Dartmouth Food Festival returns for 2026!
Dartmouth Food Festival (23rd – 25th October 2026) is well-known as one of the most prestigious food festivals in the country and is always credited with an unrivalled line up of chef talent and a feast of entertainment.
Continuing to build on more than two decades of culinary excellence, the chefs’ favourite foodie destination is set to welcome an exciting line-up of chefs including: Henry Harris (his London restaurant, Bouchon Racine was recently voted UK restaurant of the year), Richard Bertinet, Cherie Denham and Mark Hix. Flying the flag for local talent are Festival Patron Mitch Tonks, Nathan Outlaw, and Jane Baxter.
New for this year, the festival has collaborated with The BBQ Magazine to curate the Fire & Food Quarter. Located on the South Embankment, this exciting addition to the weekend’s programme will be a dedicated live-fire cooking, food and outdoor living destination celebrating the very best of outdoor cooking culture, artisan food and experiential food experiences.
The not-for-profit festival is run entirely by volunteers and is free for visitors, meaning they can fully explore its unique three day programme which takes place right across the Devon town on the River Dart. The Festival has always been focused on educating and inspiring its visitors and creating an independent event that supports its community sustainably so it can continue well into the future.
This year’s events include the following activities:
- Chef Demo Theatre
- NEW Fire & Food Quarter (in partnership with The BBQ Magazine)
- The Food Matters talks: bringing together some of the food world's most inspiring voices to explore the big issues, bold ideas and fascinating stories shaping what we eat today
- Wine seminars + drinks tastings: Sip, swirl, taste! Hear from the experts shaping the world of wine.
- Market stalls from over 100 local producers, suppliers and growers
Festival Ambassador Orlando Murrin, explains: “The Dartmouth Food Festival has come a long way since its early days, when a handful of local producers and volunteers came together in the Market Square. Today, it is a thriving celebration of food and drink from the South West that brings the whole town to life and welcomes more than 20,000 visitors annually, whilst staying true to the community spirit on which it was built.”
To celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2024, the Festival team created a limited-edition cookbook. The Dartmouth Food Festival Cookbook: A Celebration of Food, Friendship & Feasting features recipes from top chefs who have been part of the festival over the years including Matt Tebbutt, Richard Bertinet, Romy Gill, and Nick Evans, as well as a host of local food heroes including producers and restaurateurs. The 60 recipes are accompanied by stunning photography from Nick Hook Photography. The book is available to order from the Festival website here priced £25, and will be available to purchase at the festival, too.
Finally, Festival Patron Mitch Tonks shares what continues to make Dartmouth Food Festival one of the South West’s most anticipated food events: “Dartmouth is always a fantastic place to visit, but during the food festival the whole town comes alive. The festival is a celebration not only of great food and drink, but of the people who make it possible from renowned chefs and talented producers to our dedicated volunteers and organisers. Together, they create an atmosphere that is uniquely Dartmouth and keeps visitors returning year after year. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back in 2026 for another unforgettable festival.”
