The Southsea Food Festival is returning on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July 2026, taking over Southsea town centre from 10am to 5pm each day. This year's edition, themed "Rediscover Portsmouth," is held in partnership with the Hendy Group and is completely free to attend. The festival area will stretch across Palmerston Road, Clarendon Road, and Osborne Road, reaching down to the Common and Avenue De Caen. Over 100 traders are setting up stalls, offering a wide variety of food and drink from churros, takoyaki, and macarons to BBQ, vegetarian, and vegan options. Local craft beers, Portsmouth's award-winning rum, and teas will also be available alongside live demonstrations at the Kitchen Stage, live music, and family entertainment.
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This year introduces a new Tasting Trail designed to help visitors explore local specialities. For those who want a more structured experience, Portsmouth Foodguide is running guided taste tours during the festival. Founded by James Donougher, this local outfit offers walking tours focused on independent venues. Their regular options include the Sailor's Walking Tour, a 2.5-hour route visiting five pubs near the port for £50 per person, starting at the what3words location trade.stove.hats. They also have longer experiences in development, such as the 5-hour Captain's Walking Tour for £80 and the 6-hour Admiral's Walking Tour for £150, which includes a brewery tour, tank tastings, and a hot meal. These tours require advance booking and are designed for small, adult-only groups.
The festival also ties into the wider "Portsmouth 100" celebrations, which mark the centenary of Portsmouth receiving city status in 1926. This year-long programme includes several upcoming events in July, such as the Portsmouth Music Hub's vocal showcase on 9 July, the Centenary Concert Series in Guildhall Square from 10 to 18 July, and the Pride of Portsmouth Lion Trail starting on 13 July. Because the food festival requires extensive street closures in central Southsea, anyone planning to travel into the area should check local road closure updates before heading out.
Published Date
30 June 2026
