Why is NFEST moving to a Friday & Saturday?
Exciting news, festival fans – in 2026 you’ll be able to start your weekend early with us!
Ultimately this change is about you. We believe moving to a Friday – Saturday format gives us more flexibility to programme the festival around the wide range of musical tastes and community activities you’ve told us you want from NFEST.
It means we’re better able to better balance original acts, emerging artists and crowd-pleasing party bands across the weekend – as well giving community groups great showcase spots at prime times and peak crowds. The new format also supports our new, more social festival experience, with a simplified site layout and bar inside the marquee, helping keep the atmosphere flowing.
Behind the scenes, a clearer two-day structure helps reduce volunteer burnout and makes it easier to attract the range of partners and suppliers who share our commitment to keeping NFEST free and affordable.
And while we’re saying goodbye to Sunday for now, we’re not losing the community heart of the festival: Saturday will continue to blend great live music with community-led activities and showcases, keeping NFEST firmly rooted in Needingworth.
On Friday 26th the site will open early evening, with music performances between 6 and 10pm. On Saturday 27th the festival will operate as normal, from12 noon until 10.30pm.
