribution to the cause of freedom.
Where: Bradford
Dates: Saturday 13 September - Sunday 21 September
Description: Annual event celebrating the heritage of Saltaire Victorian model village through the arts.
Where: Sefton Park, Liverpool
Dates: No festival in 2025, but it will return in June 2026.
Description: Africa Oye showcases an eclectic mix of African and Caribbean music and culture in the UK, including afrobeats, dancehall, reggae and hip hop.
Where: Cathedral Gardens in Manchester
Dates: Friday 20 June - Sunday 22 June
Description: This festival celebrates the practices and folklores of other cultures from across Europe. Expect music, arts and crafts workshops.
Dates: Saturday 5 July
Description: A day of live music, tribute bands, local stalls and family-friendly activities.
Where: Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
Dates: Thursday 26 June - Sunday 29 June
Description: Music, theatre, dance and family activities set in Leigh Library Gardens. Visitors will be asked to donate a minimum of £5 towards the festival but it's not obligatory.
Where: Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
Dates: Sunday 29 June
Description: Music from a range of bands including North Cotswolds covers band 'Good Intent' - there will also be choirs, craft and food stalls.
Where: Faringdon Town Centre, Oxfordshire
Dates: Friday 11 July - Sunday 13 July
Description: A family-friendly music and community arts festival in the heart of Faringdon.
Where: Herne Bay, Kent
Dates: Sunday 20 July - Thursday 17 August
Description: Live music, street theatre, performances, workshops, demonstrations and more.
Where: Hastings, East Sussex
Dates: Friday 1 August - Sunday 10 August
Description: Carnival, music, performances, guided walks, a pram race and more.
Where: Ryde, Isle of Wight
Dates: Children’s Carnival Day: Saturday 23 August, Main Carnival: Thursday 28 August, Illuminated Carnival: Saturday 30 August
Description: Dating back to 1887, Ryde Carnival is a joyous parade of colour and light marking the end of summer. The main carnival is on Thursday 29 August.
Where: Reading
Dates: Saturday 30 August
Description: Music and dance festival to promote equality and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
Where: Faversham, Kent
Dates: Saturday 30 August - Sunday 31 August
Description: Traditional, fun festival set in the picturesque medieval town's square and surrounding streets, celebrating the days of hop picking in Kent. It offers live music across five stages, dance, circus acts, magic shows and more.
London
Northern Ireland
Scotland
North East England
Wales
East England
South West England
West Midlands
East Midlands
Yorkshire and Humber
North West England
South East England
Have we missed any? If you know of any great free festivals in your area that we've not included, we'd love to hear about them. Let us know in our Forum.
Paid festivals for free
As well as the free UK festivals listed above, there are a few ways to get into sold-out festivals for nothing.
Volunteering through charities
Some big charities like the Samaritans and Oxfam look for volunteers to help at big festivals. Don't volunteer if you're in it just for the free ticket – approach a charity you really believe in and do the work properly.
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Festival Samaritans provides volunteers for big festivals such as Glastonbury, Leeds and Reading. It recruits every January, and anyone is welcome to apply, whether or not they have been a member of the Samaritans before. You can register your interest now for next year's festivals.
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Oxfam provides stewards and campaigners who have to work between three and five shifts over the duration of big festivals. Head to the application page to sign up. Includes many paid-for festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds and Download.
Odd jobs like litter-picking & car park attending
It's not easy to make a festival run smoothly, and extra help is always required with anything from car park assistance and tent pitching to litter-picking. Organisers usually use firms which provide staff specifically for festivals.
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DC Services provide safety stewards, traffic marshals, recycling and litter teams to the likes of Leeds and Latitude (check its events calendar). Apply online to work as volunteer staff.
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Seed Staff - You can volunteer for various festivals, including Y Not?, Download, BBC Proms, Reading and Leeds. You can apply online, with volunteer jobs including wristbanding and picking up litter.
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Hotbox provides volunteers for anything from assisting festivalgoers with directions to helping them pitch their tents. If your application is successful, you'll have to work up to three shifts over the duration of the festival.
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Festaff supplies volunteers for stewarding, wristbanding, bar work and other general duties at festivals including Bestival, Isle of Wight, Rewind, and Creamfields. You can apply online, plus you may be required to attend training.
Volunteering for festivals independently
Another option is to check with festival organisers directly to see if they're looking for volunteers. They usually have a dedicated area on their website for this.
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