Poole Seafood & Sounds Festival
Poole, Dorset
Calling all seafood lovers! Set against the historic backdrop of Poole Quay and the Old Town, the Seafood & Sounds Festival is a spectacular weekend of coastal flavours and live entertainment. Celebrating the area’s rich maritime roots, this free-to-attend community event brings the town alive with fresh local catches, bustling artisan markets, and non-stop live bands.
Welcome to the ultimate celebration of the coast! Expanding for 2026, the festival transforms Poole Quay, the Old Town, and the High Street into a lively festival hub. With an atmosphere built on community, culture, and spectacular food, it is the perfect excuse to spend a late summer weekend exploring the harbour.
Local hospitality takes center stage! Poole’s top restaurants and waterside street vendors serve up specially curated menus featuring the region’s finest coastal produce. You can watch live cooking demonstrations, browse the artisan food market, or follow the highly popular “Oyster Trail” and “Cockle Trail” across the town.
Live music is the heartbeat of the festival. Throughout the weekend, over 24 brilliant musical acts will perform across nine unique locations—including the Sea Music Sculpture, St James’ Church, and traditional historic pubs like the Poole Arms. Expect sea shanties, acoustic sets, and upbeat local bands!
The festivities kick off on Saturday at 11:00 AM with a vibrant, sea-themed opening parade winding through the High Street to the Quay. The entire weekend is wonderfully family-friendly, featuring dedicated children’s activity zones, roaming entertainers, fancy dress competitions, and interactive heritage walks.
Celebrating Poole’s Coastal Heritage
The Seafood & Sounds Festival was born out of a profound love for Poole’s incredible maritime history. What started as a modest local gathering has rapidly grown into a town-wide phenomenon, drawing thousands of visitors to the Dorset coast every September.
Unlike a traditional festival trapped inside a fenced-off field, this event spills out into the actual streets, pubs, and restaurants of Poole. It is designed to encourage visitors to wander, explore the historic alleyways of the Old Town, and discover independent businesses they might have otherwise missed.
A Foodie’s Paradise
The sheer quality of the food is what puts this festival on the map. Benefiting from its position right on the harbour, the seafood on offer is as fresh as it gets. Local chefs go out of their way to create bespoke “Festival Specials,” ranging from classic, piping-hot fish and chips to sophisticated crab and oyster dishes.
Alongside the hot food vendors, a curated artisan market stretches through the town. Here, you can stock up on locally made produce, coastal-inspired arts and crafts, and incredible bakes to take back to your holiday accommodation.
Music Around Every Corner
You won’t have to look hard to find the “Sounds” part of the festival. With stages and performance areas spread strategically from Falkland Square all the way down to The Fish Shambles on the Quay, the air is constantly filled with music. Best of all, because the performances are scattered throughout the town’s existing venues and streets, the entire musical lineup is completely free to enjoy!
Additional information
Do I need to buy tickets for Seafood & Sounds? No! The Poole Seafood & Sounds Festival is a completely free-to-attend community event. You do not need a ticket to watch the parade, listen to the live music, or explore the artisan markets. You only pay for the food, drink, and merchandise you choose to buy from the local vendors and restaurants.
Are dogs allowed at the festival? Yes, dogs on leads are very welcome! Because the festival takes place on the public streets and along Poole Quay, it is a very dog-friendly environment. Many of the local pubs and cafes participating in the event also warmly welcome four-legged visitors.
Where is the best place to park for the festival? Poole Town Centre can get quite busy during festival weekends. We highly recommend using the large multi-storey car parks at Quay Visitors (Old Orchard) or the Dolphin Shopping Centre. Alternatively, it is incredibly easy to reach the festival by public transport, with Poole Train Station and the main bus depot just a short walk from the High Street!
Book Your Poole Getaway
Planning to visit the Dorset coast for the festival? Browse our incredible selection of local accommodation, from luxury harbour-view apartments to cozy, dog-friendly holiday homes!
