It might not be the biggest county, but boy does Dorset pack a punch when it comes to food festivals. Known for its pretty coastline and sweeping countryside made for walking, it’s easy to see why this peaceful county produces such good food and drink - many of its restaurants are Michelin recommended!
With enough food festivals to feed, well, a bunch of people who love food festivals, and some of the best music events in the country, Dorset has something for everyone in its jam-packed social calendar – there’s even something for dinosaur lovers! Here are just some of the best food festivals in Dorset in 2026…
Christchurch Cheese & Chilli Festival
Where: Christchurch
When: Saturday the 16th to Sunday the 17th of May
Access: Free parking on site
Whether you love chillies or cheese or a mix of the two (and who doesn’t love a combination of dairy and daring), the Christchurch Cheese & Chilli Festival is the only place to find both in a dog-friendly, festival setting - and 2026 it's celebrating its 13th year! What does this mean? You can spend two glorious days chowing down on cheese and chillies from around the world while enjoying fantastical merriment in the form of circus performers, live music, and everyone’s favourite pastime of watching a group of teary people consume increasingly hot chillies. Now that’s entertainment!
Christchurch Food Festival
Where: Christchurch
When: Saturday the 23rd to Monday the 25th of May
Access: Plenty of car parks around the town
In 2026, the Christchurch Food Festival is back and bigger than ever as it celebrates its 26th year, which means three days of fabulous food and entertainment. Over the weekend, you’ll get to follow your nose as you sniff out your next culinary adventure with lots of great food from all over the South and South West. Watch how the professionals get it just right in a slew of cookery demos and enjoy a gargantuan array of activities that are sure to entertain everyone, whether you’re fifty or five!
Bridport Food Festival
Where: Bridport
When: Saturday the 13th of June
Access: Parking will be available at the Bridport Leisure Centre Rugby Pitch
Showcasing fantastic local growers, producers and makers, the Bridport Food Festival is one of the best places to go to get a true taste of the South West. Fill your bags (and belly) with copious amounts of artisan cheese, bread, and cakes while checking out the area’s best tipples – we mean, who doesn’t love the taste of locally made gin! Local musicians will lend their melodious talents to the festival, providing a glorious background sound to the day’s foodie delights. If you like to wet your whistle alongside fabulous foods, head along to the beer festival the night before on the 12th for a range of local brews and some foot-tapping entertainment.
Great Dorset Chilli Festival
Where: Sturminster Newton
When: Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd of August
Access: Parking on-site
Whether your chilli interests lie in condiments, plants or ceramics, it’s safe to say that there’s something for everyone at this taste explosion of a festival – even some much-needed ice cream for when things really heat up. See how high you can go on the Scoville scale – are you more bell pepper or ghost chilli – while sampling your way through the countless stalls. There’s lots of entertainment on offer too, so you can slip into your dancing shoes for some musical interludes in between each chilli tasting.
Dorset Seafood Festival
Where: Weymouth
When: Saturday the 4th and Sunday the 5th of July
Access: Town centre car parks fill up quickly, so we recommend using the Weymouth park and ride
Returning full force in 2026, this award-winning Dorset Seafood Festival in Weymouth is all about celebrating and understanding the incredible seafood that’s available to us all around our beautiful coastline, from cockles to cod. Pair your seafood explorations with some delicious local wines and ales while making the most of the terrific entertainment, which includes countless demonstrations and some fab live music. There’s a great focus on sustainability and responsible sourcing, which means visitors can learn all about ocean health and underutilised alternatives. And of course, the entire event takes place next to one of the stunning Dorset beaches.
Explore cottages in Weymouth.
Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival
Where: Sturminster Newton
When: TBC
Access: Car park at Durrant Field, opposite the venue
Now what kind of cheese festival would this be without all the Babybels and whistles! You’ll find plenty of chilli jams, ciders, and maybe even a cracker or two to complement your favourite and newly discovered cheeses. Alongside dairylicious dreams you can take home, you’ll also find a mouth-watering array of food vendors from pancakes to gelato! Throw in some cracking food demos, and you’ve got a weekend that Wallace and Gromit would be proud of.
Book your stay in one of our welcoming cottages in Dorset and make the most of this action-packed calendar.
