Catalyst Festival 2026
What’s On
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
For early birds! Get deeper into God’s word with Bible Studies in Titus on the theme of ‘One People, One Mission’ led by John Risbridger.
Sputnik Workshops
Sputnik Marquee
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 refreshements 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!
Kids Foam Run
Activities Field
Monday 1:30pm-5:30pm
For those aged 5-14, come explore our foam run circuit! Send clothes that don’t matter if they get foamy!!
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
Sunday 9:30-11pm
Meet more friends from across our Catalyst network. Come along and enjoy good company!
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.
All Ages Boot Camp
Start point: Activities Field
Monday 8:30am
Rise and shine and get ready for the day with our boot camp for all the family!
Cowboy Western 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.
Family Fun
Activity Field and The Barn
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
Speakers & Worship Leaders
Sarah Shepherd
Banning Liebscher
Alecs Atkinson
Simon Holley
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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.
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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. -
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.
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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 and his worship band are from the Kings Arms Church in Bedford.
Tom Norrington & Team
Tom and his worship band are from the City Church Newcastle.