Sunderland Food and Drink Festival 2027, United Kingdom

What to expect in 2027

Sunderland Food & Drink Festival 2027 is expected to return to Sunderland city centre in June, bringing together international street food, local producers, drinks, live entertainment, family activities, fresh produce and market stalls. The exact 2027 dates have not yet been announced, but the festival has established itself as a major summer food and community event in the city.

The festival is organised by Sunderland’s BIDs and spreads across several city-centre locations rather than taking place inside one enclosed festival ground. Its established locations include Keel Square, High Street West and Market Square, creating a walkable food-and-entertainment trail through central Sunderland.

Visitors can expect a broad international food selection, with previous editions featuring Greek, Caribbean, German, Chinese, Indian, Turkish, Mexican, Thai, Korean, Japanese, American and other cuisines. Alongside hot street food, the festival brings fresh produce, handmade goods, sweets, sauces, preserves, cakes, fudge, olives, nuts, baklava and other products that visitors can enjoy on site or take home.

Food is only one part of the experience. The festival also includes live music, tribute performances, local artists, DJs, children’s entertainment, arts and crafts, interactive activities and community programming. Recent editions have included dedicated areas for sustainability and green living as well as special cultural pop-ups.

The 2027 programme has not yet been released, so individual traders, performers, workshops and special activities should be regarded as subject to confirmation.

Event dates

Sunderland Food & Drink Festival 2027 is planned for:

• Month: June 2027
• Exact dates: To be announced
• City: Sunderland, England
• Country: United Kingdom
• Event type: Food and drink festival
• Main locations: Keel Square, High Street West and potentially other city-centre spaces
• Admission: Previous editions have operated as a free public city-centre festival

The festival has traditionally operated as a multi-day summer event, with food stalls, drinks, entertainment and activities spread across several parts of Sunderland city centre.

The organisers have not yet published the exact 2027 schedule, opening hours or final site map. Visitors should check the official festival website as the event approaches for the confirmed programme and arrangements.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & festival site

Sunderland Food & Drink Festival does not have one conventional enclosed venue. Instead, it transforms several parts of Sunderland city centre into interconnected food, entertainment and market areas.

Keel Square

Keel Square is one of the principal festival locations and has traditionally hosted street food, bars, seating, live music and children’s activities. It also serves as a major entertainment hub, with a main stage used for musicians, tribute acts and other performers.

High Street West

High Street West provides additional street-food stands, fresh produce, local favourites, sweet treats, crafts and community activities. Previous programmes have also used the area for a Green Living Zone and street entertainment.

Market Square

Market Square has previously hosted food stalls, fresh produce, seating and entertainment. Special cultural pop-ups have also taken place here, including Afrobeat programming and Pride-related activities.

Because the festival is spread through central Sunderland, visitors can combine food stops with shopping, sightseeing and visits to nearby attractions.

Full food & drink programme

The complete 2027 food and drink programme has not yet been announced, but the established format provides a strong indication of what visitors can expect.

The festival focuses heavily on international street food, allowing visitors to sample dishes from different countries without leaving Sunderland city centre.

International street food

Previous editions have included Greek, German, American, Turkish, Indian, Caribbean, Mexican, Thai, Korean, Japanese and Chinese food. This creates a particularly broad selection for visitors who want to try several cuisines during one visit.

Fresh produce

Fresh produce traders have included stalls selling olives, nuts, baklava, vegetables, preserves, sauces, cakes and other specialist foods.

Sweet treats

Dessert options have included churros, fudge, cakes, pastries, bubble waffles, Dutch mini pancakes, Portuguese tarts and other sweet products.

Local favourites

Sunderland-based and North East traders form an important part of the festival, providing visitors with opportunities to support independent food businesses.

Bars and drinks

The festival also includes dedicated drink vendors and bars, with coffee, iced drinks, craft beer, cocktails and specialist bottled drinks represented in previous programmes.

