The best vegan events in the UK
2024 is fast approaching, and whether you’re vegan, a curious foodie, or just looking for your next big adventure, what better way to kickstart the new year than visiting one of the many vegan events held in the UK.
Attending a vegan event is a great way to try new plant-based dishes, discover innovative eco-products and meet your fellow vegan community. But with so many different festivals and pop-ups happening every year, it can be tricky to know which ones are the best to visit.
That’s why we’ve put together a handy guide to showcase some of the best events in the UK for vegans.
Let’s get started.
The best UK vegan events to attend
We've scoured the UK to put together a fantastic lineup of the top vegan-friendly events, picking a variety of plant-powered festivals that suit all interests and tastes.
Vegan Fairs
Well, we were always going to include ourselves on this list, weren’t we? Sure we’re a little biased, but we’re proud to run some of the best independent vegan fairs in the UK. Our events are organised by vegans, for everyone. We've been organising events across England and Wales since 2018, so why not come along to our next fair?
Where
Unlike other festivals, Vegan Fairs doesn’t have one set location – instead, we host a variety of different vegan fairs and events across the South West of England and Wales. There’s plenty of opportunity for you to find an independent vegan-led event for you to attend when you want.
When
We host our vegan events throughout the year, from January all the way through to December. This means that Vegan Fairs is helping to support local businesses month after month. Take a look at our 2024 calendar to see what’s happening in the new year.
What to expect
By visiting a Vegan Fairs event, you have the opportunity to sample and discover a wide variety of artisan, vegan products made by local businesses right on their doorstep. There’s an abundance of vegan food vendors, artists, crafts and more at every one of our fairs.
Not only do our vegan UK events help support independent brands in the surrounding area, but they also help spread the vegan message in a friendly, approachable, accessible way – most of our events often attract the attention and attendance of local people.
Vegan Campout
Vegan Campout is arguably the UK’s (if not the world’s) largest vegan festival that runs annually, drawing in visitors from all across the country and beyond. Here’s what you need to know when planning your visit:
Where
Vegan Campout’s location varies year after year, but it is usually held in the South of England. Their 2024 event is being hosted at Bicester Heritage business centre in Oxfordshire.
When
Vegan Campout is a three-day event, taking place over the weekend. In 2024, the campout will be run from the 26th until the 29th of July.
What to expect
There is plenty to see, do and eat at Vegan Campout. This camping festival has everything from live music and food vendors to activism activities and yoga classes. It is renowned for the line-up of special guests attending each year. Some famous vegan influencers from past events include Earthling Ed, Gaz Oakley, Romesh Ranganathan, Chris Packham and Heather Mills. Plus, Vegan Campout is also child-friendly, making it the perfect weekend away for families.
VegFest UK
One of the ‘OG’s’ of vegan events, VegFest has inspired some of the biggest plant-powered festivals all over the UK. They host a variety of vegan events across the UK, and this year (2023) they are celebrating their tenth annual VegFest in the capital at London Olympia National.
Where
VegFest runs a ton of events across the UK, as well as a few in Europe. Some of their most popular festivals are held annually in Bristol, Brighton and Glasgow, but the biggest is VegFest London, which attracts thousands each year.
When
VegFest’s vegan events are held throughout the year, with the next VegFest London taking place on November 18th & 19th. They have not yet confirmed the dates for 2024, but keep your eyes peeled on their website for more details.
What to expect
Expect to be dazzled by the sheer number of things to do at VegFest. These vegan events have everything you could possibly want as a vegan, all under one roof. Think tasty vegan food from some of the UK’s biggest plant-based brands, cruelty-free clothing and cosmetics, an illustrious list of special guests and comedians, as well as cookery demos, live performances and yoga classes. Phew!
Shambala Festival
Although this music festival is not exclusively vegan, they are ‘meat, fish and dairy-milk free’ and committed to hosting a sustainable event for everyone to enjoy. That means an abundance of vegan-friendly options. Here’s what to expect when visiting:
Where
Shambala is held in a beautiful country estate in the heart of the English countryside in Northamptonshire.
When
This four-day music festival takes place every year in summer. In 2024, Shambala will take place from the 22nd until the 25th of August, overlapping the Bank Holiday weekend.
What to expect
Besides great live music, vegans can expect plenty of other fun activities and experiences at Shambala. Expect plenty of tasty food, workshops, ethical fashion stalls and immersive art installations that provide a holistic experience for those seeking a harmonious blend of music, culture, and cruelty-free living.
Although this festival is not fully vegan (they do serve eggs, organic cheese and some other dairy ingredients), Shambala has cut out all meat, fish and dairy milk from the event in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint.
Happy Place
Created as a result of her success with the podcast of the same name, Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place host pop-up festivals across the UK throughout the year. Although these events are not exclusively vegan, they are all 100% vegetarian – with plenty of plant-based options on offer.
Where
The Happy Place festival currently only has two locations - Cheshire and London. The London event is held at Chiswick House & Gardens, whilst Cheshire’s is in Tatton Park – just north of the town of Knutsford bordering South Manchester.
When
13th & 14th July 2024 - Chiswick House & Gardens, London
31st August & 1st September 2024 - Tatton Park, Cheshire
What to expect
Dubbed as the country’s biggest space dedicated to feeding both body and mind, the Happy Place festival is a great event for vegans in the UK. These events foster a creative space for self-love and happiness, and include a line-up of talks with famous guests, live podcast recordings, drop-in classes and live entertainment that is all focused around wellbeing and health. Past speakers have included Fearne Cotton (of course), Tom Grennan, Johnny Wilkinson, Steven Bartlett and Dr Julie Smith.
Vegan Kids Festival
Vegan Kids Festival takes place annually in Bristol – and kids under 3 go free! The festival was set up to help vegan families spend quality time together, making memories with their kids and meeting like-minded families.
Where
Woodhouse Park Activity Centre Fernhill in Bristol
When
30th August - 1st September 2024
What to expect
The Vegan Kids Festival is all about bringing vegan families together for a good time and making memories. It's made ‘just for kids’ and acts as a space for kids and families to meet like-minded individuals. There are tons of activities to enjoy, from workshops to playtime – and, of course, everything's vegan-friendly. Expect a vegan food court, zones dedicated to teens and tots, a campfire area and even an outdoor play area. There really is something for everyone in the family.
Vegan Fairs, Chepstow
See you soon at Vegan Fairs?
We hope to see you soon at one of our vegan events in the UK. They’re a great way to enhance the experience of your trip, and of course, you’ll be helping us to support independent vegan businesses.
We regularly run our Vegan Fairs events in the South-West of England and Wales, and we have a few new exciting locations coming soon in 2024. If you’re interested in visiting us, you can find the full Vegan Fairs event list here.