The Best UK Coffee Festivals

Last updated: 23 July 2026

Taste coffees you would never find on a supermarket shelf, learn to brew better at home, watch world-class competitions, and meet the people behind the beans. Whether you are a curious first-timer, a home brewer or a seasoned cafe owner, there is a festival for you somewhere on the calendar.

At RISE Coffee Box, festivals are close to our hearts. We have exhibited at several of them, and they are where we have discovered roasters who later featured in the box. This is our guide to the UK coffee festivals worth planning a trip around, updated as the calendar shifts each year.

A note from Alice and Ben, co-founders of RISE

We have been attending, exhibiting at, and quietly obsessing over UK coffee festivals for years. We have had stands at the London Coffee Festival, the Nottingham Coffee Festival and the Kent Coffee Festival, and Alice has spoken on panels about the future of home coffee. So we know better than most what separates a good festival from a truly great one.

The best festivals are not just marketplaces, they are communities. They are the places where a home barista gets to stand next to a world champion and learn something new. Where a small roaster from the North introduces their beans to someone who becomes a subscriber for life. Where the whole coffee world, from farmers to fanatics, gathers in one room and remembers why we fell in love with this stuff in the first place.

We started RISE to bring that same feeling of discovery to your door every month. Every year, the festivals remind us exactly why that matters. Here is our honest guide to the ones we think you should not miss.

The best UK coffee festivals to visit

The UK has one of the most vibrant speciality coffee scenes in the world, and the festival calendar reflects it. From Glasgow to Brighton, Manchester to Bristol, there is a festival for every coffee lover and nearly every month of the year. Dates move annually, so we have listed the rough time of year for each one. Always check the official festival website for this year's confirmed dates and tickets before you book travel.

London Coffee Festival, the big one

Where. The Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London E1 6QR
When. Usually over four days in spring, around April or May
Official site. londoncoffeefestival.com

The London Coffee Festival is the biggest coffee event in the country, drawing more than 20,000 visitors across four days at the iconic Truman Brewery on Brick Lane. The energy, the scale and the sheer quantity of coffee are unlike anything else. It was one of the first festivals we ever exhibited at, and Alice was invited to host a panel at The Lab in 2023 on the future of home coffee.

What to expect at London:

• Coffee Masters, one of the most prestigious barista competitions in the world, with sixteen contenders across several disciplines
• Latte Art Live, an interactive zone with throwdowns, showcases and hands-on workshops. If it inspires you, our 101 guide to latte art will get you started at home
• The Roasters Village, bringing some of the world's best roasters together in one space
• Brew School, a guided journey through brewing for anyone wanting to improve
• The Lab, with talks and debates on the industry's biggest topics
• Street food, coffee cocktails, DJs and live music, plus dedicated industry days for trade professionals

Our honest take. The footfall is unmatched and the atmosphere is brilliant, but London has grown so large that big high-street names now sit alongside the independents. It is a genuinely fun day out. If it is pure speciality and independence you are after, some of the smaller festivals below do that part better.

Glasgow Coffee Festival, Scotland's finest

Where. The Briggait, 141 Bridgegate, Glasgow
When. Usually April
Official site. glasgowcoffeefestival.com

Founded by Lisa Lawson of Dear Green Coffee Roasters, a B Corp roaster, the Glasgow Coffee Festival is one of the most loved events on the calendar. Held in the Briggait, a stunning Victorian former fishmarket, it pairs world-class speciality coffee with a genuine community spirit. Scotland's coffee scene has grown enormously in recent years, and this is the perfect showcase for it.

What to expect at Glasgow:

• Cuppings and tastings from Scotland's best independent roasters
• Talks, workshops and panel discussions with industry leaders
• Competitions including barista and cup-tasting championships
• A carefully curated line-up of local and international brands

Our honest take. Glasgow has a warmth that is hard to describe until you have been. One of our subscribers went recently, loved it, and came back recommending new roasters to us. If you are in Scotland, or fancy a weekend trip, it is a must.

Liverpool Coffee Festival, the North West's rising star

Where. Kings Dock, Liverpool
When. Early summer, usually June
Official site. liverpoolcoffeefestival.co.uk

A younger festival that has quickly made a name for itself, Liverpool brings together fifty or more traders and hundreds of coffees to taste. It is family and dog friendly, which tells you a lot about the welcoming, community-driven feel of the event. Liverpool's coffee scene has grown fast, and this festival both celebrates and fuels that growth.

