Music and Cultural Festivals in NewcastleGateshead to Look Forward to in 2026

Festival season might feel a like it's a while away, but 2026 is already shaping up to be a strong year for music and culture in NewcastleGateshead. From major headline music festivals, pride music events and cultural celebrations, the Geordie events calendar is jam packed with the best events to look forward to.

Read on to discover the best festivals and cultural events to look forward to in NewcastleGateshead...

8th - 12th July 2026

In The Park Festival comes to Newcastle this summer for five days of incredible headliner. It's going to be the festivals biggest and most memorable edition yet! At Exhibition Park you can enjoy days worth of music from the likes of Paul Weller, Lewis Capaldi and Wolf Alice.

Wednesday 8th & Thursday 9th July

Lewis Capaldi - The much-loved concert series kicks off on Wednesday 8th July with Lewis Capaldi, marking his biggest ever outdoor headline performance in the city. Joining Capaldi for these huge summer shows will be Jacob Alon, Heidi Curtis, Maximo Park and Leaszes. Grab tickets here.

Friday 10th July 

Paul Weller - Headlining Friday 10th July 2026 is the legendary Paul Weller, joined by special guests Miles Kane and Amelia Coburn. With one of the most celebrated catalogues in British music, spanning The Jam, The Style Council and a critically acclaimed solo career, Weller promises a powerful, career-spanning performance beneath the summer skies. Grab tickets here.

Sunday 12th July

Wolf Alice - One of the most influential and dynamic bands of the past decade, they will take to the stage on Sunday 12th July, closing out the summer concert series in style, live at Exhibition Park and will be joined by special guests. KEO. Grab tickets here.

9th - 12th July

Starting back in 2005, the Mouth of the Tyne Festival takes place every July for a weekend of live music and international street theatre in Tynemouth. Taking place this year on the 9th until the 12th of July, the festival line up includes The K's, Ministry of Sound Classical, Self Esteem and many more. Make sure you are there for the fun at the coast, get your tickets here. 

11th July

Newcastle will host Lost Minds Festival again this summer, bringing an electric line-up of dance music from world-class DJ's to the Exhibition Park 11th July 2026. Enjoy the summer sun and dance the day away into the night with world-renowned headliner Holy Priest and Oliver Heldens. The beat-fuelled line up doesn't stop there with this festival promising to deliver nothing short of a great time for trance, dance and techno fans alike with acts joining the stage such as Billy Gilles, Elmefti, Jason Cluff and so many more great acts. Tickets for Lost Minds are on sale now!

25th - 26th July

Newcastle Pride will return to the city 25th - 26th July 2026 and everyone's invited! From celebration to activism, to meeting up with old friends to making new ones, this is a weekend for all generations, all LGBTQ+ representations and allies.

So, what's on?

Newcastle Pride Arena

Central Park at Times Square will be transformed into the Pride Arena, with huge production main stage, over 50 metres of bar space, street food, private VIP area & viewing platform plus a full decor takeover creating vibrant & colourful surroundings which will create a super positive place for singing, dancing and most importantly... partying!

You can expect iconic performances from:

• Nadine Coyle
• Katy B
• RuPaul's Drag Race UK icons Danny Beard and Bimini
• North East favourites Miss Rory, Dallhaus and Queerdo

Grab your tickets here.

29th August

The Noughty 90s Festival sees your favourite Noughties and Nineties artists perform legendary "old-skool" bangers from two of the most important decades in music history. The two day affair will have multiple stages of music, plus funfair rides, retro bars, gourmet street food vendors, 90’s arcades, an exclusive VIP Area and so much more. Take it back to the good old days and reminisce your youth with the ultimate throwback. This year's event will take place in Leazes Park on 29th August 2026. Buy your tickets here.

3rd - 5th September

Marking its 11th year, the weekend celebration returns to the stunning Northumberland coast on 3rd - 5th September, offering an unforgettable weekend of music, late-night DJ sets, yoga and art installations, all with the iconic Holy Island as its backdrop. Featuring incredible acts like Fathless, Razorlight, The Proclaimers and so many more, it's going to be a great event. Find out more here.

Second Speed Accelerate Festival will takeover Gateshead International Stadium on 26th September. The line-up is yet to be announced but early-bird tickets are available now for keen music-lovers. The line-up (phase 1) includes acts such as Anderex b2b So Juice, DJ 2QWIK2GRUV, Jowi b2b Yoshiko, Kobosil, Nikolina, Onlynumbers, Vieze Asbak B2B, Winson and many more, yet to be announced. Find out more here.

8th & 9th May

The Late Shows are an award-winning free after-hours culture crawl. takes place annually in May across venues in Ouseburn Valley, Gateshead, and central Newcastle. During The Late Shows, open art studios, music and performance venues, galleries, museums, studio collectives and landmark historical buildings come together to host intriguing interactive events for visitors. It’s all about encouraging people to do something cultural with their evening. All venues taking part in The Late Shows are free to enter during the weekend event and the vast majority of events are drop in. Mark your calendars and don’t miss this unmissable weekend of after-hours culture! Find out more here.

4th & 5th July

The Ouseburn Festival returns this year on the 4th & 5th July. The Ouseburn Festival is a long-running community event that celebrates all the brilliant venues, spaces and people that make Ouseburn Valley the wonderful place it is. The weekend is made up of a mix of outdoor and venue-led activities/performances. This year there are brilliant events planned - the full line up will be revealed here one week before the festival.

NOVUM Newcastle Summer Festival returns for a three-day takeover of Newcastle’s city centre, transforming streets, squares and unexpected corners into a playground of performance, creativity and community celebration. Expect a packed, family-friendly programme of free events, including outdoor performances, playful installations, artist workshops, music and plenty of pop-up “you just had to be there” moments. From a monumental artwork weaving through the city to colourful creative takeovers of public spaces, Novum 2026 invites you to enjoy a weekend of culture, entertainment and play right in the heart of Newcastle. Programme teasers, a new festival website and new brand look are coming soon, so keep an eye on this blog for more information soon.