Leicester’s Riverside Festival returns on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June, bringing the city’s largest free festival back to the River Soar and surrounding city-centre streets.
The event is free to attend and does not require booking. Activities will run across River Soar’s Mile Straight, Bede Park, the De Montfort University campus, Castle Street, The Newarke and Castle Gardens. Leicester City Council says traffic restrictions will be in place from 7am on Saturday until 8pm on Sunday, so visitors are being asked to plan how they travel before setting off.
The festival is aimed at the general public and families, with arts, music, performance, funfair rides, boat trips, heritage attractions, food, markets and accessible activities spread across several sites.
Dates, places and entry details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Riverside Festival |
| Location | Leicester city centre |
| Dates | Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June |
| Cost | Free |
| Booking | No booking required |
| Main areas | River Soar’s Mile Straight, Bede Park, De Montfort University campus, Castle Street, The Newarke and Castle Gardens |
A public start time has not been stated in the source information. The practical timing to note is the road restriction window, which runs from 7am on Saturday until 8pm on Sunday.
Visitors planning the weekend may also want to compare this guide with earlier coverage of Riverside Festival’s free weekend programme, which focuses on the music, family activities and heritage elements.
Music, food, markets and family activities
The programme covers arts, music and performance, with family-friendly activities across the festival footprint. Funfair rides, boat trips and heritage attractions are also part of the weekend.
Across the sites, visitors can expect international street food, licensed bars, craft markets and stalls. Walkabout entertainers will be moving around the festival areas, adding to the activity between the main locations.
Because Riverside Festival is spread across the riverside and nearby city-centre streets, it is worth treating the day as a moving route rather than a single-stage event. Bede Park, the DMU campus, Castle Street, The Newarke and Castle Gardens are all named festival areas, so comfortable footwear and a clear meeting point will help families and groups stay together.
Road closures and travel options
Leicester City Council says some roads will be closed to traffic from 7am on Saturday until 8pm on Sunday to allow the festival to take place. Roads listed for closure include Western Boulevard, Mill Lane, The Newarke, Castle View, The Gateway, Newarke Close, Grasmere Street and Eastern Boulevard.
Walkers can use the scenic route along the River Soar to reach the festival. Cyclists will have free secure bike parking at Bede Park, Western Boulevard and the DMU campus, marked by large Ride Leicester flags.
People arriving by bike can also get free cycle hub membership for the whole year, normally costing £10. That membership gives access to free bike parking at the Town Hall bike park and St Margaret’s cycle hub.
Parking close to the festival area is expected to be very limited. Drivers are advised to use city-centre car parks. Suggested taxi drop-off points are Western Boulevard for Bede Park, The Gateway for the DMU campus and Castle Street for Castle Gardens.
Accessibility support 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.
Other accessible toilets will be available across the festival area, and a Changing Places space will be available at Jewry Wall Museum. Selected activities at Castle Gardens will include British Sign Language interpretation.
Local charity Mosaic will offer trips on Sunbeam II, its fully accessible narrowboat, with access by ramp. Leicester Wheels for All will be based on The Newarke, showcasing adaptable bikes suitable for all ages and abilities, including wheelchair users. The group will also run a bike taxi service for anyone needing extra help getting around the festival sites.
Wayfinders and large-print maps will be placed around the site. Festival staff in yellow hi-vis jackets will also be available to help visitors find their way between locations.
Cllr Vi Dempster, Leicester’s assistant city mayor for culture, said Riverside Festival is “for everyone” and that the city is looking forward to welcoming thousands of people to the city centre for music, art and activities.
Source: Leicester City Council
Source check Source trail
This preview is based on the published Leicester City Council event notice and keeps transport, access and venue details within the stated source information.
- Confirmed the event dates as Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June.
- Checked the listed festival areas, including Bede Park, the DMU campus, The Newarke and Ca...
- Matched travel advice to the named road closures, bike parking points and taxi drop-off lo...
- Kept accessibility information to the stated facilities and services in the source.
- Source
- Leicester City Council
- Scope
- Leicester
- Updated
- 2026-06-08 06:28
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