Featured foods & specialties

The variety of food is one of the central reasons visitors come to Sunderland Food & Drink Festival.

Greek food

Greek vendors have previously served dishes such as gyros, grilled meats, souvlaki and spanakopita. These provide a mixture of grilled savoury food and traditional Greek bakery-style specialities.

Caribbean food

Caribbean-inspired dishes have formed part of the international street-food selection, bringing spicy flavours, grilled dishes and island-inspired specialities to the city centre.

German food

German sausages and other traditional-style street food have appeared in previous programmes.

Asian food

Thai, Korean, Japanese and Chinese food have all featured in previous editions, including noodles, dim sum, bao buns and other Asian-inspired dishes.

Mexican food

Mexican stalls have provided burritos and other street-food favourites.

Indian food

Indian street food, curries, wraps and spicy dishes have been represented by independent traders.

Sweet specialities

Fudge, churros, bubble waffles, cakes, Portuguese custard tarts, baklava and Dutch mini pancakes have all appeared among previous sweet offerings.

Restaurants, vendors & producers

The festival brings together temporary street-food operators, independent businesses, local producers, specialist drink companies and craft traders.

The current exhibitor information lists a wide range of food vendors, including Streat Eats, Habibi Shawarma, Little China Noodle Bar, Alaminos, Sunrise Patisserie, Chipstix, Pimentos Grill, Le Petite Cafe, Kharhi & Spice, Bites Baking, YumYaba, Granny Sally’s Fudge, Walnut Foods, Musafari Grills, Ravenscroft’s, Gingerbread Company, The Little Poffertje Pancake Shack and Top Notch Scotch Egg Co.

Additional vendors listed by the festival include The Taste of Greece, Saji’s Restaurant, Twisted Chick, On The Stick, INY Homemade, K-Top25 and Mexican Burritos. The organiser continues to update its exhibitor information, so the final 2027 list may contain different or additional traders.

Local producers

Local businesses are an important part of the event, giving Sunderland-based food companies and independent producers a platform to meet visitors.

International traders

The festival’s international vendors allow visitors to sample food from a wide variety of culinary traditions.

Take-home products

Many producers sell sauces, preserves, sweets, nuts, olives, fudge, baked goods and other products suitable for taking home.

Wine, beer & beverage selection

The drinks programme complements the food market with coffee, soft drinks, cocktails, beer and specialist beverages.

Craft beer

Wear Beer has appeared among the festival’s drinks exhibitors, offering locally brewed craft beer on draught alongside bottled drinks to take home.

Coffee

Coffee vendors have included Good Grounds, offering barista coffee, iced coffee and cold brews, as well as Gotham Coffee, which focuses on freshly ground beans.

Cocktails

Shake and Sip has operated a converted horse-trailer bar serving mixed cocktails.

Specialist drinks

O’Donnell Moonshine has also appeared among the drinks exhibitors, offering flavoured liqueurs and take-home bottles.

The final 2027 drinks lineup will depend on the confirmed exhibitors and licensing arrangements.

Tastings, cooking demos & workshops

The festival combines food with hands-on community activities.

Previous editions have included workshops covering gardening, arts and crafts, sustainability, upcycling and environmental awareness. Some activities have been particularly focused on children and families.

Food discovery

Visitors can sample dishes from different countries and speak directly with independent food traders about their products.

Green Living activities

The festival has previously introduced sustainability activities involving composting, renewable energy, recycling and environmentally conscious living.

Gardening

Gardening-related activities have included opportunities for children to learn about planting and growing food.

Creative workshops

Arts and crafts activities have included decorating plant pots, picture frames, wooden kitchen utensils and other objects.

The exact 2027 workshop programme has not yet been announced.

Ticket types & entry options

Sunderland Food & Drink Festival is structured as a public city-centre festival rather than a conventional ticketed food exhibition.

Previous editions have not advertised a general admission charge for entering the festival areas. Visitors can walk between the different city-centre locations and purchase food, drinks and products directly from individual traders.