What to expect at Liverpool:

• Fifty-plus specialist traders across coffee, food and equipment
• Hundreds of different coffees to taste and discover
• Family and dog friendly, so you can bring the whole crew
• Live entertainment and competitions across the weekend

Our honest take. Liverpool is one to watch, still growing and still hungry, with an audience that genuinely loves finding new brands.

Nottingham Coffee Festival, heart of England

Where. St Mary's Church, High Pavement, Nottingham NG1 1HN
When. Autumn, usually October
Official site. nottscoffeefestival.com

Nottingham holds a special place in our story, we exhibited at its very first event back in 2022. Held in the breathtaking setting of St Mary's Church in the Lacemarket, it is one of the most visually striking coffee events in the country. It welcomes over a thousand visitors and forty or more brands, from local roasters to national names, and the historic church venue gives it an atmosphere nothing else can match.

What to expect at Nottingham:

• Forty-plus local and national roasters, brands and equipment suppliers
• Latte art competitions alongside working barista champions
• A chance to try latte art yourself in interactive sessions
• An intimate, accessible scale that makes real conversations easy

Our honest take. It is smaller and more personal than the giants, which means you can actually talk to everyone exhibiting and learn far more about the coffee. If you are in the Midlands, it is unmissable.

Brighton Coffee Festival, by the sea

Where. All Saints, The Drive, Hove
When. Usually August
Official site. brightoncoffeefest.com

Since launching in 2019, Brighton has grown into one of the UK's leading independent coffee festivals, selling out exhibitor and visitor spaces every year. Held at the striking All Saints venue in Hove, it runs two sessions a day across the weekend and brings together an eclectic mix of Sussex and UK brands. It is the only festival where you can follow great coffee with a walk on the beach.

What to expect at Brighton:

• The UK and Ireland Filter Championships
• The BCF Latte Art Championships
• Industry talks and panel discussions
• Resident DJs keeping the energy up through the day
• Ticketed sessions that sell out fast, so book early

Our honest take. Brighton has a brilliant speciality scene and a festival to match. The Filter Championships alone are worth the trip.

Bristol Coffee Festival, the South West's best

Where. Bristol Beacon, Bristol BS1 5AR
When. Usually September
Official site. bristolcoffeefestival.co.uk

Held at the magnificent, newly renovated Bristol Beacon, this festival brings together the breadth of the South West's speciality coffee industry in a single day. Its mission is to make speciality coffee accessible to everyone, tackling topics like diversity, mental health and hospitality alongside the coffee itself.

What to expect at Bristol:

• Forty-plus exhibitors from across the South West community
• Panel talks and workshops led by industry professionals
• Competitions across several brewing disciplines
• A genuine focus on inclusion, accessibility and community

Our honest take. Bristol makes speciality coffee feel welcoming to everyone, not just the initiated. That is exactly the spirit we want to be part of.

Sheffield Coffee Festival, the city-wide experience

Where. Various independent venues across Sheffield city centre
When. Autumn, dates vary
Official site. sheffieldcoffeefestival.com

Sheffield is unlike any other festival on this list, because it is not one venue, it is an entire city. Home to the Northern Filter Championships, it spreads across Sheffield's best independent coffee shops over a weekend of cuppings, roaster tours, competitions and events. It is less a festival and more a city-wide celebration, and Sheffield's thriving independent scene makes it one of the most authentic events in the calendar.

What to expect at Sheffield:

• The Northern Filter Championships
• A city-wide format across Sheffield's best independent venues
• Roaster tours, aeropress competitions and latte art events
• Cuppings led by respected coffee professionals
• Secret events and surprises throughout the weekend

Our honest take. The city-wide format means you experience the coffee scene as it really is, not a tidied-up version of it. Recommended for anyone who wants to go deeper.

Manchester Coffee Festival, the North's biggest party

Where. Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Manchester
When. Usually November
Official site. manchestercoffeefest.com

Running since 2014, Manchester has established itself as the North's biggest and most celebrated coffee event. Held at Bowlers Exhibition Centre across three days, including a dedicated industry session, it is one of the most comprehensive festivals in the country. With Manchester's coffee scene growing faster than almost anywhere else, the festival both reflects and drives that momentum.

