Leicester’s Riverside Festival returns on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June, bringing a free weekend programme across the River Soar, Bede Park, De Montfort University campus, Castle Street, The Newarke and Castle Gardens.
The event is free to attend and no booking is required. Leicester City Council has not stated a public start time in its notice, but traffic restrictions for the festival area run from 7am on Saturday until 8pm on Sunday.
The festival is aimed at the general public and families, with arts, music, performance, funfair rides, boat trips, heritage attractions and food stalls spread across several city centre sites.
The essentials for visitors
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Event | Riverside Festival |
| Dates | Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June |
| Time | Start time not stated; restrictions run 7am Saturday to 8pm Sunday |
| Location | River Soar’s Mile Straight, Bede Park, De Montfort University campus, Castle Street, The Newarke and Castle Gardens |
| Cost | Free |
| Booking | No booking required |
| Best suited for | Families, local residents and general visitors |
The festival covers a wide stretch of Leicester city centre rather than one enclosed site, so visitors should plan around walking routes, traffic restrictions and where they want to arrive first.
For a broader event preview, see this guide to the free Riverside Festival in Leicester.
Music, food, markets and riverside activity
The Riverside Festival is described by Leicester City Council as the city’s largest free festival, with activity running along the River Soar’s Mile Straight and through nearby public spaces and campus areas.
Across the festival locations, visitors can expect international street food, licensed bars, craft markets and stalls, plus walkabout entertainers. The programme also includes arts, music and performance, alongside family-friendly activities, funfair rides, boat trips and heritage attractions.
The spread of locations means Castle Gardens, Bede Park, The Newarke and the DMU campus will each form part of the weekend route. That gives families and groups flexibility, but it also makes route planning more useful than simply turning up at one gate.
Roads closed and travel advice
Traffic restrictions will be in place on some roads from 7am on Saturday until 8pm on Sunday to allow the festival to take place.
Roads closed to traffic include Western Boulevard, Mill Lane, The Newarke, Castle View, The Gateway, Newarke Close, Grasmere Street and Eastern Boulevard.
Walking is likely to be one of the simplest ways to reach the festival, with the council pointing visitors towards the scenic route along the River Soar. Anyone cycling can use free secure bike parking at Bede Park, Western Boulevard and the DMU campus; the council says visitors should look for the large Ride Leicester flags.
Cyclists arriving at the festival can also get free cycle hub membership for the whole year, usually priced at £10. That gives access to free bike parking at the Town Hall bike park and St Margaret’s cycle hub.
Car parking in the immediate area will be limited, so drivers are advised to use city centre car parks. For taxis, suggested drop-off points are Western Boulevard for Bede Park, The Gateway for the DMU campus and Castle Street for Castle Gardens.
Accessibility across the festival sites
A calm space will be available throughout the festival at Kimberlin Library on the DMU campus. It will include ear defenders, fidget toys and an accessible toilet.
Accessible toilets will also be available across the festival, with a Changing Places space at Jewry Wall Museum. Selected activities at Castle Gardens will include British Sign Language interpretation.
Local charity Mosaic will offer trips on Sunbeam II, a fully accessible narrowboat with ramp access. Leicester Wheels for All will be based on The Newarke, showcasing adaptable bikes for all ages and abilities, including wheelchair users.
Leicester Wheels for All will also run a bike taxi service for visitors needing extra help getting around the festival sites. Wayfinders, large print maps and festival staff in yellow hi-vis jackets will be available around the site.
Source: Leicester City Council
Source check Source trail
This event guide is based on Leicester City Council’s published notice for Riverside Festival.
- Checked the festival dates as Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June.
- Checked that entry is free and no booking requirement was stated.
- Checked listed festival locations, road closures and suggested travel points.
- Checked accessibility details including calm space, BSL interpretation and accessible narr...
- Source
- Leicester City Council
- Scope
- Leicester
- Updated
- 2026-06-05 02:57
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