Delapre Food Festival 2026 – A Foodie Family Day Out at Delapre Abbey, Northampton

If you’re looking for a brilliant day out this summer that’s just as good for the kids as it is for the grown-ups, I’ve got one for you. The Delapre Food Festival is back for 2026, and it sounds like it’s going to be their biggest and best year yet. Set in the gorgeous grounds of Delapre Abbey right here in Northampton, this is very much one for the diary. Whether you’re a proper foodie or just fancy a lovely afternoon out with the family in a beautiful setting, there is genuinely something for everyone. Here’s what you need to know.

Northamptonshire’s much-loved Delapre Food Festival returns in 2026, bringing a vibrant celebration of local and regional produce to the grounds of this stunning urban country house. NN’s finest food and drink festival is back for a fabulous foodie and family experience. Artisan food and drink stalls will fill the lawns at Delapre Abbey for a grand summer weekend.

Visitors can look forward to professional chef demonstrations, outdoor bars, wine and gin tastings, cocktail workshops, cheese masterclasses, a live-fire cooking school and a free family circus for all ages. Your ticket also includes guided tours of the historic Abbey — one of Northampton’s true heritage treasures.

New for 2026, there’s also a Street Food Evening on the Saturday, meaning more time, more food and more music into the evening. There’s also an exclusive Live Fire Festival Banquet — an eight-course tasting experience where Colter Peck and James Peck team up for something truly special.

A Texas BBQ Star Comes to Northampton

This summer, the festival is welcoming Texas BBQ legend Colter Peck to the show, keeping the party going into the evening with street food and live music. Alongside the international headliner, the chef demo stage will spotlight some of the region’s best, including Hibiscus head chef Bart Polinski.

Festival founder Crispin Slee said: “We are incredibly excited to bring Delapre Food Festival back for 2026 with our most ambitious line-up yet. Bringing a talent like Colter Peck over from Texas is a huge coup for Northampton; it bridges the gap between our local ‘Live Fire’ scene and the world-class BBQ culture of the States. From our free family circus to the new evening street food party, we’ve designed this weekend to be a true celebration of great food and great vibes in one of the town’s most beautiful heritage settings.”

What’s On for Families

If you’re thinking about bringing the family, there’s a free circus, face painting, bouncy castles and kids’ cookery classes — more than enough to keep little ones entertained while the adults explore the food stalls and tastings.

In addition to vendors supplying wines, cheeses, baked goods, chocolate, preserves and everything in between, the festival will also be hosting dozens of chef demonstrations, tasting sessions and masterclasses, as well as live music and family activities across the Abbey grounds.

Ember, Northamptonshire’s premier live-fire restaurant, will run the live-fire cooking school for aspiring pitmasters — though this does require a separate ticket. Guided house tours run twice daily, or you can explore at your own pace. The Orangery will be serving cream teas on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

A Taste of Something New

Visitors will also have the chance to be among the first to try something truly local and special — the Northamptonshire Scone. Moulton College students won a culinary competition between local colleges and will be launching their winning product at the festival. It’s a unique apple cider scone, served with whipped honey and cinnamon butter, designed to celebrate Northamptonshire’s rich and diverse food scene.

The Practical Bits

Dates and Times: Saturday 6 June, 10am–5pm (plus Street Food Evening 5pm–9pm) and Sunday 7 June, 10am–4pm.

Location: Delapre Abbey, London Road, Northampton, NN4 8AW

Tickets

• Adult early bird: £12 | Second release: £16 | On the day: £20
• Children under 5: Free
• Child (5 and above): £5
• Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children over 5): Early bird £30 | Second release: £40 | On the day: £50
• Booking fees apply

Tickets are available via Eventbrite. Head to delaprefoodfestival.co.uk for full details and to book.

Parking: Free on-site parking is available.

Accessibility: Inclusive access is available, though do note that some areas of the grounds can be uneven.

Please note that no dogs or food and drink are allowed inside the house.

If you love discovering brilliant local food events like this one, make sure you’re signed up to my weekly newsletter — I share the best things happening for families across Northamptonshire every week, so you never miss out. And if you’re already planning a fun-filled summer with the kids, don’t forget to grab my free Rainy Day Ideas Pack — perfect for the days in between all the adventures.

The events listed in this guide are run by third-party organisers, and all details were correct at the time of publication, based on information from their official websites. However, changes or cancellations can happen at short notice. To avoid any disappointment, we recommend double-checking the event information on the official websites before making plans.