Bishop Auckland Food Festival welcomed tens of thousands of people over the course of the weekend as foodies travelled far and wide to the annual event.
Also in attendance were some of those foodies’ four-legged friends, as dogs were plentiful around the County Durham town throughout the festival.
Around the stalls throughout the town centre dogs of all shapes and sizes could be spotted enjoying the warm weather, and some were even treated to treats and a pup cup.
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Cllr Joe Quinn said: “There are over 150 traders here, it will generate about half a million pounds worth of revenue for the town.
“Not only that but the amount of people that are here now, I think if you went and asked a few people they will tell you how good it is for the town and traders.
“The food brings people here but there is so much more going on in terms of culture and different attractions.
“The food festival brings people to Bishop but everything else is what gets people to come back.”
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Cllr Stephen Gray added: “It is a long standing event and I think a lot of people look forward to it.
“Durham County Council have run this since 2013 but I think its history goes back to as far as 2005.
“People come out in droves, as you can see today, and its really good to put Bishop on the map and support local businesses.
“This is something that stands out a lot of local business are gearing up for this, there’s pubs, bars, cafes and other shops and it is a great opportunity for them to sort of show their ways to people who maybe wouldn’t always visit Bishop Auckland and so it really puts the place on the map.”
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
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Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dogs at Bishop Auckland Food Festival day two (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
The food festival hosted more 150 stalls, brought thousands to the region and celebrated local traders and makers at each stall.
Festival goers got to enjoy live entertainment and street demonstrations, live cookery classes from celebrity chefs and much more.
