Australia’s Best Food Festivals to Plan Your 2026 Travels

Food festivals are one of the best excuses to hit the road and explore somewhere new. From Hobart to Cairns, Sydney to Perth, food festivals in Australia give you the perfect reason to plan a weekend escape or longer road trip built around great eating, drinking and discovering new regions.

Plan Your Travels Around Australia’s Food Festivals

These events are also a wonderful way to connect with local communities and experience regional produce at its best. From seafood celebrations on the coast to harvest festivals in wine regions, Australian food and wine festivals let you taste what each destination does best while meeting the growers, makers and chefs behind it all.

To make planning easier, this guide organises Australia’s top food festivals by state, helping you choose events that fit naturally into your travel plans, whether you’re mapping out a weekend getaway or planning a longer food-focused adventure.

Food Festivals in Queensland

Feast of the Senses – Inisfail, South of Cairns (March)

Held in the Cassowary Coast town of Innisfail, Feast of the Senses celebrates the tropical produce and multicultural food culture of Far North Queensland. Expect vibrant street stalls, cooking demonstrations, local producers, family-friendly activities and plenty of opportunities to taste the region’s fresh fruit, seafood and tropical flavours.

Planning tip

Use the festival as an excuse to explore the Cassowary Coast, adding time to visit nearby beaches, rainforest walks or waterfalls between Cairns and Mission Beach. I think Mission Beach is a hidden secret – take a look.

GourMay Mary Valley – Mary Valley, Queensland (May)

Held throughout May, GourMay Mary Valley celebrates the region’s rich farming heritage and diverse local produce with a month-long program of food experiences, farm visits and community events. Set within one of South East Queensland’s most scenic rural regions, the festival offers visitors the chance to meet local producers and enjoy fresh regional flavours at their source.

Planning tip

Plan a weekend or short escape in the Mary Valley and combine festival events with scenic drives, country pubs and nearby hinterland villages. Add ride on The Mary Valley Rattler  train

Paniyiri Greek Festival – Brisbane, Queensland (May)

Held each year in Brisbane’s South Bank precinct, Paniyiri is one of Australia’s longest-running cultural food festivals, celebrating Greek food, music and traditions. Visitors can enjoy authentic regional dishes, cooking demonstrations, dance performances and lively entertainment in a relaxed outdoor setting.

Planning tip

Arrive early or use public transport, then combine your visit with a stroll through South Bank or a riverside meal to make a full Brisbane weekend of it. Looking for somewhere to stay?  I’ve stayed at 30 top Brisbane hotels and these are the ones I loved.

Hampton Festival – Hampton, Queensland (May)

Held each year in the high country village of Hampton, the Hampton Festival is a weekend that celebrates regional food, wine and the arts in a relaxed country setting. The program includes creative art experiences, local produce showcases and opportunities to meet growers and makers from across the region.  I enjoy this smaller festival and a visit to the wonderful food bowl of Hampton high country.

Planning tip

Plan a weekend escape and explore nearby Toowoomba, farm gates and scenic country drives across the Darling Downs while you’re in the region.  I believe Toowoomba is underrated as a food destination – here’s why.

Noosa Food & Wine Festival – Noosa, Queensland (June)

Held each June, the Noosa Food & Wine Festival showcases the region’s vibrant dining scene with a packed program of long lunches, beachfront events, tastings and chef-led experiences across Noosa and the Sunshine Coast. It’s one of Queensland’s most popular food festivals, blending great food with a relaxed coastal atmosphere. I’ve been many times to this festival and it is a favourite. Here’s everything you need to know about Noosa Food and Wine Festival.

Planning tip

Book accommodation early and add extra days to explore Noosa’s beaches, hinterland towns and local dining scene while attending festival events.

Discover my picks for the best new restaurants in Noosa.

Relish Food & Wine Festival – Maryborough, Queensland (June)

Held in Maryborough on the Fraser Coast, Relish is a one-day festival celebrating regional produce with gourmet tastings, cooking demonstrations, workshops and a wide range of local food experiences set among the town’s heritage streets and parklands. It has great small-town vibes and is a great introduction to the region’s extensive food bowl.

Planning tip

Extend your visit to explore the Fraser Coast, combining the festival with a weekend in Hervey Bay or K’gari (Fraser Island) for a relaxed coastal escape.

Food Festivals in New South Wales

Orange F.O.O.D. Week – Orange (April)

The NSW food basket comes alive during Orange F.O.O.D Week, a celebration of regional produce and cool-climate wines. Held each autumn, this long-running festival features a packed program of signature events and local experiences showcasing the best flavours of the region.

