There’s a certain kind of event that feels less like a day out and more like a passport to everywhere you’ve been meaning to go.
The Good Food & Wine Show has always been that. But in 2026, it feels more like a shortcut to regional Australia; no road trip required.
Because beyond the big names and headline chefs, this is where the real stories are – the small-batch producers, the regional winemakers – all under one roof.
With the cost of petrol on the forefront of many people’s minds this year, this might be the closest thing to travelling Australia without leaving the city (for those in close proximity to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth).
The regions, reimagined (no road trip required)
Wander through the wine pavilions, tasting while tracing a map.
From the bold reds of the Barossa Valley to the coastal elegance of Margaret River, the experience is not just about sipping, but also about understanding the land behind the label. Add in pours from McLaren Vale and Clare Valley, and suddenly your afternoon feels like a cross-country tasting tour.
This year there’s an opportunity to hear the stories behind the bottle by joining one of the free daily tasting sessions held by one of Australia’s top sommeliers Shanteh Wale thanks to RIEDEL. You taste 4 x wines in each session and learn about the wine directly from the winemakers themselves.
These sessions feel intimate and inspiring – just like an experience at the cellar door.
Where regional producers take centre stage
If you’re the kind of traveller who plans trips around bakeries (same), Baker’s Alley is your first stop.
Curated with the help of internationally acclaimed pâtissier and chocolatier Kirsten Tibballs, Baker’s Alley will bring together some of the country’s most exciting independent bakeries for the Sydney & Brisbane shows.
Expect a Japanese-inspired take on the classic lamington from Andrew Ballard; a one-off creation layered with flavours shaped by his time in Japan, and only available at the show.
Think exclusive, one-off creations you quite literally can’t get anywhere else.
Small-batch, big flavour
Then there’s Cheese Corner (this is what dreams are made of) – a low-key haven for dairy devotees, where small-batch makers and seriously good cheese take centre stage.
Here, makers like Pyengana Dairy and Ashgrove Cheese bring a slice of Tasmania to the mainland, with rich, full-flavoured samples that speak for themselves.
Cheese Specialist and Educator Valérie Henbest, born and raised in Normandy, France, will host a dedicated cheese, caviar and champagne pairing experience as part of the Cheese Lover Ticket experience.
Dairy lovers, look no further!
Learning from the people who live it
What sets this year apart isn’t just what you can taste…it’s what you can take with you.
The new hands-on Cooking School brings you side-by-side with chefs like Brendan Pang, George Georgievski & Kristen Tibballs, turning regional flavours into something you can actually recreate at home.
Tibballs’ workshops are a particular drawcard: classes at her Melbourne Savour School typically sell out and cost upwards of $400. The Cooking School sessions will mark the first time she has offered public hands-on workshops outside that venue.
More than a food show
It would be easy to go for the big names… and yes, seeing chefs like Miguel Maestre in action is part of the draw.
But the real magic of the Good Food & Wine Show in 2026 is in the in-between moments: the unexpected producer you’ve never heard of, the wine you stop mid-sip to ask about, the conversation that turns into a plan for a future weekend away.
If you’ve been craving an excuse to explore more of Australia’s regions without leaving the city this is it.
A single ticket unlocks a version of Australia that’s usually scattered across thousands of kilometres.
Chances are, you’ll leave with more than a full stomach – you’ll leave with your next trip already planned.
Upcoming Dates:
● Sydney: 19-21 June 2026 at the ICC
● Perth: 17-19 June 2026 at the PCEC
● Brisbane: 23-25 October 2026 at the BCEC
To book your ticket or experience, visit the Good Food & Wine Show website here.
