The Taste Cumbria food festivals brought around £6 million into the Cumberland economy last year and now plans are being made for the 2026 events.
The flagship Cockermouth festival generated £2.1 million for the Cumberland economy in 2025, closely followed by the Maryport Taste of the Sea event which landed almost £2 million. In Maryport, that’s a 29% increase on 2024, and more than double the 2023 event.
The Taste Cumbria Christmas festival is also now well established, having been held in Cockermouth for a decade and it is also showing strong returns, attracting around 10,000 people and bringing almost £1 million into the Cumberland economy. Meanwhile at the newest Taste Cumbria event in Carlisle, the figures are growing well too, with the total economic impact of the 2025 festival estimated at £406,025, three times higher than the first city event held in 2024.
There is a fifth event too, in Wigton, which also brings hundreds of thousands of pounds into the area, sealing Taste Cumbria’s status as one of the most well-loved food and drink festivals around.
These events are organised by Cumberland Council and the dates have just been released for the 2026 events. Taste Cumbria will take place in Wigton on Saturday 25 April, then the Taste of the Sea festival is back in Maryport on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August. The flagship Taste Cumbria festival will be held in Cockermouth on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September, with Taste Cumbria Christmas on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, closing the year in Cockermouth. The dates for Taste Cumbria 2026 in Carlisle are still being decided.
This celebration of fabulous food and drink has gone from a single festival in Cockermouth in 2010 to help the town recover from devastating floods, to five festivals in this diverse range of locations.
Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said: “I am so excited for the 2026 Taste Cumbria festivals, and I am very pleased to see the economic boost these events provide.
“They are now firm fixtures in the Cumberland calendar and I want them to go from strength to strength. Since its creation in 2010, we’ve seen the benefits Taste Cumbria gives, not just for the producers who clamour to attend, but also for the communities of Cumberland. These festivals bring a smile to people’s faces, as well as bringing financial rewards and making a significant difference to our economy.”
Food and drink traders can now apply for the 2026 Taste Cumbria festivals. The application form is available at www.tastecumbria.co.uk
Photo Credit: Tom Kay