Key Points
- The Bolton Food and Drink Festival will run from August 28 to 31, 2026, across Bolton town centre, with stalls on Victoria Square, Newport Street, Deansgate, Market Street and Oxford Street.
- Hundreds of traders—more than 200, according to some reports—are expected, offering food, drink, crafts and artisan goods from across the UK and beyond.
- The line-up includes international cuisines (Greek, Turkish, Thai, Indian, Caribbean, Portuguese, Italian), sweet treats, artisan producers and a wide selection of drinks.
- Celebrity chefs Marco Pierre White, James Martin and Nisha Katona are set to feature in the 21st edition of the festival, alongside chef demonstrations and family activities.
- Live music will include Billy Bibby and the Starsailor frontman, plus local acts such as The Shed Project, Tommy Holland and The Florentenes.
- Family attractions include alpaca walks, circus skills, cooking workshops and other entertainment.
- Carrs Pasties, a Bolton bakery, will take part and has teased a new product reveal at the festival, as well as appearing at the “Pasties Pints and Punchlines” comedy event.
- Sponsors include Peel Land (Peel Group), with GM Business Growth Hub also listed as a proud sponsor.
- The trader list is still being finalised, with more stalls and attractions to be announced; full programme details are at boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com.
Bolton (Bolton Today) August 21, 2026 – The full trader line-up for the Bolton Food and Drink Festival has been published, confirming hundreds of stalls will take over the town centre from August 28 to 31 for the event’s 21st edition. According to The Bolton News, the festival will feature stalls on Victoria Square, Newport Street, Deansgate, Market Street and Oxford Street, with the trader list continuing to be finalised ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.
Cllr Debbie Newall, Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for culture, said:
“With hundreds of stalls lining the streets of the town centre, Bolton Food and Drink Festival offers something for every taste and budget, so come along and bring the family for a fantastic day out.”
Organisers and local media report that more than 200 food and drink traders are expected, serving dishes and produce from across the UK and around the world, alongside celebrity chef demonstrations, live music and free family entertainment.
What traders are on the full list for Bolton Food and Drink Festival 2026?
As reported by staff at The Bolton News, the published list includes a diverse mix of street food, artisan producers, sweet treats, drinks and non-food stalls. International flavours are prominent, with Greek Street Food by the Malaka Brothers, Istanbul’s Kitchen, Thai 2 Go, Happy Dumpling 365 and Dobra Kitchen among the headline food traders. Other global options include Portuguese pastries, Italian pasta, Caribbean dishes, Indian curries and Turkish shawarma, according to the outlet’s coverage.
Sweet stalls include Fifi’s Cheesecakes, Nutella House, Choc-O-Licious, Love Crepes and Pit Stop Donut King, while artisan producers range from Bright Meadows Honey and Great British Cheese Co to Handcrafted Real Bread Co, Wiltshire Chilli Farm and Heritage Kitchen Range of Preserves. Drinks traders include Northern Shakers, Salford Rum Company, Mountain Mead, Coole Swan and Retro Shots, the report adds.
The full line-up also features local and regional names such as Carrs Pasties, HMPasties, Wilde Bakery, Cornish Bakery, Gotham Coffee, Gourmet Burgers, Texas BBQ Guys, Stefano’s Porchetta & Tiramisu, and Renato’s Naples Street Food. Non-food and craft stalls include Daisy Louise Jewellery, Northern Star Jewellery, Grace Alexandra Jewellery, Caitland’s Handbags & Scarves, and Ruslyn Wood Creations, alongside charity and community presences such as Dogs Trust, Guide Dogs, Woodland Trust and the Royal British Legion.
Who are the headline chefs and entertainment acts at Bolton Food and Drink Festival?
Celebrity chef appearances are a major draw for the 21st festival, with Marco Pierre White, James Martin and Nisha Katona leading the culinary line-up, according to Manchester’s Finest. Nisha Katona’s involvement was separately highlighted by Bolton Council, which said she would “bring the flavour” to the event as part of a packed programme of chef demonstrations.
