Catalyst Festival 2026
What’s On
Never miss a thing. Get updates throughout the weekend sent
to your phone.
Catalyst Festival is on the Jovo app. Its a simple update service where we will send you notifications during the weekend on news happening around the site, when events are starting and it’s a place you can ask questions to the teams involved in running the weekend.
Festival Highlights
Festival Worship & Teaching
Big Top
Mornings 10am-12pm (excl. Sat),
Evenings 7- 9pm (excl. Tues)
Join us each morning and evening in the Big Top as we gather to worship, encounter God and be challenged and inspired by amazing teaching.
Bible Studies
HUB 1
Sunday, Monday & Tuesday 8-8:45am
Building God's House for All Nations: Morning Bible Studies from the Book of Haggai, with Alison and John Risbridger and Tom Parker
Sputnik Workshops
Various Venues
Sunday & Monday 1:30pm-5pm
Sputnik are running some incredible artist workshops during the Festival. Spaces are limited and can be signed up via links on the Arts Programme page.
Bookshop
HUB 1
Open before and after the main meetings.
Visit the bookshop for great resources to take home. Cash & credit/debit cards accepted.
Live Music @ Outdoor Stage
Festival Square
Sunday & Monday 12:30pm-5pm
We have an incredible line up of music acts that will be playing Sunday and Mondy Afternoons. Grab some friends and head to Festival Square to enjoy.
Café + Catalyst = Cafélyst
Café kindly sponsored by Compassion
There is a Café on site serving barista made coffee and refreshments throughout the day.
We’ll aslo host different events during the weekend so make sure to check it out. Find it on the main concourse of cow sheds!
Opening Times
Kids Foam Fun
Activities Field
Monday 3-4pm
For those aged 5-14, come and enjoy some foamy fun! Send clothes that don’t matter if they get foamy!!
Sent Ones
HUB 1
Exhibition Stands
Our new initiative to support those thinking of moving oversees to share the gospel and extend the kingdom.
Family Encounter Space
SHED 2
Monday 2-4pm
Encounter Room open for families and friends to come together and pray creatively, encounter Jesus and have the opportunity to hear from God and to understand how much He loves us and to be changed in His presence. Drop in and see us and explore the Encounter Room using the creative ways we can speak to God and hear from Him.
Revision Space
Bacon Room (the rear of HUB 1)
Sunday & Monday 1-5pm
For those who have exams coming up or need a quiet space with WIFI access, we’ve got you covered.
Festival Food
Festival Square & Outside the Big Top
We have numerous food and coffee vendors onsite, you can find them outside the Big Top, where the adult meetings take place, or you can head to Festival Square for some tasty treats.
Singles Event
HUB 1
Monday 9:30-11pm
Make new friends across Catalyst. Enjoy some relaxed social time with friendly people.
Exhibition Stands
HUB 1
Check out this area for information about projects, charity work, events and new initiatives happening across the Catalyst family or connected to us.
Youth Leaders Meetup
HUB 4
Monday 1:15pm
If you are a youth leader we’d love to meet you and gather with others with the same mission on their heart.
Wild West Ceilidh
HUB 3
Sunday 9:30pm-11pm
Cowboy themed barn dancing. Fancy dress is optional, but highly encouraged! Bring your hats, boots, and moves and get ready to do-si-do! Refreshments available.
The Prayer Lab
HUB 4 Marquee
Sunday & Monday Afternoons
Family Fun
Activity Field and Hub
Sunday & Monday 1:30pm-5:30pm
There's all sorts of fun to be had at the Activity Field and The Barn including: Petting Zoo, Circus skills workshops, garden games, sports equipment, football cage, Puppet shows at 2/3/4pm
Café Chats
Cafélyst
Sunday & Monday 9:30pm-11pm
Pop along to the café on Sunday or Monday afternoon is Café Chats. During certain times slots we are inviting those of you that work in certain fields of with similar interests to come and make connects with other like-minded folk in your field.
Speakers & Worship Leaders
Sarah Shepherd
Banning Liebscher
Alecs Atkinson
Simon Holley
-
Saturday PM
Sarah Shepherd from City Church Newcastle will be joining us at Catalyst Festival this May. She is Executive Pastor at City Church Newcastle and part of the senior leadership team. A passionate leader with a heart for Jesus and His church, Sarah carries a vision to see God’s church thrive across the North East.
-
Sunday AM
Simon leads the Catalyst Strategy Team along with the leadership team at the King’s Arms Church in Bedford, and supports and teaches at churches around the world.
-
Monday AM & PM
Banning has been coming to the UK for 30 years and carries a deep love for our nation. With a prophetic gift, he has been praying for decades for the move of God we’re experiencing today.
As the founding pastor of Jesus Culture, author of four books, and leader of Jesus Culture Sacramento with his wife SeaJay, Banning has a heart to see believers encounter God and be empowered as world changers. -
Tuesday AM
Alecs Atkinson is very passionate about worshipping Jesus and serves as a worship leader at King’s Community Church, where she is also part of the Senior Leadership Team. She is the Course Administrator for Catalyst’s Leadership and Theology Training Course and co-ordinates the God’s Big Story course within Catalyst. Since 2022, she has also been part of the Newday worship team.
Worship Leaders
Fortune Udoh & Team
Fortune is based at the Kings Arms Church in Bedford.
Tom Norrington & Team
Tom and his worship band are from the City Church Newcastle.