Bring your appetite and sort your calendar – Newcastle Food Month is back!

Newcastle knows how to eat well, and every April, the city turns it up a notch.

In 2026 Newcastle Food Month, Presented by Charlestown Square served up a choose-your-own-adventure of long lunches, late-night bites, and chef collabs in what was their most appetising program to date.

The 2026 program was also their biggest, with 70+ feature events and Plate Dates running across the month of April plus three new signature events.

Newcastle Food Month festival organisers never fail to deliver on quality, with 2026 again showcasing a brand new menu of experiences that’s bursting with homegrown creativity, local flavour, and the passionate people who shape Newcastle’s vibrant food culture.

Think set menus and specials designed to get you out and exploring. It’s not just about the big-ticket bookings either.

The best part is how the festival nudged you into neighbourhood venues you’ve been meaning to try, and reminds you Newcastle’s food scene isn’t one strip, it’s the whole city, and this year, there’s extra reason to roam.

Midtown 
Newcastle’s newest night-time precinct leaned into after-dark dining with Late Night Plate Dates 

Newcastle East
A collective of businesses are stepping forward with a curated food tour, a trail map and a delicious mix of Feature Events and Plate Date offers.

Our Throsby
Taking in the Newcastle’s suburbs of Islington, Mayfield, Carrington and Tighes Hill, why not jump on your bike, or take a walk and discover a seafood-forward focused range of Events and Plate Date menus.

Three new Signature Events bring fresh energy to the 2026 program 

SoundBites Food & Wine Festival @ Newcastle Racecourse – Saturday 28 March
Kicking off Newcastle Food Month is a full-day food and wine party. Expect Newcastle’s best chefs teaming up with Miguel Maestre, one-off signature dishes made just for the day, Hunter Valley wineries on pour, and live music bringing the festival energy from start to finish.

The HCA X First Creek Wines Great Newcastle Waiter’s Race – Wednesday 1 April
Taking inspiration from the iconic Paris Course des Garçons de Café, waiters, bartenders and front-of-house professionals from across Newcastle and the Hunter will compete against one another on a circuit while balancing a tray featuring First Creek wines, a Foghorn beer, and Signal Box canapes. Spectator viewing is free, with an invitation to join in the ticketed celebrations at Signal Box.

Customs House x Tina Belmont | Autumnal Garden Party – Saturdays 11 & 18 April
There’s a tasty new twist to the the much-loved Autumnal Garden Party at Customs House, with the team from Tinta bringing autumn-inspired bites and flowing drinks to match the crisp autumn energy.

Feature Events

This April, Newcastle Food Month served up 70+ Feature Events across the city. Think intimate chef dinners, producer tastings, masterclasses, and plenty more ways to eat, sip, and discover the Hunter’s best flavours.

The Producers Dinner | 2 Apr
Celebrate Newcastle’s legendary local producers with a four-course dinner from Foghorn Head Chef Marley Longo and guest Chef Nick Biddle (Lock’s Paddock), paired with special-release Foghorn beers, Earp spirits and First Creek wines, plus a limited-edition barrel-aged beer launch.
Where: Foghorn Brewhouse | $119 pp

Seafood Lunch & Harbour Degustation | 3 Apr
Jump on board Newcastle’s coastal bounty, MV Calmer for a six-course seafood degustation cruise, showcasing the freshest catch from the Newcastle Fishermen’s Co-Op. Enjoy plated dishes, seasonal flavours and dessert while cruising the harbour in effortless luxury.
Where: Queens Wharf Ferry Terminal (All Event Cruises) | $130 pp

Cakeboi x Roundhouse High Tea | 4 Apr
Crystalbrook Kingsley Executive Chef Joey Ingram teams up with MasterChef alum Reece Hignell (Cakeboi) for a high tea with rose-kissed tower of sweets and savouries, warm scones, a First Creek rosé pour, live strings and panoramic harbour views.
Where: Roundhouse at Crystalbrook Kingsley | $109 pp

Sukimama x First Creek Sunday Beach Club | 5 Apr
Spend April Sundays beachside as Sukimama pops up at Merewether Surf Club with First Creek Wines. Ticket includes a featured wine, $15 food voucher, DJ and relaxed vibes. Choose Rosé, Chardonnay, Semillon or Pinot themed sessions at 4pm or 5:30pm.
Where: Merewether Surf Club | $30 pp

