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Subscribe Tasting Australia 2026: 10 Epic Foodie Moments You Can’t Miss
Tasting Australia's 2026 lineup is what foodie dreams are made of.
We might be biased, but we’re saying it anyway — Australia’s food scene has never looked this good. From rolling vineyards and rugged coastlines to bustling city laneways, the producers, makers and chefs are turning every bite into a story. And no one celebrates this incredible landscape quite like Tasting Australia.
Presented by Journey Beyond, from May 8th to 17th, South Australia will be buzzing with over 150 events, from chef-led feasts and immersive masterclasses to interactive tastings, fire-driven experiences, and once-in-a-lifetime culinary adventures. Whether you’re chasing Michelin-starred talent, international guest chefs, or local legends experimenting with the best produce, the 2026 program has it all.
We’ve sifted through the lineup to spotlight the experiences that are making our taste buds tingle this year. Discover our top 10 picks, plus the best events under $100.
Tasting Australia 2026: Top 10 Events & Experiences
Tasting Australia by Train: The Ghan Edition
Welcome aboard one of the world’s most iconic rail journeys — now a rolling festival of food, wine, and outback landscapes. Michelin-starred Nieves Barragán Mohacho teams up with Aussie chefs Mark Best, Jo Barrett, and Shannon Fleming, serving multi-course menus that highlight South Australia’s best produce. Hosted by storyteller Mandy Hall, each meal comes with laughs, insight, and flavour. From ancient desert vistas to curated drinks and decadent dinners, this is four days and three nights of luxury, adventure, and culinary theatre on rails.
May 6th – 9th, 2026
Departs Darwin Berrimah Terminal
$7,395 per person, tickets available here.
Tasting Australia By Road
Hit the road for full-day culinary adventures across South Australia’s most iconic regions. Each journey blends beautiful landscapes, local stories and generous paired beverages — an easy, delicious way to taste South Australia beyond the city.
On May 8th in McLaren Vale, the day begins with breakfast under the vines before moving through a private kitchen garden, artisan cheese tastings and a relaxed long lunch cooked by chef Karena Armstrong. The Barossa on May 9th, serves up Maltese-inspired snacks at Staġuni, orchard walks, boutique wine tastings and a vineyard-side lunch hosted by Brett Groke. Head to the Adelaide Hills on May 16th for orchard visits, sourdough from a converted shearing shed, herbs picked for lunch and dishes kissed with wood smoke. Then the Fleurieu Peninsula rounds things out on May 17th with coastal farm tastings, hidden orchards, cellar door stops and a seaside lunch celebrating the region’s bounty.
May 8th – 17th, 2026
Various locations
$450 per date / per person, tickets available here.
Sparkling Masterclass
There’s a reason bubbles mark life’s best moments — and this masterclass is all about finding the bottles worth celebrating with. Hosted by Sam Taylor and joined by award-winning American sommelier and winemaker André Hueston Mack, plus wine experts Mathilde Tytgat and Kate Laurie, expect a lively deep dive into standout sparkling styles. Mack is known for making wine fun and accessible, blending pop culture, storytelling and serious bottle knowledge. Tytgat brings organic and biodynamic expertise, while Laurie showcases traditional-method sparkling honed in Champagne. Across nine wine tastings and a cheese plate, this is your excuse to spend an autumn afternoon chasing the perfect fizz.
May 9th, 2026
Drinks Academy, Town Square
$240 per person, tickets available here.
arkhé x Restaurant ag
For two extraordinary nights at arkhé, Adelaide meets Stockholm in a blaze of flavour. Martin Kjäll of Restaurant AG — Meat Master of the Year 2025 — joins local fire-obsessed chef Jake Kellie to create a multi-course menu celebrating Australian and Swedish ingredients. Expect Mayura Station Wagyu and other premium produce cooked over open flame, highlighting bold, elemental flavours with theatrical flair. Guests dine in arkhé’s glowing open kitchen, witnessing precision, passion and craft in every moment. This is immersive, sensory, and unforgettable — a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see two world-class chefs at the peak of their art.
May 15th & 16th, 2026
arkhé, 127 The Parade, Norwood
$350 per person, tickets available here.
Under One Sky
Gather inside Tandanya, Australia’s oldest Aboriginal-owned cultural centre, for an immersive evening celebrating Kungkarrakalpa Tjukurrpa — the Seven Sisters Dreaming. Chefs Mindy Woods, Duncan Welgemoed, Sarah Glover and Alex Crawford craft a fire-driven, four-course feast using native ingredients and ancient techniques, while Coonawarra winemakers Sue Bell and Pauly Vandenbergh pair each course with thoughtfully selected wines. Guests will also experience live music and art alongside members of Umoona Art Centre, creating a multi-layered, sensory celebration of Country, culture and community. It’s an unforgettable night where food, fire and storytelling unite under one magical sky.
May 9th, 2026
Tandanya, 253 Grenfell Street, Adelaide
$295 per person, tickets available here.
Bar Leone Takeover at Honeydripper
The world’s best bar is coming to Adelaide. Bar Leone, winner of the 2025 World’s Best Bar award, brings its Hong Kong‑meets-Rome neighbourhood bar vibes to Honeydripper for one night only, presented by Never Never and Bizzarro Aperitivo. Drinks maestro Lorenzo Antinori leads a curated experience of iconic cocktails and snacks, paired with the energy, music and atmosphere that made Bar Leone a global sensation. Upstairs at the city’s hottest new venue, guests will sip four inventive cocktails, nibble signature bites, and soak in the la dolce vita ambience — fast, playful, and unforgettable.
