This Just in: Melbourne Food & Wine Festival Announces its 2026 Program, Including a Cake Picnic, a Greek-Themed Longest Lunch, Free Pizza, and Even Blind Whisky Tastings
From a Korean Fried Chicken Festival, to wild foraging experiences and pop-ups at some of the best restaurants in town, there's truly something for everyone.
Listen up and mark your calendars: Melbourne Food & Wine Festival has announced a stellar lineup of over 200 events and experiences for the 2026 program, which will run from Friday, March 20 to Sunday, March 29. The ten-day program includes events across regional Victoria, features famous international chefs through a Global Dining Series, and, as always, showcases Victorian restaurants, chefs, growers and makers.
One of the big-ticket items announced for this year is the CAKE PICNIC, a global sensation hailing from San Francisco, which makes its southern hemisphere debut as part of the 2026 program. The proposition is simple: bring a cake, and eat a lot of cake. Fouder, Elisa Sunga, says, "I am so excited to bring CAKE PICNIC to Melbourne. I am looking forward to seeing what flavours and styles Australia's bakers bring to the table. I've heard only great things about Melbourne's food scene, so my excitement is at a high." The CAKE PICNIC will be held at Kings Domain on Saturday, March 21, however, you'll need to get in quick. The last San Francisco event sold out its 2000 tickets in under a minute.
Another headline event, which has been running since 1993, is the annual World's Longest Lunch, set to capitalise on the wave of reinvigorated Greek dining that has swept across Melbourne over the last few years. The three-course meal, offered to 1600 guests, will be served by author Ella Mittas, Alex Xinis from Yarraville sensation Tzaki, and the crew from CBD hotspot Kafeneion. The Greek-themed lunch will be held at Kings Domain on Friday, March 20.
"Here, try this. A Greek-themed World's Longest Lunch! The global sensation that is CAKE PICNIC! And everyone's favourite author and baker Helen Goh. There is so much to be excited by in the 2026 Melbourne Food & Wine Festival," says Anthea Loucas Bosha, CEO of Food + Drink Victoria. "I'm thrilled that the…program features an incredible Special Events program with 170 events across Melbourne, alongside our Regional Special Events program…bringing 26 events to towns and regions across Victoria. [The] Global Dining Series, presented by Polestar, is back, with chefs from all corners of the globe heading to Melbourne to collaborate with our best restaurants. And our final weekend has us back at Fed Square, where Melbourne's best bakers and patissiers will be on show at our fourth and supersized Baker's Dozen, presented by McKenzie's. For 10 days in March, there will be nowhere better to eat and drink in the world. I'm looking forward to sharing a slice of cake with you in March".
The Global Dining Series will showcase an incredible array of international talent, including a collaboration between Bridges, one of New York's most renowned restaurants, and Melbourne's beloved Cutler, an Italian social media star serving street fare at Sunhands, and the chef behind the viral Dubai chocolate popping up at Fable.
"We've got guests making their way to Melbourne from Mexico City, Manila, Chiang Rai, Valetta, London, New York City, Singapore, Paris and beyond cooking food from Bundjalung, Shenyang, Larrakia, Abruzzese, Samoan, Maltese, Māori, Filipino, Malaysian and Finnish traditions, to name just a few," says Melbourne Food & Wine Creative Director Pat Nourse. "They're cooking in fine-dining restaurants and in pubs, serving food on china plates on damask cloths, and straight out of restaurant windows, doing it savoury, sweet, spicy and everywhere in between — if you're looking for flavour, it's right here in Victoria this March, and there's plenty of it."
Of course, the festival would not be complete without the beloved Baker's Dozen that will feature guests from interstate and overseas, including Ottolenghi sweets boss Helen Goh. It's been a big year for bakeries in Melbourne, and your favourites from across town will make an appearance, including Amann Patisserie, Butter Days, Iris, Monforte Viennoiserie, Raya, Sebby's Scrolls, To Be Frank, and so many more.
"The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival once again shows why we are the nation's food and wine capital and the 2026 program is sure to attract visitors from near and far — boosting local businesses and jobs," said Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos.
Images: Supplied.
Tickets for the 2026 Melbourne Food & Wine Festival go on sale at 10am on Thursday, November 27, with pre-sale tickets available from 10am Monday, November 24, for subscribers. If you miss out on tickets to the Greek Longest Lunch, you can still try the best Greek restaurants in town using our handy guide.
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