Summer Festivals

Flatpack at The Custard Factory, Birmingham, 30 April–5 May 2019 - Book now

Flatpack is a festival which takes over venues across Birmingham every spring. It draws people from far and wide with a mixture of films and performances.

Leeds International Festival at Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds, 2–12 May 2019, from £00.00 - Find Out More

Leeds International Festival, the UK’s leading metropolitan festival of new ideas and innovation, is back for its second year, this time featuring more than 50 events and 40 speakers over 15 days.

Manchester Jazz Festival 2019 at St Ann’s Square, City Centre, 23–27 May 2019, from £5.00 - Book now

The sound of jazz floats across the city for ten days in July, as Manchester Jazz Festival hosts performances across the city, with the central hub in Albert Square brimming with live music until late, street food and, of course, alcohol.

Sounds From the Other City 2019 at Unit 3, Regents Trading Estate, Manchester, 5 May 2019, from £27.75 - Book now

Salford’s Sounds From The Other City festival showcases the best of new and avant-garde music, arts and performance. The festival conducts its usual sprawling takeover of venues along Salford’s Chapel Street strip, lending churches, art galleries, breweries and old mills its own brand of unpredictability.

Be Festival at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Birmingham, 2–6 July 2019 - Book now

A daring and innovative creative programme – blurring borders and exploding boundaries – BE Festival features a genre-bending feast of European theatre, live music, performance and visual arts.

Timber Festival at Feanedock, 5–7 July 2019, from £70 - Find Out More

An extraordinary new festival where music, art, philosophy and sustainability weave together into an exhilarating weekend in the heart of the National Forest, one of Britain’s boldest environmental projects.

Manchester International Festival 2019 at Albert Square, City Centre, 4–21 July 2019, from £12.00 - Book now

Manchester International Festival is the world’s first festival of original work and special events – a biennial celebration of performance, art, music, theatre and more, which marries the world’s best-known artists with Manchester’s cultural institutions. Returning 4 – 21 July 2019, MIF19 is the second festival under Artistic Director John McGrath.

Supersonic at The Custard Factory, Birmingham, 19–21 July 2019, from £40 - Find Out More

Supersonic is an internationally-renowned experimental music and arts festival held in the holy land for heavy music: Birmingham.

bluedot festival 2018 at Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, 19–21 July 2019, from £59.75 - Book now

Entering its fourth year in 2019, bluedot celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landings with a special weekend of music, science, arts, technology, culture, food and film beneath the iconic Lovell Telescope.

Kendal Calling at Lowther Castle and Gardens, Cumbria, 25–28 July 2019, from £20.00 - Book now

With back-to-back sell outs in 2017 and 2018, we recommend you beg, borrow but don’t steal to get in to Kendal Calling. Courteeners, Doves, Manic Street Preachers, Nile Rodgers & Chid, Orbital and Years & Years are among the big names in 2019.

Underneath The Stars Festival at Cinderhill Farm, Cheshire, 2–4 August 2019, from £20 - Book now

This charismatic folk and acoustic music festival in the stunning South Yorkshire countryside has a cracking family-friendly arts programme and tremendous food. Musical highlights in 2019 include The Proclaimers, Billy Bragg and Kate Rusby – who is also one of the festival’s organisers.

CBBC Summer Social at Croxteth Hall and Country Park, Liverpool, 3–4 August 2019, from £25 - Book now

Caribbean Carnival of Manchester at Alexandra Park, Manchester, 10–11 August 2019, free entry - Find Out More

Don those dancing shoes. All are welcome to join in the revelry of legendary proportions in the region’s largest festival of Caribbean music and carnival arts.

Just So Festival at Rode Hall, Cheshire, 16–18 August 2019, from £20 - Book now

The best family festival in the UK? We think so. Adventure together into a wonderland of the best outdoor theatre, music, comedy, literature and other curious creative escapades. 2017 was all about midnight feasts, pillow fights and the bonkers Tribal Tournament. Be sure to snap up a 2018 ticket fast.

Vintage by the Sea at Midland Hotel, Morecambe, 31 August–1 September 2019, free entry - Find Out More

Celebrate the brilliance of 20th century design, fashion, vehicles and entertainment at this award-winning festival set around Morecambe’s famous art deco Midland Hotel.

The Good Life Experience at Hawarden Estate, 12–15 September 2019, from £119 - Book now

Co-founded by Cerys Matthews, The Good Life Experience returns for its fifth outing, in the shadows of two castles on the Hawarden Estate in Flintshire.

Manchester Folk Festival 2019 at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 16–20 October 2019, from £6.00 - Book now

Indulge in a long weekend packed with amazing gigs in great venues. Get involved in singing, songwriting and craft workshops. Grab your friends and dance a ceilidh. This festival is a chance to discover new bands, create something you’re proud of, relax with friends and make new connections. Plus the added excitement of the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, which it will host on the 16 October.