When does the Festival take place?
Bishfest takes place at Bishop Auckland Football Ground over the weekend of the 11th & 12th of July 2026
What are the ticket prices?
Saturday:
Adults £30 (Early Bird £25),
*Ages 13–17 £15 (Early Bird £10),
Under 13s free with an adult.
Pay on the door – £35
Sunday:
Adults £20 (Early Bird £15),
*Ages 13–17 £10 (Early Bird £5),
Under 13s free with an adult.
Pay on the door – £25
Early Bird available until 1 April 2026. *13-17 year old tickets only available when purchased with at least one adult ticket
Do I need ID?
Yes. Challenge 25 applies. Those unable to prove they are over 18 will receive an under-18 wristband and cannot buy or consume alcohol.
Is camping available?
No, BishFest is a day-only event and camping is not available on site.
Can I bring chairs?
Yes, you may bring camping chairs.
Can I bring my own food?
No food is allowed to be brought into the festival.
Can I bring my own drinks or water?
No drinks may be brought in except one sealed 500ml bottle of water per person. No flasks.
What time is last entry?
It is recommended to arrive before the final band begins, as entry may close at this point.
What food and drink will be available?
The food village offers a range of hot food and street food. The bar serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, though selections may be more limited than a pub due to the event’s size.
Bar and Alcohol
How does payment work at the bar?
To assist with service speed and site security, we prefer payment at the bar to be contactless via mobile device or card; chip and pin is also available. We have a cash lane for those customers who wish to pay in cash.
Do I need to buy a reusable cup?
To help with the environmental impact of the festival and to keep bar prices as low as possible, you will need to buy a souvenir drinks cup when buying your first drink. This is yours to keep, reuse and take home. Should you want a fresh cup during the day, our team will happily give you a clean one in exchange for your (intact) old one. You can, of course, bring your own cup, but the team will only be able to use this if it is government-stamped as 1 pint (or 1/2 pint). If you don’t have a cup when coming to the bar, you will need to buy one to be served a drink.
Can I bring my own alcohol?
No. Alcohol consumed on site must be purchased from BishFest as part of our licence conditions.
What are the bar opening times?
The bar opens with the festival gates and closes 30 minutes before the final performance ends.