What to expect at Manchester:

• A three-day format including an industry-only session
• The North's biggest showcase of speciality roasters and brands
• Barista competitions and live demonstrations all weekend
• Equipment suppliers, machine makers and accessory brands

Our honest take. The November timing rounds off the year beautifully, and it lands just as everyone starts thinking about Christmas. If a festival puts you in the mood to give coffee as a gift, our coffee gift boxes are an easy way to share the discovery.

Dublin Coffee Festival, cross the water

Where. Dublin, Ireland, venue varies by year
When. Usually April
Official site. check for the latest Dublin Coffee Festival listing

For anyone willing to make the trip across the Irish Sea, Dublin is a genuine gem. A celebration of the Irish speciality scene and beyond, it packs a weekend with exhibitors, competitions, entertainment and community. Ireland's speciality movement has grown enormously, and Dublin's festival showcases it with a warmth and hospitality all its own.

What to expect at Dublin:

• A showcase of Ireland's best speciality roasters and brands
• International exhibitors bringing a global perspective
• Competitions across multiple brewing disciplines
• Live entertainment and a genuinely festive atmosphere

Our honest take. Dublin takes coffee seriously and celebrates it with real joy. Pair it with a weekend in the city and you will not regret it.

A few we have loved over the years

Festivals come and go, and a couple that we hold dear are no longer running in their old form. We spent a wonderful weekend on our stand at the Kent Coffee Festival in Margate, where Alice also spoke on a panel about the home coffee market, and we have fond memories of Birmingham and other regional events. If any of these return, we will add them back here.

How to make the most of a coffee festival

After years of attending and exhibiting, here is what we have learned about getting the most out of a festival day.

• Arrive early. The best samples and the most interesting conversations happen before the crowds build.
• Drink water between tastings. With twenty or more coffees on offer, pacing yourself is the only way to actually taste them properly.
• Talk to the people on the stands. They are the founders, roasters and baristas who built these brands, and the conversations are worth as much as the coffee.
• Attend at least one talk or workshop. The educational content at the best festivals is genuinely excellent.
• Book tickets early. Brighton, London and Manchester sell out, so do not leave it until the week before.

Discover great coffee all year round with RISE

Festivals are wonderful, but they come around once a year. At RISE, we bring that same spirit of discovery to your door every month. Each box holds hand-selected speciality coffee from independent UK roasters, ethically sourced from some of the world's best growing regions, along with a guide to help you understand the story behind every cup.

We are the UK's number one voted coffee subscription, named Best Value Coffee Subscription by BBC Good Food and The Guardian, and we are B Corp certified because we believe great coffee should do good too. If you would rather try before you commit, start with our free coffee trial, and if you are shopping for someone else, our coffee gift boxes make the discovery easy to share.

Whether you are building on what you learned at a festival or simply after your next great cup, RISE keeps the adventure going all year.

UK coffee festivals FAQs

What is the biggest coffee festival in the UK?

The London Coffee Festival is the biggest, with more than 20,000 visitors across four days at the Truman Brewery on Brick Lane. Manchester Coffee Festival is the largest in the North, and Glasgow is the biggest in Scotland.

When do UK coffee festivals take place?

They run throughout the year. Spring brings Glasgow, London and Dublin, early summer brings Liverpool, and the autumn and winter season includes Brighton in August, Bristol in September, Nottingham in October and Manchester in November. Dates change each year, so always check the official festival website before booking.

Are coffee festivals worth it for beginners?

Yes. Festivals are welcoming to everyone, not just professionals. You can taste coffees from across the world, pick up brewing tips, watch competitions and chat to the roasters directly. Smaller festivals like Nottingham and Bristol are especially friendly for first-timers.

How much do UK coffee festival tickets cost?

Most general admission tickets sit somewhere between roughly ten and forty pounds, depending on the festival and the session. Larger events like London offer premium and industry tickets at higher prices. Check the official site for current pricing, as it changes each year.

Which UK coffee festivals has RISE exhibited at?

We have exhibited at the London Coffee Festival and the Nottingham Coffee Festival, and spent a weekend on our stand at the Kent Coffee Festival. Alice has also spoken on panels at London and Kent about the future of home coffee.

Can I bring my dog or family to a coffee festival?

Some festivals are family and dog friendly, Liverpool being a good example. Others are busier indoor events better suited to adults. Check each festival's website for its specific policy before you go.