Ballymaloe Festival of Food returns to Cork with a stellar lineup
Following two hugely successful years, the Ballymaloe Festival of Food will return for its third edition from Friday 15 - Sunday 17 May 2026, bringing a flavour-packed weekend to East Cork.
Set across the historic Ballymaloe House, The Grainstore, Big Shed and gardens, the festival celebrates Irish food, producers, chefs and seasonal cooking, showcasing the very best of modern Irish and international food culture.
The full programme will feature live cookery demonstrations, panel talks, tastings, pop-up dining experiences, workshops, book signings, producer showcases, live music and festival food, with something to delight food lovers of all ages.
Photo: Joleen Cronin.
The lineup for 2026 includes chefs, food writers, podcasters and industry pros such as Darina Allen, Sami Tamimi, Felicity Cloake, Jimmy Doherty, Freddy Clode and Ben Benton.
Irish favourites confirmed so far include food personality and TV chef Catherine Fulvio, Janet Liu of Janet’s Dumplings, and champion of Irish food culture Graham Herterich (aka The Cupcake Bloke).
"It's my first time doing something at it, and I'm really excited about it," Graham told RTÉ Lifestyle. "The whole festival happens around the farm, so it is quite idyllic, so it is."
Herterich will be hosting a mouth-watering afternoon tea in the walled gardens at Ballymaloe Festival of Food, inspired by special icons of Ireland.
"Some of the most important icons of Irish food are producers," he told RTÉ Lifestyle. "It's a three-course afternoon tea, and I'm focusing each course on different Irish producers and products. I'm doing my own take on them."
Clonakilty pudding and Ballymaloe relish are promised to be on the menu, as well as an entire course dedicated to Tayto's cheese and onion crisps.
"I'm doing a modern version of Milkado," he continues, gleefully. "I'm taking Tanora - can't go to Cork and no do something with Tanora - I'm making a Tanora jelly, I'm using Barry's Tea, I'm using Cork Gin, loads of Irish icons!"
As well as celebrating the tried and true classics, Herterich hopes to make room for some rising stars, including Stag Rua beer and St Tola Divine goat's cheese.
"All I want to do is scream about how good some of the food producers are in this country," he insists.
Photo: Joleen Cronin
As the owner of both The Bakery in Rialto and Ernie's café in Kildare, Herterich knows all too well the struggle to keep a business up and running in Ireland in 2026.
As well as hosting the afternoon tea, leading a demonstration, and selling delectable delicacies across the weekend in the market stalls, he says he is looking forward to taking part in conversations surrounding the food industry.
"It's very stressful out there at the moment," he admits. "I'm so passionate about traditional Irish food and traditional Irish producers, so it's nice to be in this space with like-minded people who know the struggles. You have a weekend of people who get you."
"There will be tough discussions had at the festival," he adds, "and the public gets to see that and partake in that, which I think is really important.
"It's a tough game to be in at the moment, things like going to Ballymaloe keep you going. "
Tickets and packages are on sale now, with live stream tickets and workshops available in March. For the full speaker lineup and to book tickets, visit www.ballymaloegrainstore.com.
