The South West plays host to some of the best and biggest festivals in the country. From food-focused to music-motivated, these are the fests you need on your radar
Feast On, Bristol
Revellers will descend upon Bristol’s Clifton Downs on July 23–26 for the third consecutive Feast On festival.
Last year saw a record-breaking attendance for the fest, which has become a must-attend on the region’s event calendar. It’s become a quick hit thanks to its championing of the city’s thriving indie food scene, bringing together local restaurants, traders and producers across four indulgent days.
Highlights on this year’s line-up includes (deep breath) two live stages, live cooking demos, hands-on cooking classes, open-fire cooking, a produce market, communal banqueting tent, axe throwing, fairground rides and sustainability talks. Also new for the 2026 installment is the cocktail bar, upgraded VIP area, expanded children’s area and a refreshed line-up of newly opened restaurants alongside long-standing faves.
Bristol Craft Beer Festival
Bristol Amphitheatre on the harbourside will be awash with top-notch beer over the weekend of June 12–13. Bristol Craft Beer Festival is a true celebration of the good stuff, with more than 50 breweries pouring over 300 beers from local Bristol talent as well as regional icons such as St Austell, Wiper & True, Arbor and many more.
All of the flavour-forward sips are included in the ticket price, too, so it’s a delicious opportunity to swig a range of fresh-from-the-barrel homegrown brews – from experimental stouts and sours, and flagship ales and IPAs, to leftfield porters and pilsners. Beyond beer, ticket-holders can get stuck into cider, cocktails and spirit tastings.
Street food favourites such as Pig’s Pizzas, Danny’s Burgers and award-winning Gurt Wings will dial up the experience with delicious eats. To best complement the artisan pours, guests will want to check out the feasting menu from hero Bristol restaurants Bokman and Pasture.
Eden Sessions, Cornwall
It’s hard to think of a more mesmerising backdrop for a gig than the behemoth botanical domes at Eden Project. The eco attraction will once again play host to a series of live music events spread across the warmer months as part of its annual Eden Sessions.
The team have outdone themselves when it comes to this year’s line-up, which flexes class acts including Wolf Alice (who kick off proceedings on June 16), CMAT, Snow Patrol, Becky Hill, Pixies, The Maccabees and more. Do the sessions in style by booking one of the VIP packages and scoring the best-in-house views of the stage and pre-gig sipping in the exclusive bar.
End of the Road, Dorset
Headliners Pulp, CMAT and Mac DeMarco will be pulling in thousands of pint-holding, glitter-cheeked, welly-wearing party animals at Dorset’s End of the Road festival on September 3–6.
The 20th edition of the vibrant festival features over a hundred eclectic acts which swing between all kinds of genres, including the likes of experimental pop, cosmic psych, folk, dance-punk, rock and soul. In addition to field raving, festival-goers can check out an intriguing bill of comedy, cinema, art, literature and DJ sessions.
Castlewood Wine Festival, Devon
Raise a glass to the start of summer at this fabulous boutique festival from Castlewood Vineyard in east Devon.
On June 6, oenophiles will gather at this vineyard to sip English wines (not just Castlewood’s own sustainable sips, the team is kind enough to share the spotlight with a whole host of fave fellow wine brands such as Artefact, Danbury Ridge and many more, including newcomer to the South West wine scene – Brindiwell).
As in previous festival years, there’s a very special feasting event on the billing. This year it comes courtesy of River Cottage duo Chiara Tomasoni and Connor Reid, while other scrumptious food will be dished out by Soulshine, Glebe House and Tom’s Lyme Regis. We’ve also heard rumours there’s a Castlewood hog roast.
Sway to live tunes from Land of the Giants, Horses on the Beach, Andy Quick Band and more, take time out in the pretty woodland area that links the two patches of festival for a mini massage from The Pig’s therapists, let the kids roam free in the forest school and sign up for a vineyard tour before finishing the day at the cocktail bar, all amidst a picturesque setting of verdant countryside and vines.
Like 5 of the best South West festivals? Discover more seasonal inspo.
We choose the companies included in our 5 of the best features based on editorial integrity. Occasionally, some inclusions will be from clients with whom we have a commercial relationship.