May 9th, 2026 | Sessions from 4.30pm – 8.30pm
Honeydripper, 11 Frome Street, Adelaide
$120 per person, tickets available here.
Poh’s Table: A Taste of South-East Asia
Step into a vibrant, immersive journey through South-East Asia, guided by the inimitable Poh Ling Yeow. This long lunch is a feast for all senses, set against a lush, resort-inspired backdrop with Banana Palm aesthetics that transport you straight to a tropical escape. The menu is a masterclass in balance, delivering bold, punchy flavours with playful textures — crispy, fresh, soft and sour all in one bite. Every course is visually stunning and expertly crafted, showcasing Poh’s signature style. It’s an afternoon of indulgence, colour, and flavour that turns lunch into a full-on holiday for your taste buds.
May 10th, 2026
Burnside Village, 447 Portrush Road, Glenside
$180 per person, tickets available here.
Club Series
Step inside Adelaide’s treasured cultural clubs and discover the heart behind the walls. The Club Series pairs Australia’s top chefs with resident cooks and volunteers, crafting four-course dinners that celebrate heritage, community, and shared stories. From Greek taverna classics at the Hellenic Club, to Austrian comforts, Slovenian hearty autumn fare, Italian feasts at Fogolar Furlan, and Polish dumpling delights at the Polish Club, each night blends local produce, authentic recipes, and long tables designed for connection. Expect intimate settings, thoughtful storytelling, and meals that transport you across cultures — warm, generous, and unforgettable.
May 8th to 16th, 2026
Various locations
$110 per person, tickets available here.
Plates with Purpose
Experience an evening where flavour meets purpose. Plates with Purpose brings rescued and locally sourced produce to the table in a curated three‑course menu crafted by Adelaide Oval Executive Chef Phil Pope and OzHarvest Head Chef Genevieve. Start with arrival canapés, then savour entrée, main, and dessert while live cooking demos, engaging speakers, and entertainment keep the energy high. Every bite celebrates sustainability, community, and connection — an unforgettable night that feeds the senses and supports those in need.
May 14th, 2026
Adelaide Oval, War Memorial Drive, Adelaide
$145 per person, tickets available here.
Native Barossa Notes & Noble Vines Masterclass
For lovers of the Barossa, this is a night made for you. Explore six courses crafted by Hotel Royal alongside Teusner’s celebrated wines, each pairing designed to showcase the region’s native ingredients, heritage, and terroir. From Empress Riesling with King Oyster Mushroom and native saltbush yoghurt, to Albert Shiraz with slow‑braised pork belly and blackberry jus, finishing with Big Jim Shiraz and a Barossa-inspired cheese plate, every sip and bite tells the story of this world-class wine region. A tasting journey that celebrates the Barossa’s depth, character, and timeless appeal.
May 14th, 2026
Hotel Royal, 180 Henley Beach Road, Torrensville
$165 per person, tickets available here.
Tasting Australia 2026: Top Events Under $100
Matchmakers Tastings
Think of this as speed‑dating for wine: relaxed, guided sessions where you sample a lineup of South Australian wines across varieties like grenache, riesling and more. Winemakers share stories behind each bottle, making it ideal for both curious beginners and seasoned sippers alike. It’s casual, fun and very social — all set right in the heart of the festival hub.
May 9th, 10th, 16th & 17th, 2026
From $49 per person / per experience, tickets available here.
Drinks Academy, Town Square, Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga, Adelaide
Aperitivo Hour
Kick off a night out with this relaxed tasting pairing two drinks and two snacks curated by top local venues like Corner 75, O.MY and Ottelia. It’s the perfect bridge between afternoon grazing and evening plans, wrapped in friendly chatter and great vibes.
May 9th, 14th, 15 & 16, 2026
$65 per person, tickets available here.
Drinks Academy, Town Square, Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga, Adelaide
Big Grape Energy
Bring the vibes and the good times with this wine‑and‑beer party set to live DJ beats. Big Grape Energy is where tasting meets dancing, socialising and discovering new favourites from South Australian producers — a joyful way to cap a festival day with friends and great music.
May 16th, 2026
$95 per person, tickets available here.
Drinks Academy, Town Square, Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga, Adelaide
Urban Wine Walk
Explore the city on foot and sip your way through boutique cellar doors and hidden wine gems. This self‑guided urban stroll blends scenic city spots with local wine tastings, making it a relaxed and social way to savour the best drops Adelaide has to offer.
May 16th, 2026
$82 per person, tickets available here.
Various Adelaide CBD locations
Clare Valley – A Taste of Something Different
For lovers of regional wine without leaving the city, this tasting brings Clare Valley producers into Adelaide. Sample alternative‑variety wines (two pours per producer) and chat with the makers themselves. It’s your chance to discover something new — no maps, no rules, just great wine and good company.
May 8th, 2026
$45 per person, tickets available here.
Adelaide Town Hall, Paul Kelly Lane, Adelaide
Did our ultimate guide to Tasting Australia 2025 leave you hungry for more? Discover more eat and drink choices from dining destinations in South Australia to the city’s best openings.
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