General entry

General access to the festival areas has traditionally been free.

Food and drink purchases

Food, beverages and merchandise are purchased separately from participating traders.

Activities

Some special activities may be free while individual attractions or partner activities can have their own arrangements.

No confirmed 2027 ticket prices have been announced, and there is currently no basis for assigning a paid admission price to the 2027 festival.

VIP & premium experiences

Sunderland Food & Drink Festival is primarily a public community event rather than a VIP-focused food festival.

There has been no confirmed 2027 VIP ticket programme announced by the organisers.

Instead, the festival’s premium-style experiences are generally created through the quality and variety of individual food, drink and entertainment offerings.

Visitors looking for a more relaxed experience can make use of seating areas around the main festival locations, particularly around Keel Square, where food, bars and entertainment have traditionally been concentrated.

Individual businesses may offer their own premium products or experiences, but these are separate from festival admission.

Event rules

Visitors should follow instructions from festival staff, security personnel, traders and local authorities.

Respect the city-centre environment: The festival takes place in public urban spaces, so visitors should respect nearby businesses, residents and other members of the public.

Follow safety instructions: Crowded areas, live entertainment and food-service zones may have temporary access arrangements.

Food allergies: Visitors with allergies should speak directly with food vendors before ordering.

Responsible drinking: Alcohol should be consumed responsibly and visitors must comply with UK licensing requirements.

Children: Children should remain supervised, particularly around busy food areas, roads and entertainment spaces.

Waste: Visitors are encouraged to use appropriate bins and recycling facilities and help keep the city centre clean.

Vendor rules: Individual traders may have their own payment, ordering and collection procedures.

The festival is designed as an open public event, so visitors should expect normal city-centre safety and public-space rules to apply.

How to get there

Sunderland Food & Drink Festival takes place in central Sunderland, making it accessible from Newcastle, Durham, Teesside and other parts of North East England.

Visitors arriving by car can follow signs toward Sunderland city centre and then continue to one of the central car parks.

For visitors travelling from outside the region, Sunderland is connected by rail, Metro and bus services.

The central festival locations are within walking distance of each other, allowing visitors to create their own route through the different food and entertainment areas.

Visitors should allow extra travel time during the festival because the city centre can become considerably busier than normal.

Public transport & parking

Public transport is a practical way to reach Sunderland Food & Drink Festival.

Metro

Sunderland is served by the Tyne and Wear Metro, providing connections with Newcastle, South Tyneside and surrounding areas.

Train

Sunderland railway station provides national rail services and connects directly with the city’s Metro network.

Bus

A wide range of bus services operate into Sunderland city centre. The festival organisers have previously worked with Stagecoach North East to encourage visitors to travel by bus.

Walking

Once in central Sunderland, visitors can walk between Keel Square, High Street West and Market Square.

Parking

Several city-centre car parks are available around the festival area. The festival’s visitor information has identified parking options around St Mary’s Way, Farringdon Row and The Bridges Shopping Centre, with additional city-centre parking available.

Parking arrangements and charges can change, so visitors driving to the 2027 festival should check Sunderland City Council’s latest parking information before travelling.

Accommodation areas

Visitors travelling from outside Sunderland can choose accommodation in the city centre or nearby areas.

Sunderland city centre

Staying centrally provides the easiest access to the festival locations and allows visitors to walk between food, entertainment and shopping areas.

Roker

Roker is a useful option for visitors who want to combine the festival with Sunderland’s seafront and beach attractions.

Seaburn

Seaburn provides accommodation close to the coast and can be suitable for visitors extending their trip into a summer seaside break.

Newcastle

Newcastle offers a much larger selection of hotels and is connected to Sunderland by Metro and other public transport.

South Shields

South Shields provides another coastal accommodation option with public transport connections toward Sunderland.

For a food-focused weekend, staying in central Sunderland is particularly convenient because visitors can return to their accommodation without needing a car after sampling drinks.