Planning tip

Stay a few extra days to explore Orange’s cellar doors, restaurants and farm-gate producers, all within easy reach of town.

Newcastle Food Month – Newcastle, New South Wales

Held throughout April, Newcastle Food Month celebrates the city’s growing dining scene with a month-long program of special menus, collaborative events and unique dining experiences across restaurants, bars and cafes. It’s a great opportunity to explore Newcastle’s evolving food culture while enjoying the city’s relaxed coastal lifestyle.

Planning tip

Make a weekend of it by exploring Newcastle’s beaches, harbour walks and nearby Hunter Valley wineries while enjoying festival dining events.

Oberon Field to Forest Festival, Oberon (April)

Held each autumn, the Oberon Field to Forest Festival celebrates the region’s cool-climate produce and natural landscapes with a program of food experiences, farm visits, markets and special dining events. Set among pine forests and country towns, it’s a relaxed way to explore Central NSW while enjoying seasonal flavours and local hospitality.

Planning tip

Base yourself in Oberon or nearby towns and allow extra time to visit Mayfield Garden, local farm gates and nearby villages while exploring the region.

Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival – Hunter Valley (July)

Held in Lovedale in the heart of the Hunter Valley, this popular festival brings together local wineries, craft brewers and regional food producers for a relaxed day of tastings, food and live entertainment. It’s an easy way to sample the best of the region in one location while enjoying a lively, family-friendly atmosphere. Find event details and tickets at Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival.

Planning tip

Turn the festival into a weekend escape by staying in the Hunter Valley and exploring cellar doors, restaurants and nearby country towns.  I enjoyed a visit to Margan Wines where they offer farm to table dining.

Horizontal Festival – Bowral, Southern Highlands (October)

Held at Centennial Vineyards in Bowral, the Horizontal Festival blends food, wine, music and art into a curated multi-sensory experience celebrating the best of New South Wales produce and creativity. Across day and evening sessions, visitors can enjoy tastings, live entertainment and immersive themed spaces showcasing regional makers, producers and performers in the heart of the Southern Highlands.

Planning tip

Turn the festival into a Southern Highlands escape by adding time to explore Bowral’s cafes, cool-climate wineries and nearby villages such as Berrima and Mittagong.

Food Festivals in Victoria

South Gippsland Garlic Festival – Korumburra, Victoria (February)

Held in Korumburra, the South Gippsland Garlic Festival celebrates Australian garlic growers and producers with a lively program of cooking demonstrations, produce stalls, live music and family-friendly entertainment. Visitors can discover different garlic varieties, learn how to grow and cook with garlic, and stock up on fresh local produce and specialty products. Find event details and tickets on the South Gippsland Garlic Festival website.

Planning tip

Turn your visit into a weekend escape by exploring South Gippsland’s food producers, coastal towns and scenic countryside while attending the festival.

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival – Melbourne (March)

Held each autumn, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival celebrates Victoria’s vibrant dining scene with a citywide program of chef collaborations, regional showcases, tastings and signature dining experiences. Events take place across Melbourne and regional Victoria, highlighting the state’s diverse produce, restaurants and wine regions.

Planning tip

Base yourself in Melbourne and add time for day trips to regions such as the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula or Macedon Ranges to experience more of Victoria’s food and wine scene during the festival.

Grampians Grape Escape – Halls Gap, Victoria (May)

Held in the scenic Grampians region,  Grampians Grape Escape celebrates Western Victoria’s wine, food and local producers with tastings, cooking demonstrations, live music and market-style stalls. It’s a relaxed way to experience regional flavours while surrounded by some of Victoria’s most impressive natural landscapes.

Planning tip

Stay in or around Halls Gap and allow extra time to explore Grampians National Park’s walking trails, lookouts and wildlife between festival events.

Food Festivals in South Australia

Tunarama Festival – Port Lincoln, SA (January)

One of Australia’s most famous seafood festivals, the Tunarama Festival celebrates the region’s tuna industry with food stalls, cooking demonstrations and lively community events.

Planning tip:

Fly into Adelaide and add a few days exploring the Eyre Peninsula’s seafood scene and coastal drives.

Tasting Australia – Adelaide & Regional South Australia (May)

Held each autumn, Tasting Australia is one of the country’s leading food and wine festivals, showcasing South Australia’s producers, chefs and culinary talent through a diverse program of dining experiences, tastings and regional events. With activities taking place in Adelaide and across the state’s food and wine regions, it’s a great opportunity to explore South Australia through its produce and hospitality.

