8 top Christian summer festivals - recommended by the Premier team

David’s Tent

By James Pratt, Premier Christian Radio producer

I have a deep affection for David’s Tent. It seems to be a place where God speaks to me. The continual worship means you really have to dig into God’s presence. It isn’t always easy – but that’s when you start to experience God move, in my opinion. One year at David’s tent, I realised that I was making relationships an idol over God – I’d go to Christian festivals and focus more on girls than I would on God! I felt God say: “Jamie, why don’t you give me a year?” The long story short is that I met my wife during that period of intentional singleness – friendship was the foundation of what became a relationship, and I don’t think that would have happened if I hadn’t heard God at David’s Tent. I don’t think that you go through a season of singleness to get a girlfriend. You do it to learn to put God first – anything that happens after that is a plus! David’s tent gave me the space to figure that out.

David’s Tent, 28-31 August, Charlton Park, Wiltshire davidstent.net

The Shift

Tola-Doll Fisher, Premier Woman Alive editor and creative director

I love what I call ‘Godincidences’ and this is something I experienced in bucket loads at Shift. At the beginning of 2024, my friend was praying for me and said she felt there would be a shift halfway through the year. Then, on 3 July 2025, this same friend messaged to ask if I knew there was a Christian festival taking place that weekend near where I lived in Cheltenham. Someone had invited me to Shift a few years before, but I was unable to go. It was held on a farm just 20 minutes away. The ticket deadline had passed but I emailed to see if I could buy one anyway – and received a confirmation straight away. I went on my own but never felt lonely. Everyone was so friendly. Although I recognised a few faces, I ended up seated with strangers; praying, chatting and crying with fellow believers in a way that felt so freeing. At the end of the evening service, one of the leaders had everyone stretch out their arms and pray for me and my work. I had this overwhelming feeling of God’s presence. I know God sent me there for a reason.

The Shift Weekend, 3-5 July, The Leigh, Gloucestershire shift-uk.com

Creation Fest

Emma Fowle, Premier Christianity deputy editor

I first went along to Creation Fest in 2009, when the festival moved from its original home in Devon to the Royal Cornwall Events Centre, just outside my hometown of Wadebridge. As the church nearest to the site, we were recruited en masse to help out and, in the years since, I’ve done everything from organising accommodation for bands to picking up litter to helping to run the media team and speaking on the main stage! Creation Fest is a truly unique festival in a jaw-dropping location. Although people come from across the UK, it retains a family feel that sets it apart from other Christian events I’ve been to. From skate ramps and art workshops to daily Bible studies and awesome live music, all set against a beautiful Cornish backdrop, I couldn’t recommend it more.

Creation Fest, 6-9 August, Royal Cornwall Events Centre, Wadebridge creationfest.uk

Big Church Festival

Sam Hailes, Premier Christianity editor

I’ve sung songs to God all over the world. I’ve sat on a ‘worship boat’ in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, with a small group of fellow believers singing praises to the Jewish Messiah while wondering how close we were to the very spot on which He walked on water. I’ve sung the same songs in a very different setting half the world a way – a scruffy theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Like any Hillsong service, the praise was exuberant. Joy flowed. It would be wrong to base our faith on these big, memorable and exciting moments. But neither should we minimise them. There is something encouraging and uplifting about the Church coming together in worship. I remember being a teenager at Newday (newdaygeneration.org) in an atmosphere of worship where miracles and healings was almost normal. The same could be said of New Wine (new-wine.org). But my most recent taste of heaven was at Big Church Festival. Last year, as Phil Wickham and Brandon Lake led us in tune after tune, a stunning fireworks display filled the sky as we sang in the beautiful surroundings of the Sussex Downs. People who had come to faith that day joined with oldies like me in praising the same God. And as I looked up at the stars, I remembered I was singing to the one who put them there. As worship moments go, it doesn’t get much better than that. 

Big Church Festival, 28-30 August, Wiston Estate, West Sussex bigchurchfestival.com

Greenbelt

Malky Currie, Premier Christianity designer 

In 2009 I moved to a new town and met some Christians who felt different – alternative, socially conscious and refreshingly open-minded. We became friends, and that year they took me to a festival called Greenbelt. I was amazed to discover a Christian festival that was so inclusive and eclectic, unlike so much of my experience of Christianity growing up. I’ve returned many times since, and it’s retained that same spirit. Over the years I’ve loved talks from Richard Rohr and Nadia Bolz-Weber, performances from Grace Petrie, poet Pádraig Ó Tuama and rapper Lowkey. Greenbelt has helped me navigate deconstruction, inspired me to activism and deepened my spirituality. It’s always a highlight of my year. 

Greenbelt, 27-30 August, Boughton House, Nr Kettering greenbelt.org.uk 

New Horizon

Richard McChesney, Northern Ireland director for Premier

New Horizon provides a space and time in which thousands of people of all ages can be taught from the Bible, be inspired through worship and story, develop a missional heart and engage with relevant and challenging issues. Appealing to everyone from across the denominational spectrum, its timing and location on the beautiful north coast of County Antrim make it an ideal event for families and holiday makers. In addition to the main teaching and worship events it has a vibrant youth and children’s programme combined with a dynamic Mission Hub, profiling many of the UK’s key mission agencies. The worship, led by musicians from New Irish arts is always an inspiration, and as someone who spent most of my working life in Christian retailing and publishing, it always a thrill to see so many people, especially teenagers, visiting the event bookshop and purchasing so many of the recommended books.In recent years Premier has been delighted to be the media partner, with live broadcasts coming from the event on weekday mornings.

New Horizon, 1-7 August, Coleraine, Northern Ireland newhorizon.org.uk

Wildfires

Max Avard, Premier Christian Radio producer and presenter

My favourite festival is Wildfires. Its vision is deceptively simple: to see revival sparked across the UK. When it first launched in 2018, that felt like a lovely but unrealistic idea, but now, not so much. There is so much to love about this festival: the range of seminars, covering topics from AI to female leadership and even immigration; the theologically rich talks; the joyous worship; and the surprisingly good coffee. Set in the beautiful Wiston Estate, it’s a place where I’m refreshed, challenged and get to feel part of something bigger. 

Wildfires, 23-26 July, Wiston Estate, West Sussex wildfiresfestival.com

Cliff festival

Cassandra Maria, Premier Gospel presenter and programme manager

What I enjoyed about Cliff Fest was the friendly nature of the attendees! They were always up for a chat and prayer when needed. I also loved the social elements, such as the prayer hut, as they were really relaxed ways to connect and talk about faith. It’s held every year at Cliff College in Derbyshire, and has been running for more than a century. The weekend spans the May bank holiday and sees people from all over flock for a relaxing weekend to connect to God. Although there’s no huge stages or massive headline acts, the intimate nature of the festival leaves you feeling refreshed and spiritually full. There’s morning and evening worship, with a dry bar for the youth to connect and socialise into the night. There are activities for children of all ages, and onsite camping is available, as well as en suite rooms you can rent for the weekend. 

Cliff Festival, 22-25 May, Cliff College, Derbyshire cliffcollege.ac.uk/cliff-festival