Tue 5 May 2026
Photo diary: the 2026 festival in pictures
Market crowds, guest chefs, pastry masterclasses and a cabaret supper club — the festival weekend as our photographers saw it.
A weekend of food, friends and festivities.
The Waterford Festival of Food fills the harbour town of Dungarvan every April — dining experiences, tastings, talks, food trails, family fun and the famous Sunday Festival Market on Grattan Square.
In short
The 2026 festival ran 24–26 April across Dungarvan and West Waterford, finishing with a packed Sunday Festival Market. Browse the programme and photo diary below — and sign up to the newsletter to hear about the next edition first.
The 2026 programme
Highlights from the festival weekend
Sat 25 Apr 2026
09:30–11:00
Flahavan's Big Festival Breakfast
A hearty Waterford breakfast with Flahavan's, the festival's long-time supporters.
FamilyTicketed — family friendly
Sat 25 Apr 2026
12:00–13:30
Cookery Demonstration: Rory O'Connell
The Ballymaloe Cookery School co-founder shows how it's done.
DemonstrationTicketed
Sat 25 Apr 2026
14:00–15:30
Pastry Masterclass with Shane Smith
Ireland's favourite pastry chef shares the secrets of show-stopping baking.
MasterclassTicketed
Sat 25 Apr 2026
15:00–17:00
A Very Festival Afternoon Tea
Dainty sandwiches, proper cakes and a sea view — afternoon tea, festival style.
DiningTicketed
Sun 26 Apr 2026
10:00–17:00
The Sunday Festival Market
The grand finale — Grattan Square packed with food, craft, music and thousands of friends.
MarketFree entry
Sun 26 Apr 2026
13:00–15:30
Guest Chefs: A Festival Sunday Lunch
Visiting chefs join Dungarvan kitchens for one very special Sunday lunch.
DiningTicketed
Independent traders
Eat & drink your way through
Drink
Blackwater Distillery
West Waterford distillers of small-batch gin and single pot still whiskey.
Drink
Dungarvan Brewing Company
Pioneering craft brewery, making bottle-conditioned beers in Dungarvan since 2010.
Venues
Festival venues around Dungarvan
360 Cookhouse
Main Street, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Town-centre restaurant hosting festival breakfasts and family dining.
Davitt's Quay
Davitt's Quay, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
The harbour-front strip where the festival meets the water.
Grattan Square
Grattan Square, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Dungarvan's broad market square — home of the famous Sunday Festival Market.
Old Market House Arts Centre
Lower Main Street, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
A historic town-centre arts space hosting talks, tastings and demonstrations.
The Moorings
Davitt's Quay, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Bar and restaurant on Davitt's Quay — a favourite Tapas Trails stop.
The Park Hotel
Shandon, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Dungarvan hotel hosting dining events and the festival's evening entertainment.
From the festival office
Latest news
Tue 28 Apr 2026
That's a wrap: thank you, Dungarvan
The 2026 Waterford Festival of Food finished with a packed Grattan Square — a huge thank you to everyone who cooked, poured, traded, volunteered and turned up hungry.
Tue 10 Mar 2026
Tickets for the 2026 festival go on sale 20 March
The first release of tickets for the 2026 festival goes live on 20 March, with a second release following on 24 March.
Visitor questions
Common questions
When and where does the festival happen?
The 2026 festival ran Friday 24 to Sunday 26 April in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, with events across West Waterford. Dates for the next edition are announced on this site and in the newsletter first.
What is the Sunday Festival Market?
The festival's flagship day — Grattan Square fills with food and craft stalls, street entertainment and music from roughly 10:00 to 17:00 on the Sunday. Entry is free.
Do I need tickets?
The Sunday market and plenty of outdoor happenings are free. Dining events, tastings, demonstrations and workshops are individually ticketed and often sell out — book early once tickets go on sale.
When do tickets go on sale?
For 2026, tickets went on sale on 20 March with a second release on 24 March. Ticket news is announced on this site and through the festival newsletter.
An event I wanted is sold out — any advice?
Popular dinners and demos go quickly. Keep an eye on the news page and newsletter for returned tickets or added events, and try the free programme — there's lots of it.
How do I get to Dungarvan?
Dungarvan sits on the N25 roughly midway between Waterford city and Cork, about 45–50 minutes from each. Bus Éireann coaches on the Waterford–Cork corridor stop in the town. If you're feeling energetic, the Waterford Greenway cycling trail ends right in Dungarvan.
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