Planning tip

Base yourself in Adelaide and add extra days to explore nearby wine regions such as the Barossa, McLaren Vale or Adelaide Hills while attending festival events.

Food Festivals in Tasmania

Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival – Huon Valley, Tasmania

Held each winter in Tasmania’s Huon Valley, this much-loved festival celebrates the region’s apple-growing heritage with winter feasting, storytelling, music and traditional wassailing rituals around blazing bonfires. It’s a lively and memorable way to experience local food, cider and community spirit in the depths of winter. Find event details and tickets on the Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival website.

Planning tip

Base yourself in Hobart and allow extra time to explore the Huon Valley’s orchards, cellar doors and scenic drives while attending the festival. Here’s my travel guide to Tasmania so you can make the most of your visit.

Tassie Scallop Fiesta – Bridport (August)

Held in the coastal town of Bridport, this popular community festival celebrates the opening of Tasmania’s scallop season with fresh seafood, cooking demonstrations and family-friendly entertainment. It’s a relaxed seaside event showcasing local seafood and the region’s maritime heritage.

Planning tip

Stay a night or two in Bridport and explore nearby beaches, golf courses and the wineries of North East Tasmania while visiting the festival. Here is my oyster lover’s guide to Tasmania’s east coast.

Tasmanian Whisky Week – Tasmania

Held each winter, Tasmanian Whisky Week celebrates the state’s internationally acclaimed whisky and spirits industry with tastings, distillery events and special experiences held across both northern and southern Tasmania. The program brings together producers and enthusiasts for a week showcasing the craftsmanship and creativity of Tasmanian distillers. Find event details on the Tasmanian Whisky Week website.

Planning tip

Plan a Tasmania road trip or base yourself in Hobart or Launceston to visit multiple distilleries and regional attractions while attending festival events. Here are 10 Hobart hotels where I love to stay.

Food Festivals in Western Australia

Taste Great Southern – Great Southern Region (March)

Held each autumn across Western Australia’s Great Southern region, Taste Great Southern showcases local produce, cool-climate wines and coastal flavours through a program of long lunches, tastings and unique dining experiences. Events take place across towns including Albany, Denmark and Mount Barker, celebrating one of the state’s most diverse and scenic food regions.

Planning tip

Allow several days to explore the Great Southern, combining festival events with visits to Albany’s coastline, Denmark’s wineries and the region’s farm-gate producers.

Pair’d Margaret River Region – Margaret River (November)

Held in Western Australia’s Margaret River region, Pair’d celebrates world-class wine, food and music through a series of curated dining and tasting experiences set among the region’s renowned vineyards and coastal landscapes. The festival invites visitors to explore Margaret River’s celebrated producers while enjoying memorable culinary and entertainment experiences. Find event details on the Pair’d Margaret River website.

Planning tip

Stay several days to explore Margaret River’s wineries, coastal walks, surf beaches and farm-gate producers while attending festival events. Here’s a four day road trip exploring Margaret River Region.

Food Festivals in ACT & Northern Territory

ACT & Northern Territory Planning Guide

Canberra Beer & Cider Festival (March)

This popular festival brings together a wide range of craft breweries, cider makers and distillers, alongside local food stalls and live entertainment, creating a relaxed day out celebrating independent producers. Held in central Canberra, it’s a great excuse for a weekend visit to the capital.

Planning tip:

Make a weekend of it by exploring Canberra’s wineries, galleries and lakeside dining while you’re in town.

Find event details and ticket information on the festival website.

Karrimanjbekkan An-me Kakadu: A Taste of Kakadu – Northern Territory (May)

Held across Kakadu National Park, this A Taste of Kakadu celebrates Indigenous culture and native ingredients through a program of dining experiences, bush tucker tours and cultural activities led by Traditional Owners. Visitors can enjoy meals showcasing local ingredients alongside guided experiences that share the stories, knowledge and traditions of the Bininj/Mungguy people.

Planning tip

Allow several days to explore Kakadu National Park, combining festival events with visits to rock art sites, wetlands cruises and scenic lookouts throughout the region.

How to Plan a Food Festival Trip in Australia

Planning ahead makes visiting food festivals in Australia far more enjoyable, especially when events take place in smaller regional towns where accommodation fills quickly. Book your stay early and consider hiring a car, as many Australian food and wine festivals are held outside major cities and are best explored at your own pace.

Allow an extra day or two to explore the region beyond the festival itself, whether that means visiting cellar doors, local farms, markets or nearby natural attractions. Most importantly, take the opportunity to support local growers, winemakers and producers, because these passionate communities are what make Australia’s food festivals such rewarding travel experiences.