Vegfest Free Birmingham

Vegfest Free 2026 is a landmark event in the UK vegan calendar, organisers are calling it "the UK's biggest free vegan festival", and the combination of scale, price point and sponsorship backs that up. The festival runs on Saturday 25 April 2026, 10:00-19:00, at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club.

The show is sponsored by entrepreneur Heather Mills and her new wellness brand No Bloat, a range of plant-based ready meals pitched at gut health. VegfestUK itself has been running vegan fairs since 2003, Bristol, London, Brighton, so this isn't a first-time operator. The "Free" format is the new twist: admission is free (registration required from 14 February 2026 via the official site), and the festival model leans on sponsorship and vendor revenue rather than ticket income.

Expect up to 150 stalls spread across two indoor halls and an outdoor plaza on the cricket ground site. The vendor mix covers vegan street food, artisan plant-based producers, body care, cosmetics, cruelty-free clothing, books, and ethical organisations. A meaningful share, up to 64, of stall spaces go free of charge to independent sole traders, charities and community groups, which keeps the event grassroots-feeling even at scale.

The programme is substantial: an outdoor stage hosts live music throughout the day, and the talks programme features 40+ speakers across two themes, "Animal Rights & Activism" and "Plant-Based Lifestyles." It's the kind of line-up that draws both the hardcore activist crowd and the nutrition-curious, a useful bridge between the two audiences that VegfestUK has historically been good at building.

The event is explicitly pitched as "an inclusive family event suitable for people of all ages," with babies and toddlers under 2 free (no ticket required). Capacity is 3,000 visitors, which is substantial but not overwhelming for a venue of Edgbaston's size.

Practical info: Edgbaston Cricket Ground is at Edgbaston Road, Birmingham B5 7QU. From Birmingham New Street station, it's a 10-minute taxi or bus 61/63. On-site parking is available but fills quickly; public transport is strongly recommended. Because the festival is free with advance registration, tickets go fast, register the moment sales open in mid-February. If you're in the Midlands and curious about the scope of the UK vegan scene, this is a no-brainer day out.