I bloody love a food festival – where people from all walks of life come together to eat (perhaps too much), drink (ditto), make memories, meet the faces who grew their food from the earth, and give the middle finger to big supermarkets and fast food chains. From Newy’s city celebration, Newcastle Food Month, to the salt-sprayed Narooma Oyster Festival, NSW is packed with top-tier shindigs. But if I had to pick just one, my favourite would have to be Orange FOOD Week.
Beginning in 1991, Orange FOOD Week is Australia’s longest-running regional food festival, held in the picturesque, wine-loving regional city, 3.5 hours from Sydney. Contrary to the name, Orange FOOD Week runs for 10 days, bringing chefs, farmers, winemakers, locals and tourists alike together for brilliant food and wine events and to champion the best of the region. Somehow, the program gets better every year – but three things stay the same. All events celebrate local produce. Deliciousness is always front and centre. And having a good time is pretty much guaranteed.
This year, Orange FOOD Week returns on Friday, March 20 to Sunday, March 29, 2026. There are many events to choose from, including dreamy long lunches, colourful markets, meet-the-maker workshops and more. But the jewel in the crown (plumpest grape on the vine?) is Forage. It’s where 1,500 people walk throughout Orange’s beautiful vineyards in the sunshine, eating, drinking and having about as much fun as you can have. Think of it like a grown-up fridge-to-fridge, but with less Converse and more R.M.Williams. Tickets have sold out, but you can pop your name down on the waitlist, cross your fingers and hope for the best.
RELATED READ: The best things to do in Orange, wineries to visit and restaurants to check out.
Other stand-out events include the Night Market, which hosts more than 50 stalls at Robertson Park; an incredible long lunch held on a tree-lined street called the Sampson Street Lunch; workshops where you can meet producers and learn about everything from cheese and fermentation to miso, mushrooms and wine; and the Sunday Producers Market and Brunch – plus loads more.
The FOOD Train also returns this year, with a three-day itinerary jam-packed with wine tastings, lunch at Rowlee Wines, a visit to historic Millthorpe, tickets to Forage, a return train ticket from Sydney to Orange, two nights at Quest Orange and more. It’s FOOD Week done well, with all the planning and logistics taken care of for you. Find out more about the FOOD Train here.
FOOD Week President Charlotte Gundry says: “As a committee, we are incredibly proud of the legacy we steward, one built by founders, volunteers, growers, makers and the wider community. FOOD Week has matured over 35 years, and for 2026 we wanted our hero image to make a bold statement on behalf of the region. It captures our region’s confidence, our creativity and the fact that we still know how to have a little fun in the process.”
This year will be my third time at Orange FOOD Week, and I know it won’t be the last. As well as all the fun from the festival, there are excellent venues to visit while in Orange. My picks include Hey Rosey for local wine and top-tier plates, Hotel Canobolas for Negronis, pizzas and live music, and The Union Bank for a cold schooner in one of NSW’s most stunning beer gardens. And, of course, there are the wineries to visit – too many to mention here – but if you start off with Rowlee Wines, Philip Shaw Wines, Printhie Wines, ChaLou Wines and Swinging Bridge, you’ll be better off than most. Plus, be sure to carve out time to visit colourful homewares go-to Jumbled and vintage heaven, Dirty Janes.
If you love good food and wine and have a crush on Orange just like I do – or are keen to pop your cherry! – find out more and book your tickets to Orange FOOD Week here.