Foodies Festival returns to Oxford’s South Park over the bank holiday weekend

Celebrity chefs, chart-topping music and plenty of tasty treats await at this year’s Foodies Festival in Oxford’s South Park.

Fancy spending the bank holiday weekend eating, drinking and dancing your way around South Park? Foodies Festival returns to Oxford from 29 to 31 August 2026, celebrating its 21st year with a star-studded mix of food, music and family fun.

The three-day gastronomic extravaganza brings together an impressive menu of celebrity chefs, bakers and food experts, alongside some seriously nostalgic pop acts.

Among the headline names are MasterChef 2025 champion Harry Maguire and finalist Sam Kaeokon, alongside MasterChef champions Thomas Frake and Dhruv Baker. Royal cake-maker Mich Turner MBE, BBC Platinum Pudding finalist Sam Smith, TV chef and author Radhika Howarth and MasterChef: The Professionals star William Joshua will also take to the stages.

There’s plenty of local talent on the menu, too. Great British Menu star Ashleigh Farrand, head chef at the Kingham Plough, and Andrew Carr, head chef at Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand restaurant The Yurt, are among the chefs showcasing their skills.

Foodies is about far more than watching other people cook, though. In the Chefs Theatre, visitors can pick up tips and tricks while watching culinary stars create signature dishes, while the Cake & Desserts Theatre promises plenty of spectacular bakes. New for 2026 is Ready, Steady, Cook!, an audience-powered competitive cook-off pitting star chefs against each other.

For those with a taste for something stronger, the Drinks Theatre offers tutored masterclasses covering Champagne, beer, cider, cocktails and wine, while the Artisan Market and Feasting Tent provide ample opportunity to sample, shop and graze. And if you like your food with a serious kick, the legendary chilli-eating competition is turning up the heat with the Ultimate Hot Wings Challenge.

Then there’s the music. Boyzone and Westlife supergroup Boyzlife, featuring Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden, will perform their collection of No 1 hits, while Pop Idol favourite Gareth Gates brings his Boyband in the Park show, packed with favourites from the 1990s and 2000s. Iconic 90s group B*Witched will also take to the stage.

“We’ve got a set list full of our favourite hits, so dancing and singing along is a must!” says Boyzlife.

Younger festival-goers haven’t been forgotten, with a Kids Cookery School, new Foodies Treasure Hunt Trail, fairground and Kids Zone.

Add local bands, street food from around the globe and plenty of opportunities to discover new flavours, and Oxford’s bank holiday looks decidedly delicious.

Find tickets and more information at foodiesfestival.com.

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