Leicester’s Riverside Festival returns with new main stage and late hours
Leicester’s largest free summer event, the Riverside Festival, is set to transform the city’s waterways on Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7. Organizers expect more than 60,000 people to attend the two-day celebration, which features a revamped layout and a program that stretches later into the evening than in previous years. The festival remains free to enter, spanning multiple sites including the River Soar, Bede Park, the De Montfort University campus, and Castle Gardens.
New central hub at Bede Park and extended festival hours
For the first time in the event’s history, the festival’s main stage will be relocated to the heart of Bede Park. This shift creates a central focal point for the musical program, which highlights local talent across a variety of genres. Visitors can plan for longer stays this year, as the music and entertainment schedules have been extended. Performances will run until 8:00 PM on Saturday and 7:00 PM on Sunday, allowing the atmosphere to continue well into the summer evenings.
Beyond the music, the festival grounds will host a diverse range of international street food vendors, licensed bars, and craft markets. The Mile Straight along the River Soar will serve as a bustling thoroughfare for walkabout entertainers and stalls, connecting the various festival zones. The inclusion of the De Montfort University campus and Castle Gardens ensures that the festival footprint accommodates the high footfall while offering different atmospheres, from high-energy stages to more relaxed riverside spots.
| Festival Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday 6 June & Sunday 7 June |
| Saturday Hours | Activities until 8:00 PM |
| Sunday Hours | Activities until 7:00 PM |
| Cost | Free entry for all attendees |
| Main Stage | Newly located in Bede Park |
| Water Activities | Kayaking, Boat Rides, Dragon Boat Racing (Sun) |
Creative workshops and immersive experiences on the River Soar
The 2026 edition of the Riverside Festival sees a significant boost in interactive programming thanks to additional funding from Arts Council England. This investment allows for a wider array of hands-on activities designed for families and young people. Literati Arts will provide pop-up poetry sessions, while the street art specialists at Graffwerk will lead collaborative mural-making workshops. For those interested in sustainable fashion, dedicated upcycling workshops will offer the chance to redesign clothing on-site.
Technology and heritage also collide on the water. Metro Boulot Dodo returns to Leicester with an immersive virtual reality experience. This follows their previous success with large-scale projections at Leicester Cathedral during the Light Up Leicester event. On the water itself, the River Soar will be active with boat rides and kayaking sessions throughout the weekend. The traditional dragon boat racing, a perennial crowd-favorite, is scheduled specifically for Sunday, providing competitive spectacle along the Mile Straight.
Community impact and Arts Council support for local talent
The festival is increasingly serving as a launchpad for the next generation of event professionals. This year, four Young Producers have been recruited to work directly with the city’s events team. Supported by Arts Council funding, these individuals are gaining direct experience in the logistics, planning, and delivery of a large-scale public festival. This initiative aims to build local capacity in the creative industries while ensuring the festival remains relevant to younger audiences.
Assistant city mayor for culture, Cllr Vi Dempster, noted that the extra funding has been pivotal in expanding the scope of the event. The focus for 2026 is on ensuring that the festival is not just a spectacle to watch, but a space where residents can actively participate in creation. From the pop-up art gallery along the waterside to the various workshops, the emphasis is on local engagement and the celebration of Leicester’s creative community.
Detailed travel information, including accessibility maps and full performance schedules, is available through the official Visit Leicester channels. Residents are encouraged to use public transport or cycling routes to reach the River Soar area, as significant crowds are expected throughout the weekend.
Source: Leicester City Council
