Radar: Foodies Festival 2026

Foodies Festival returns to Inverleith Park from 7th to 9th August 2026, marking the 21st year of the UK’s largest touring food, drink, and music event. The three-day festival brings together national television chefs, Michelin-recommended Scottish culinary figures, and live musical acts to Edinburgh’s premier green space just north of Stockbridge.

Visitors attending the 2026 edition can expect live cooking demonstrations across multiple interactive stages, including the main Chefs Theatre and the Cake & Desserts Theatre. MasterChef 2025 champion Harry Maguire headlines the culinary roster alongside Great British Menu 2026 contestant Jun Au and local Edinburgh kitchen talent. Main stage musical performances feature pop group Scouting For Girls, Pop Idol star Gareth Gates presenting his Boyband in the Park showcase, and the Symphonic Ibiza Orchestra.

Star Chefs and Live Stages at Inverleith Park

Running across the weekend of 7th to 9th August 2026, the event transforms the expansive grass fields of Inverleith Park into an active open-air kitchen and concert arena. The smell of wood-fired smoke and sizzling street food fills the air while sound checks echo across the pond toward the city skyline.

The line-up showcases national television names alongside well-known Scottish culinary figures. MasterChef finalist Sophie Surgue, MasterChef: The Professionals contender Rohan Wadke, and former contestant Jilly McCord will take to the live stage alongside TV host Nigel Brown, MasterChef finalist Sarah Rankin, and Great British Bake Off star Nicky Laceby. Local industry representation includes Chef Patron Peter McKenna of Eleven Fifty Five, Barry Bryson from Barry Fish, Chef Patron Jack Montgomery from Michelin-recommended Argile, Chef Patron Alan Keery from Naidair, Head Chef Iain Gourlay from Dalhousie Castle, and Clare Coghill from Cafe Cuill.

New interactive programming for 2026 includes a live Ready, Steady, Cook cook-off where audience members vote on competitive pairings between MasterChef and Great British Menu talent. Beyond the main cooking arenas, the festival features an expanding chilli-eating competition with a new Ultimate Hot Wings Challenge, alongside drinks masterclasses hosted by regional experts Diana Thompson and Rose Murray-Brown. Families can access a dedicated Kids Cookery School, a treasure hunt trail around the grounds, and a fairground area in the Kids Zone. Dogs on leads are also permitted throughout the site.

Things to do in Inverleith

Inverleith sits directly opposite the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, offering sweeping views south toward Edinburgh Castle. The surrounding neighbourhood blends quiet residential avenues with bustling commercial corridors in neighbouring Stockbridge and Canonmills.

• Dining & Local Food: Festival visitors looking to explore local dining outside the gates can visit Slateford Road favourite Gio’s, who will also be hosting a pop-up presence on-site during the weekend. Nearby Stockbridge offers independent coffee houses, artisan bakeries, and neighbourhood bistros along Raeburn Place.
• Shopping & Produce: Stockbridge Market runs nearby on Sundays, featuring local cheeses, crafts, and baked goods. Local boutiques, secondhand bookstores, and speciality wine shops line the cobbled side streets leading toward the Water of Leith.
• Transport: Inverleith Park is easily accessible via Lothian Bus routes 8, 23, and 27 from Edinburgh city centre. Visitors travelling into the city from further afield can connect through main rail terminals or arrive via regional coach services.
• Accommodation: Visitors staying for the full weekend can find guesthouses, boutique rooms, and self-catering apartments clustered around Stockbridge, Inverleith, and the New Town.

For your Radar

Foodies Festival 2026 brings three days of celebrity chef demonstrations, artisan food stalls, and live music to Inverleith Park from 7th to 9th August 2026. With interactive cook-offs, children’s workshops, and regional produce showcases, it remains a central fixture on Edinburgh’s August event calendar.

For travel planning to Edinburgh, train tickets and routes can be booked through Trainline UK. Bus and coach travel options across Scotland are available via National Express. Overnight stay arrangements in the capital can be explored through Booking.com or Radisson Blu Edinburgh.

Links

• Edinburgh: Foodies Festival