Live music will feature Billy Bibby and the Starsailor frontman, as reported by The Bolton News, with local acts including The Shed Project, Tommy Holland and The Florentenes also scheduled to perform over the Bank Holiday weekend. The festival’s broader entertainment offer includes family-friendly activities such as alpaca walks, circus skills and cooking workshops, as outlined by Great British Life and Visit Bolton.
Where will the festival take place in Bolton town centre?
The festival will occupy multiple streets and squares in Bolton town centre, with stalls on Victoria Square, Newport Street, Deansgate, Market Street and Oxford Street, according to The Bolton News. Bolton Council’s event information describes the festival as taking place “across Bolton town centre”, reinforcing the multi-site format that has become characteristic of the event in recent years.
A full map of trader locations will be posted nearer the festival date on the official website, boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com, organisers say.
When is Bolton Food and Drink Festival 2026 and what are the opening times?
The festival runs from Friday 28 August to Monday 31 August 2026, covering the August Bank Holiday weekend. HM Pasties, one of the confirmed traders, lists the daily opening hours as 10:00am to 6:00pm across the four days, noting that exact stall locations will be confirmed on social media closer to the event.
Organisers advise visitors to check boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com for the latest programme updates, event times and any additional trader announcements, as the line-up is still being finalised.
Explore More Bolton Events News
Free Percussion Storytime Sessions Launch at Bolton Libraries: Full Schedule, Bolton 2026
Woodland Trust Hosts Inclusive Ramble to Two Lads Cairns: Bolton 2026
What new products and special events are planned by traders?
Bolton bakery Carrs Pasties has teased a new pasty product to be revealed at the festival, according to The Bolton News. In addition to its stall, Carrs will take part in “Pasties Pints and Punchlines”, billed as “Bolton’s tastiest comedy event”, the report adds.
Other traders highlighted in pre-festival coverage include HMPasties, which confirmed its participation in the town-centre event after appearing at other regional artisan markets earlier in August. The festival’s sponsor list includes Peel Land (Peel Group), with GM Business Growth Hub also describing itself as a proud sponsor of the upcoming festival.
How can visitors find the latest trader updates and programme details?
Organisers state that a full list of traders and a map will be posted on boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com nearer the festival date, alongside booking information for future stallholders. The Bolton News reports that the trader line-up is still being finalised, with more stalls and attractions to be announced in the coming weeks.
For real-time updates, visitors are encouraged to monitor the official website and the festival’s social media channels, where exact locations and any last-minute changes will be communicated.
Why is the 21st Bolton Food and Drink Festival significant for the region?
Now in its 21st edition, the Bolton Food and Drink Festival is widely regarded as one of the biggest and best events of its kind in the UK, according to Bolton Council and regional tourism bodies. Visit Manchester describes the 2026 festival as featuring a “packed programme of chefs, family activities, and entertainment”, underlining its role in Greater Manchester’s summer events calendar.
Local media and council communications emphasise the festival’s economic and cultural impact, drawing visitors from across the North West and beyond to support independent traders, well-known brands and the town centre’s hospitality sector.
What safety, accessibility and family provisions are in place?
While detailed accessibility information is not set out in the trader list, the festival’s positioning as a family-friendly event is consistent across official and media coverage, with specific attractions for children and families highlighted by Great British Life and Visit Bolton. Charity and community stalls, including Dogs Trust, Guide Dogs and the Royal British Legion, indicate a broader social dimension to the event beyond food and drink.
Visitors with specific accessibility needs are advised to check the official website and council channels for any additional guidance on access, facilities and transport arrangements as the event approaches.
Who is organising and sponsoring Bolton Food and Drink Festival 2026?
Bolton Council is a key organiser, with Cllr Debbie Newall, the executive cabinet member for culture, quoted extensively in local coverage. The official festival website lists sponsors and provides information on stall bookings, programme updates and event maps.
Sponsors confirmed in media reports and trader materials include Peel Land (Peel Group) and GM Business Growth Hub. The presence of multiple sponsors underscores the festival’s scale and its role as a flagship event for Bolton’s cultural and economic offer.