What’s On At Newcastle Castle?
Featured
Late Shows - 9th May
The Blackbird Tavern!
Saturday Only
Open: 6-10.30pm
Soak up the ambiance of a real tavern for the night as The Blackbird Tavern will open it’s doors once again within the walls of the Castle Keep. The lower floor of the Keep will be transformed into a medieval pub - complete with bar, medieval entertainment and eccentric characters.
Over 18's only
Rogues & Vagabonds
While many castles celebrate the splendour of kings and queens, Newcastle Castle tells a very different story…
This spring, Castle Garth becomes the home of rogues, rule-breakers and colourful characters from our past — the thieves, tricksters and vagabonds who once lived and worked in the shadow of the castle walls.
Rogues & Vagabonds dives into the darker, more eccentric side of Newcastle’s history, revealing gripping tales of crime, punishment and survival. The Great Hall is transformed into a courtroom, the medieval Gaol explores justice and incarceration, and visitors are invited to step into the story themselves.
Answer the call to become a Newcastle Castle Rogue by creating your own outlaw alias and taking on a series of roguish challenges throughout the castle. Along the way, uncover extraordinary stories, meet notorious characters, and experience the castle as it has never been seen before — bold, mischievous and full of intrigue.
Rogues & Vagabonds runs from 14th February to 1st June, offering an unmissable adventure packed with history, mystery and hands-on fun.
Dare to break the rules. Dare to become a Rogue.
Old Newcastle Walking Tours - Now Available to Book!
Our walking tours of the historic Newcastle city centre will run from the 30th of March to the 5th of October 2026 every Monday and Friday starting at 10:30 and 13:00. These are not included in your annual pass. Find out more about our walking tours here. Please book via the link below!
Carnival at the Castle
Coming soon…
6th June - 27th September
2000 Years of History, 2000 Years of Fun!
Step into 2,000 years of joy, laughter, and spectacle at Newcastle Castle’s Carnival at the Castle! Running from 6th June to 27th September 2026, this vibrant summer celebration brings the history of entertainment to life like never before. From ancient revelry to medieval merriment and beyond, the castle transforms into a hub of fun, storytelling, and performance for all ages.
Discover how people across the centuries celebrated, laughed, and came together—through music, games, feasting, and festivity. Whether you're training to become a court jester, enjoying live performances, or exploring immersive historical experiences, there’s something for everyone in this unforgettable season of entertainment.
Daytime Activities - Seasonal Programming
Our seasonal programming runs the whole year round, and is prepared by our dedicated team to ensure you get the most out of your annual pass and have a wonderful experience on your visit to Newcastle Castle. Throughout each season, pop-up exhibitions, crafts activities and workshops, castle trails and other activities will take place on a daily or weekly basis on our site - all included within your annual pass price.
Our 2026 seasonal programme is as follows:
Rogues and Vagabonds (Spring season): 14th February - 1st June
Carnival at the Castle (Summer season): 6th June - 27th September
Halloween
Christmas
Exhibits and Collaborations
Temporary exhibits and collaborations for you to enjoy at the castle during your visit! Free with your annual pass.
Baltic Collaboration - A Joyful Parasite
This newest Baltic flag collaboration is by London-based Spanish artist Saelia Aparicio.
Her work dwells on ideas of the organic, establishing analogies between corporeal and social mechanisms.
Saelia invites us to explore the porous boundaries between inside and outside, host and intruder, human and more-than-human, taking inspiration from the figure of a parasite, both biological and metaphorical. Instead of casting parasites as villains, Saelia reimagines them as symbols of resilience, adaptation, and radical coexistence.
Flag, Newcastle Castle Keep.
A Joyful Parasite, Level 2 Gallery - Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
August 2025 - 1 Feb 2026
There’s an Archaeologist Weasel on site
Did you know?
A new member of staff has joined the Newcastle Castle team….an archaeologist weasel!
Come check out the bones, ceramics and other bits and bobs William the Weasel has uncovered over the past few months!