Rotherham Real Ale and Music Festival organisers plan sensational return in 2026
Organisers of the Rotherham Real Ale and Music Festival have confirmed that plans are underway to see the popular event return in 2026.
Promising to deliver a diverse range of beers, ciders, wines and much more, as well as a packed entertainment line-up, bringing together a combination of popular favourites as well as some of South Yorkshire’s talented up-and-coming bands, the event is set to return to Magna between 22-25 April 2026.
Tickets for the event are now on sale and can be purchased from the Magna website. A reduced fee on tickets will be available until 31st January, with proceeds from the festival being used to support local charities: Rotherham Cancer Care Centre and the Magna Education Trust, which aims to nurture the talents of the next generation of budding scientists, technologists and engineers.
The festival will be operating a special preview evening on the Wednesday evening, and for the first time will be open all day on Friday and Saturday. Further details will be announced in due course.
Richard Hammill, Chief Executive, Magna, said:
“The Rotherham Real Ale and Music Festival is a special event, and we have been working closely with the festival organisers to help facilitate its eagerly anticipated return next year. I feel very honoured that our educational trust has been chosen as one of the beneficiaries of next year’s festival. The proceeds from the event will be used to support the diverse education programme we deliver at Magna, helping to inspire the next generation by understanding the vital role scientific discoveries play in shaping the world.”
Festival organiser, Steve Burns, said:
“We’re at a very early stage with our plans for the 2026 festival, and we hope that this year’s event will prove to be one to remember. We are actively looking for volunteers to join our festival working committee to help us with the running and planning of the event. We’d also love to hear from businesses that can help us by sponsoring a barrel of beer.
We’ve decided to relaunch the festival, in response to the amazing feedback we received after our event in 2024 and following a decision by CAMRA not to host the Great British Winter Ales Festival in 2026. We have been working closely behind the scenes to ensure that beer and music lovers alike will have something to look forward to in the New Year.”
Tickets can be purchased from https://www.visitmagna.co.uk/whats-on/ and priced at £5 for the Wednesday preview evening, £10 for Thursday and £15 for Friday and Saturday. Early-bird ticket prices of £4, £8 and £12 respectively will be available until 31st December. An all-session season ticket is also available for £25.
The Rotherham Real Ale and Music Festival was first held in 1992, initially as a fundraiser by the PTA at Oakwood Comprehensive School. It relocated to Magna in 2011 and since that time has continued its charitable ethos, helping a wide range of charities and good causes aimed at supporting the people of Rotherham.
Businesses wishing to support the festival this year can do so by visiting https://www.magnarealale.org.uk or by contacting Matthew Ridsdale: Tel: 01709 321585. Email: matthew@cannonpr.co.uk.
GETTING THERE:
A new station at Magna on the Tram Train line will be open in early 2026 making it easy to get to the festival. The Tram Train runs from Sheffield City Centre (Cathedral) to Parkgate via Rotherham Central station.
First’s X3 bus (Sheffield to Doncaster via Meadowhall and Rotherham) also serves Magna, with bus stops on the main road behind the venue.