The Great Vegan Gathering, a brand-new 5-day grassroots festival created by vegan activists, artists, and musicians, will take place for the first time from 27th to 31st August 2026 in North London, UK. Built on principles of love and kindness for all sentient beings, this exciting event aims to bring together the vegan community in a fully animal-exploitation-free environment while raising funds for vegan animal sanctuaries.
Taking place over the August bank holiday weekend, The Great Vegan Gathering will be held in Gilwell Park, a 108-acre woodland setting just inside the M25 motorway, at the very edge of the UK capital. Every aspect of the event has been designed to align with vegan ethics, with all food, products, and activities guaranteed to be 100% vegan. The volunteer-run gathering will donate all proceeds directly to vegan animal sanctuaries, while also supporting independent vegan businesses through accessible stallholder fees and offering free spaces to sanctuaries and charities.
The Great Vegan Gathering will feature a diverse and very impressive programme of live music, comedy, talks, and panel discussions, with more than 30 speakers and more than 50 performers spread through 12 different areas for five days. Artists such as 3 Daft Monkeys, the Jive Aces, Mobius Loop, Dr Jaxon’s Elixir of Life, Millie Manders and the Shutup, HAWXX, and Vegan Queen V are among those scheduled to perform. The comedy line-up includes Dawn Chorus, Ishi Khan, Chloe Jet, Kiera-Lorelle, and Malli Malipas.
A wide range of talks will explore veganism, activism, nutrition, mental health, and political engagement, with well-known speakers in the vegan movement, including Ronnie Lee, Louise Ryan, Jordi Casamitjana, Dr Andrew Knight, Mel Broughton, Jamie Woodhouse, Allan Jackson, Dr Alice Brough, Callum Weir, Dr Rebecca Jones, Rose Patterson, and Wayne Hsiung.
A dedicated activism camp will host workshops led by experienced campaigners from the Animal Freedom Network, focusing on campaigning skills, legal knowledge, and effective advocacy. Visitors will also be able to attend cooking workshops covering topics such as fermentation, sushi preparation, and creative wholefood meals.
The woodland environment will offer a variety of wellbeing and creative activities, including yoga, meditation, tai chi, forest bathing, and arts and crafts sessions. Additional attractions include a games tent (organised by the popular GeekstraVEGANza group), a sports hall with roller disco and football tournaments, acoustic performances around a fire pit, and spaces for holistic therapies. Families will be catered for with dedicated children’s areas featuring games, outdoor activities, and circus skills.
Camping is included with all tickets, with options for accessible camping, campervans, bell tents, and lodge accommodation. The site is accessible by public transport, with a shuttle service from Chingford station, part of the London Overground. Tickets and accommodation options for The Great Vegan Gathering are available here.
Watch this video to learn more about the site and event logistics.
