What Not to Miss at Cork on a Fork Fest 2026

Cork City Council has officially launched the 2026 programme for its flagship food festival, Cork on a Fork Fest, unveiling more than 150 delicious events set to take place across the city from 12–16 August.

Delivered in partnership with Cork’s hospitality, tourism, and food and drink sectors, the five-day celebration continues to grow as one of Ireland’s most exciting and ambitious food festivals, blending incredible dining experiences, street feasts, markets, demonstrations, talks, tastings, family fun and community events.

With strong demand expected for headline events, organisers are urging food lovers to plan ahead, with tickets going on sale tomorrow (Thursday 7 May at 9am).

Festival highlights not to miss

The Cathedral Supper - St Fin Barre’s Cathedral:  The first ever dining experience inside St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, featuring Michelin-starred chefs Lewis Barker and Paul McDonald serving a standing small-plate tasting menu with wine pairings.  Black tie | €125

Chef Collaboration at Goldie Chapel:  Leading Cork chefs, Michelin-starred Rob Krawczyk (Chestnut), Bib Gourmand chef Aishling Moore (Goldie) and the team from local favourite Good Day Deli come together for a one-off dinner celebrating local produce in Goldie Chapel in Nano Nagle Place.  €165

The VQ Shared Table returns bigger than ever: The festival’s signature long-table event returns with nearly 500 diners seated across MacCurtain Street in a 20-chef collaboration across the VQ business district. New for 2026 is full weather-proofing with a stretch marquee, with relocation to The Metropole Hotel only in severe weather. €155.

The Market Table - a Zero-Waste Dinner:  One of the most original events of the weekend, The Market Table transforms the English Market fountain area into a dining room for a sustainable feast hosted by FoodCloud and sustainability chef Orla McAndrew. €85 

L’Atitude 51 Presents SUPRA - St Peter’s Georgian Feast:  A Georgian shared-table experience with chefs from Poliphonia Tbilisi, celebrating traditional Supra hospitality and storytelling.  €120 with wine | €105 non-alcoholic.

The Faithfuls at The Grand Dame:  A fun Traitors-inspired dinner experience combining food, theatre and interactive gameplay in The Imperial Hotel.  €80

Cork Food & Fashion Brunch:  A stylish brunch at Bakestone pairing seasonal food with fashion from Opera Lane and drinks reception. €60

Da Mirco Osteria & Fiáin – Wild Aperitivo Night:  A foraged, hedgerow-inspired Italian small-plates and cocktails collaboration between Da Mirco and Epi Rogan. €10–€15 plates | Walk-ins only

Spice Route Supper Club:  A shared-table supper club at Rebel City Distillery celebrating Indian spice traditions and Cork craft spirits. €80

The Glass Curtain x Leo’s London:  An Italian-inspired tasting menu collaboration between Cork’s The Glass Curtain and London’s Leo’s London, with optional wine pairings. From €90

Pigs, Pints & Proper Stories at Blarney Brewing. Enjoy a tour of the brewery, a BBQ and storytelling. €65

Tiger Balm Club is taking over Bakestone for one night of All Killer No Filler.  €70.

City-wide festival takeover:  Across the weekend, Cork city centre becomes a festival zone with Open Streets markets, music, street theatre, a pop-up farm on South Main Street, the SuperValu Family Zone in Bishop Lucey Park, cooking demonstrations marquee on Grand Parade, and events across the city centre, along with talks and tastings in Seventy Seven, Triskel and St Peters.

English Market experiences:  The English Market will host a fantastic programme of events including the Farmgate Café Summer Evening Supper, a curated 6-stop Taste Trail, and a special Sunday opening featuring live cooking demonstrations inside the market.

The programme also includes lots of talks, tastings, workshops and demos. Highlights include the Food For Thought mini-symposium on food tourism and storytelling, alongside Grub Circus at St Peter’s, the McKenna Theatre of Food, and the Consume Cork demo marquee.  

The programme also features special historic pub trails, children's food trails, wine tasting events, behind-the-scenes at breweries and distilleries and much much more.

Cork on a Fork continues to strengthen the city’s position as one of Europe’s leading food destinations, which aligns with Cork’s ambition to be recognised as a World Region of Gastronomy.

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy said, “Cork on a Fork has grown into a fantastic showcase of all that is great about Cork food and it’s an opportunity for the food community to come together in a week of celebration.  There is also a wider ambition for Cork to be a world region of gastronomy and events like this make us a food destination worth visiting.”

Valerie O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Cork City Council said, “The festival has become one of the standout celebrations of our city, showcasing the creativity, quality and passion that make Cork such a special food destination. This year’s programme is our most ambitious yet, with more than 150 events that celebrate everyone from our world-class chefs and producers to community groups, traders and family businesses.”

Fáilte Ireland said “Fáilte Ireland is pleased to support Cork on a Fork Fest 2026. Festivals and events like this create memorable cultural experiences that encourage visitors from Ireland and overseas to discover all that we have to offer across the country. Our investment in the Cork on a Fork Fest 2026 strengthens Cork’s appeal as a must-visit destination within the Ireland's Ancient East region, while generating meaningful economic opportunities for local businesses and contributing to the sustainable growth of tourism in the Ireland's Ancient East region.” 

Tickets go on sale tomorrow Thursday at 9am via www.corkonaforkfest.ie, with strong demand expected for headline events. Early booking is advised.

Cork on a Fork Fest is a Cork City Council festival, supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism & Employment, Visit Cork, Cork Airport, Cork Business Association, LEO Cork City, the Irish Hotels Federation Cork, MTU, and headline sponsor Musgrave.