Overview
- Organisers have confirmed the 21st edition will run from Friday 28 to Monday 31 August 2026 over the late August Bank Holiday.
- Celebrity chef James Martin is booked as a headline act with live cooking demonstrations at the Albert Halls, with tickets required and expected to sell quickly.
- The festival won NABMA’s 2026 Best Large Speciality Market, with the association praising its scale, quality and social value.
- Plans outline hundreds of stalls from local and regional traders plus free family activities and free live music across two stages, with more details to follow.
- Media reports cite about 500,000 annual visitors and comparisons to Glastonbury, while Bolton Council describes the event as a flagship economic boost for the town.