Everything You Need to Know About Penkridge Open Air Festival 2026

Monday, 24 August 2026 11:11

Penkridge Open Air Festival returns to Staffordshire this Bank Holiday weekend, bringing three days of live music, entertainment, food, fairground rides and festival fun to Penkridge Sports & Recreation Centre.

Everything You Need to Know About Penkridge Open Air Festival 2026

Running from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th August 2026, the festival will welcome up to 2,500 people each day for a weekend built around live music, nostalgia and summer festival atmosphere.

Headline performances across the weekend include 2 Unlimited on Friday, ABC on Saturday and The Drifters on Sunday, with further acts also expected to be announced.

Friday will provide the energetic start to the weekend, followed by a full festival day on Saturday and a more relaxed, feel good Sunday to round off the Bank Holiday.

More than live music

Alongside the music, visitors can expect plenty happening around the festival site throughout the weekend.

There will be a selection of food traders, fully stocked bars and water stations, as well as fairground rides.

Entertainment will also include circus and BMX stunt shows, with workshops taking place as part of the programme.

Visitors are welcome to bring their own chairs, while gazebos are also permitted within designated areas. Gazebo spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. They cannot be erected before the festival gates open.

VIP areas at Penkridge Open Air

For those looking for a different festival experience, Penkridge Open Air will have VIP areas with a total capacity of 400 people.

The VIP offering includes three bars:

The Great British Beer Garden, sponsored by The Great British Beer Company

RIVA Lounge, sponsored by RIVA, Stafford

The Vineyard, sponsored by The Great British Beer Company

There will also be two marquee areas, covered and outdoor seating, a dedicated VIP festival entrance queue and luxury toilets.

The VIP areas are positioned at the sides of the festival and do not guarantee the best view of the stage.

Those who already have a general festival ticket can purchase a VIP Upgrade, although this does not include admission to the festival itself.

Alternatively, VIP + Entry includes both admission to the festival site and access to the VIP facilities.

Camping arrives for 2026

Camping is available at Penkridge Open Air for the first time in 2026, making it possible for visitors to turn the festival into a full Bank Holiday weekend away.

Camping options include a 5 metre by 5 metre plot for up to six people, together with a parking space.

Motorhomes and live in vehicles can also be accommodated, with 16 amp power supplied.

Free parking is available on site for festival visitors.

Can you take your own food and drink?

Visitors are allowed to bring some food and drink into the festival, although restrictions apply.

Cold picnic foods can be brought onto the site provided they are in sealed original packaging or clear containers.

Sealed bottles of water are permitted, as are empty refillable bottles. Baby formula and food needed for dietary requirements can also be brought in.

All bags will be checked by the festival security team at the entrance.

Alcohol, soft drinks, hot food, takeaways and barbecues are not permitted to be brought onto the festival site.

Food vendors, bars and water stations will be available within the arena.

Can dogs attend Penkridge Open Air?

Dogs are not permitted at the festival.

The sports grounds are owned by The Monckton Committee, which does not allow dogs on the site.

A smaller Staffordshire festival

Penkridge Open Air has a total capacity of 2,500 people, including its 400 capacity VIP areas.

The smaller scale gives the Staffordshire festival a different feel to some of the country's much larger music events, while still offering three days of headline music, entertainment and activities across the Bank Holiday weekend.