The much‑loved Wells Food Festival is back for its fourteenth year, ready to fill England's smallest city with flavour, fun, and a full day of free foodie adventures for all ages.

The beating heart of the festival is the Artisan Market, a vibrant showcase of the region's finest producers and culinary talent. Visitors can graze their way through more than 200 producers and street‑food stalls, spread across the Market Place, Palace Green, the Palace Moat, and the Recreation Ground. The successful expansion onto the Cathedral Green in 2025 goes from strength to strength with more stalls, plenty of seating and live music to enjoy.

Expect a world tour on a plate — from Guyanese curries to Tibetan momos, Mediterranean mezze to Texan‑style BBQ, plus the iconic flavours of the South West. Think dim sum, Somerset cheddar, kombucha, local gin, and everything in between.

This year's festival promises a joyful celebration of the region's extraordinary farming and food heritage — with brand‑new feature areas making their debut for 2026. Jon Abbott, Festival Director, says: "Wells Food Festival has always been a celebration of the people, producers and flavours that make Somerset special. This year's new features make it our most exciting programme yet, and we can't wait to welcome everyone back."

What Else is on the Menu

Big Nath's Fire Stage

Bristol BBQ legend Nathan Ritchie, founder of Big Nath's, brings the heat with live BBQ sessions throughout the day. Visitors can enjoy fiery demos, insider tips on smoking and grilling, and plenty of lively BBQ chat. Sessions will take place at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

Swan Green

Download our Nub News App!

- It’s FREE and available now
- Breaking news notifications
- Your Town in Your Pocket

This brand‑new area offers a relaxed, quintessentially English experience. With the Palace Moat as its backdrop, Swan Green is the perfect spot to unwind with friends, enjoy street food, sip local beer or cider, and soak up live music.

Discover English Wines

At the heart of Swan Green sits the ever‑popular English Wine Marquee. Meet vineyard owners, sample exceptional wines, or simply settle in with a glass and enjoy the atmosphere.

Food for Thought

The Food for Thought marquee in the Recreation Ground brings together inspiring local organisations tackling big issues such as food waste and food security. Exhibitors include Shepton Waste Action Group, Root Connections, FareShare South West, and The Kitchen Table bookshop's mobile van. Visitors can also meet Joanna Webster, global ambassador for the World Institute of Kimchi.

New this year is Table Talk, a series of short talks from organisations in the marquee. There is also a Q&A session with Headline Sponsor Charlie Bigham, and local MP, Tessa Munt, will be talking about the Good Food Bill.

The Children's Zone

Families will love the Children's Zone, where local schools and nurseries host hands‑on, food‑themed activities, including the intriguing 'Pumpkins Are Not Just for Halloween' stall. There's also an opportunity to become a food detective in the Children's Trail and embark on a delicious adventure following clues around the Festival to help solve a tasty mystery.

advertisement

Little Joe's Kitchen

A festival favourite, Little Joe's Kitchen returns with free hands‑on cookery sessions creating "Oodles of Noodles". Four 45‑minute sessions will run throughout the day, but spaces fill fast so families are encouraged to book early at the Recreation Ground.

Charlie Bigham's Returns as Headline Sponsor

Now in its fifth year as Headline Sponsor, Charlie Bigham's will host an interactive stand featuring craft activities and games, and delicious meals to buy, along with the chance to chat with the passionate team behind the brand.

For further information and to keep up-to-date with news and timings of talks, workshops and demos visit www.wellsfoodfestival.co.uk

Facebook: WellsFoodFestival

Instagram: Wells_food_festival