Leeds Biodiversity & Regenerative Food Festival 2025
Celebrate local nature, sustainable living, and delicious food at the Leeds Biodiversity & Regenerative Food Festival, taking place on Saturday 24th October 2026 at Kirkgate Market 🌿
This free, one-day event brings together an inspiring mix of regenerative and organic growers, bakers, makers, street food vendors, crafters, charities, and community groups—all working towards a more sustainable and biodiverse future for Leeds and beyond.
Wander through a vibrant marketplace filled with local produce, take part in hands-on demos and workshops, and explore themes including:
- Regenerative, organic & agroecological food production
- Nature, wildlife & landscape regeneration
- Organic gardening, heritage seeds & plants
- Natural fibres and sustainable textiles
- Fermentation, food preservation & local artisanal crafts
- Community-led environmental action
Running from 10:30am to 4:00pm, the festival is perfect for food lovers, eco-enthusiasts, families, and anyone curious about building a wilder, healthier city.
Venue
Tucked in the heart of Leeds, Kirkgate Market is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks—a vibrant space steeped in retail history, architectural ambition, and community resilience.
Opened in 1857, it quickly grew into the largest indoor market in Europe, earning fame not just for its scale but its innovation.
The market’s design was led by Joseph Paxton, architect of the Crystal Palace, and introduced groundbreaking features like ‘Fish Row’, a cooled space for fresh produce, and the domed glass roof that remains a defining feature today.
It was here in the late 1800s that Marks & Spencer began as a humble penny stall. Despite enduring bombings during WWII and a devastating fire in 1975 that destroyed two-thirds of the building, Kirkgate’s traders reopened just three days later—a testament to its irrepressible spirit.
Today, after a £12 million renovation, the market is a blend of heritage and modernity. With new event spaces, a street food hall, and updated Butchers and Fish Rows, it continues to thrive as a hub for independent businesses, cultural events, and everyday shopping.
More than just a place to buy and sell, Kirkgate Market remains a beating heart of Leeds—rich in stories, flavours, and Yorkshire grit.