Food & drink highlights

The festival’s main highlight is its international range.

Visitors can create a multi-course street-food experience by sampling several different stalls rather than choosing one meal.

International flavours

Greek gyros, German sausages, Caribbean dishes, Indian street food, Mexican burritos, Asian noodles, Korean-style food and other international options have featured across recent editions.

Sweet treats

Dessert vendors have offered fudge, cakes, churros, bubble waffles, Portuguese pastries, baklava and other sweets.

Fresh produce

Visitors can also shop for olives, nuts, preserves, sauces and other products to take home.

Local businesses

Local Sunderland and North East food businesses provide an important connection between the festival and the city’s independent food scene.

Drinks

Coffee, craft beer, cocktails and specialist drinks complement the food programme.

Accessibility

The festival takes place across public city-centre spaces rather than a single enclosed venue.

This can make the event relatively flexible for visitors because there are multiple routes between different areas, but busy pedestrian zones can become crowded.

Visitors with mobility requirements should consider planning their route between Keel Square, High Street West and Market Square in advance.

Level access

Much of the festival takes place on city-centre streets and squares, although temporary stalls, seating and crowds can affect movement.

Seating

Seating areas have been provided around festival locations, including Keel Square.

Public transport

Sunderland’s Metro and bus connections provide several ways to reach the central festival area.

Assistance

Visitors who require specific assistance should contact Sunderland BID before attending to discuss current arrangements.

Best days to attend

The exact 2027 schedule has not yet been announced, so the ideal day will depend on the final programme.

Visitors primarily interested in food can choose a day when the largest number of food and drink vendors are operating.

Those interested in live music should check the stage programme when it is published because performers vary throughout the festival.

For food

Allow several hours to walk between the different food areas, compare vendors and enjoy more than one meal or snack.

For families

Look for the day featuring the largest selection of children’s activities, games, crafts and interactive entertainment.

For live music

Keel Square has traditionally been the main entertainment hub, so visitors interested in performances should allow time there.

For a relaxed visit

Arriving earlier can provide more time to explore stalls before the busiest periods.

The festival’s city-centre layout also means visitors can combine their food visit with shopping and sightseeing.

Previous year’s highlights

Recent editions have shown substantial growth in attendance and programming.

The 2025 festival attracted around 50,000 visitors across its city-centre locations, according to Sunderland City Centre BID. The event included international food markets, live entertainment, street food, drinks and new initiatives such as an Afrobeat pop-up and the Eco Edit green-living programme.

The 2025 food programme included Greek, German, American, Turkish, Caribbean, Mexican, Thai, Korean and Japanese influences. Vendors included Sumo Bento, Twisted Chick and Musafari Grills, alongside numerous other food and dessert businesses.

The programme also expanded beyond food. Family activities included eco-friendly gardening, arts and crafts, interactive entertainment and sustainability projects. The Green Living Zone covered topics including recycling, renewable energy, upcycling and composting.

The 2026 programme continued the international food concept, with Greek, Caribbean, German and Chinese cuisine alongside fresh produce and local favourites. Live entertainment was also expanded across two stages, with performances from local musicians, tribute acts and other performers.

The continuing combination of international cuisine, local producers, live entertainment and family activities provides the foundation for the 2027 edition.

Official tickets

Sunderland Food & Drink Festival 2027 does not currently have a published paid ticket programme.

The festival’s established format is based on free public access to its city-centre locations, with visitors purchasing food, drinks and products directly from participating vendors. The organisers have not announced a 2027 general admission charge.

Visitors should check the official website before travelling for the final 2027 programme, trader list, entertainment schedule, festival map and any special-event arrangements.

The official festival website is the primary source for announcements from Sunderland BID, including updates about exhibitors, food vendors, entertainment and visitor information.

Official Sunderland Food & Drink Festival website (https://sunderlandfooddrinkfest.co.uk/)