Cardiff Food and Drink Festival returns with global flavours and standout live music

Thursday, 4 June 2026

Cardiff’s much-loved Food and Drink Festival is back this summer with an exciting mix of local food heroes, global flavours, award-winning producers and a diverse programme of live music across three days.

Visitors to Cardiff Bay’s Roald Dahl Plass from Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th July can expect a vibrant celebration of Welsh produce, homegrown and international independent traders, served up alongside street food flavours from around the world.

Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “Year after year, Cardiff Food and Drink Festival delivers a real treat for the taste buds and a great family day out that draws visitors to Cardiff Bay from far and wide.

This year’s festival features a strong line-up of Welsh businesses, including Cardiff Dough & Co, serving fresh brioche doughnuts and cookies made less than five miles from the site, and The Dough Thrower, offering freshly-made wood-fired pizzas crafted with quality ingredients.

Food lovers can also enjoy bold global flavours including Keralan Karavan’s southern Indian street food and crowd-pleasing favourites like Fat Bottom Welsh Cakes, serving traditional and inventive variations on the classic treat.

Returning festival favourites include Barti Rum, an award-winning Welsh spiced rum infused with hand-picked Pembrokeshire laver seaweed, and The Mighty Soft Shell Crab, known for its standout tempura dish.

Other notable traders include Cardi Bay Bangers, who produce premium sausages from Teifi Valley ingredients, The Bearded Taco’s award-winning Mexican street food, and Zio’s Gelateria with their locally made gelato and sorbets from Barry Island.

Alongside the food offering, the festival will feature a packed programme of live music, showcasing a wide range of genres from indie pop and folk to reggae, funk and beyond.

Friday’s line-up includes jangly guitar pop from Newport’s Burning Ferns, and one of the UK’s leading Cuban salsa bands, Fiesta Resistance, bringing some Latin flair to the waterfront. Festivalgoers can also enjoy a who’s who of Congolese musical talent as Soukous specialists Kasai Masai, led by the “Voodoo King” Nickens Nkoso, sound a high-energy close to the day.

On Saturday, highlights include quirky indie pop from Dan’s People, eclectic twin-led outfit Nookee, and Butetown legend Keith Murrell and his band Roots and Branches, shining a light on reggae’s rich musical heritage.

Sunday’s programme offers a soulful finale, with Jack Mac’s Funk Pack returning with brassy grooves, and Tiger Bay legend Li Harding, leading a performance of soul, jazz and, R ‘n’ B and New Orleans sounds, backed by Gary Phillips’ internationally renowned band. Singing in Sanskrit, Welsh Hindi and English, festival debutants Gitan will bring a unique cultural fusion, blending Welsh folk with Indian classical influences.

OPENING TIMES:

Friday: 12:00 – 22:00* | Saturday: 11:00 – 22:00* | Sunday: 11:00 – 19:00

*Street Food Piazza and Bars are open until 22:00, while Farmers Market, Producers Fair and Crafters Market close at 21:00 and trade stalls close at 19:00.

Entry to the Cardiff Food and Drink Festival site is free and no ticket is needed.