Shuck Fest | 12 Apr
Get into the spirit at Earp Distilling Co’s Shuck Fest with Dawson’s Oysters and East End Ice Creamery. Wander the Barrel Hall for live oyster shucking, seafood tastings, a gin martini bar and limited-edition limoncello sorbet, plus live music.
Where: Earp Distilling Co., Carrington | $30 pp

Islington Barracks + Newcastle Comedy Club + Mercer Wine Dinner | 11 Apr
Laughter, fine wine and a feast at Islington Barracks Hotel. Enjoy a three-course dinner matched with six Mercer wines, then settle in at Newcastle Comedy Club for a show that will have you in stitches to round out your night.
Where: Islington Barracks Hotel | $130 pp

Nordic Baking Masterclass | 19 Apr
Discover Scandinavian baking in a hands-on masterclass at The Yellow Door Kitchen. Make cinnamon buns, a princess cake and a Swedish sandwich “cake”, learning Nordic dough, layering and decorating techniques. Includes recipes, a light lunch, and treats to take home.
Where: The Yellow Door Kitchen, Tighes Hill | $270 pp

Vegan Long Lunch | 18 Apr
Settle in at The Nags for a three-course Vegan Long Lunch celebrating bold plant-based flavours. Enjoy seasonal dishes and a signature cocktail, with reserved seating for the afternoon. Gather friends for Newcastle Food Month’s tastiest vegan feast in Adamstown.
Where: The Nags Head Hotel, Adamstown | $75 pp

Sagra Della Cucina e Vino | 24 Apr
Una Volta brings an Italian four-course shared feast – Antipasto, Primo, Secondo and Dolce – guided by the Una Volta team and winemaker Ash Horner. Each course is accompanied by carefully selected Hunter Valley Italian and European varietals.
Where: Una Volta | $130 pp

Hats Off Sunday Lunch | EXP at Roundhouse | 26 Apr
Presented by Hunter Culinary Association, the Good Food Guide Regional Restaurant of the Year 2026, EXP, takes over Roundhouse for a one-day-only long Sunday lunch. Chef-owner Frank Fawkner serves a four-course tasting menu with matching wines or non-alcoholic pairing, high above Newcastle.
Where: Roundhouse at Crystalbrook Kingsley | $255 pp

The Great Wine Pour Off | 30 Apr
Close out Newcastle Food Month at NOAH’S on the Beach with guided wine pairings led by Ashleigh Smith and Jo Minett (Bonvilla Estate). Sip, compare and vote on Bonvilla wines poured side-by-side, enjoy a flowing selection of chef-crafted bites, plus playful grape stomping in a beachfront setting.
Where: NOAH’S on the Beach | $135–$159 pp

Plate Dates, presented by First Creek Wines

For those new to the concept, Newcastle Food Month’s Plate Date gives you the chance to score a meal and a drink at some of the city’s best venues throughout April for just $30!

This is the perfect opportunity to not only keep the budget on track, but a great excuse to get out and about ticking off your Newcastle foodie bucket list. Plate Date is a simple, yet very tasty concept. Here’s how it works...

Select ONE Signature Dish — ONE Perfectly Paired Drink — and pay only $30 (or $25 at select spots).

Some of the highlights of the 70+ Plate Date menus included NCYC Goan-Style Fish and Prawn Curry, the Panini & Eclair Pair at Pattison’s Charlestown Square, a Beer & Burger Bliss at Bistro Dalby, Nourish Bowl & Pinot Gris at Talulah, or Oxtail Lasagna & Hunter Pairings at Jana QT, and our favourite: the Ode to Les Arlots at Cara, The Junction. 

Whether you’re booking the big events or building a $30 Plate Date hit list, Newcastle Food Month is a solid excuse to plan your April around food. 

Newcastle Food Month will no doubt return in 2027, stay tuned for more news.

* Beverage is specified by the participating venue.
** Each restaurant will set its own Ts & Cs, available days of the offer, and surcharges may apply on Public Holidays. If you have questions or queries head to the venue directly.