There’s something about autumn that just makes food taste better. The days are shorter and cooler, and there’s nothing like a warm meal or a hot drink to brighten up your day.
Autumn in Europe also coincides with the harvest season, meaning many ingredients are at their prime and absolute tastiest – so how better to sample them than at a food festival? Throw local cultural talks, child-friendly activities, live cooking demonstrations and more into the mix, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for how to spend an autumn day.
Here are the 25 best autumn food festivals in Europe in 2026.
Where to get your food festival fix in Europe this Autumn
25. Festa d’Autunno – Lugano, Switzerland
Dates: 2nd–4th October
If you enjoy food festivals with a side of stunning scenery, then you’re in the right place.
Festa d’Autunno in the southern Swiss city of Lugano celebrates everything seasonal in the perfect surroundings of a lakeside Swiss autumn.
Celebrating the region's Ticino cuisine, the beautiful combination of classic Swiss cured meats and cheeses meets northern Italian street food offerings, creating the ultimate melting pot of flavours and colours.
With live music from local artists providing the soundtrack, this is a fabulous food festival to soak up the early autumn atmosphere in Switzerland with friends and family alike.
24. Öland Harvest Festival – Öland, Sweden
Dates: 25th–27th September
Located on Sweden’s second-largest island, Öland Harvest Festival is also Sweden’s largest autumnal food festival.
Celebrating the traditional autumn harvest, the festival attracts thousands of visitors every year, who come to sample local produce largely centred around onions, potatoes and pumpkins, and it serves as an excellent way to stock up on hearty vegetables for the cold Swedish winters.
From food markets to children’s activities, the island of Öland transforms into a harvest paradise, with different areas centred around different experiences, from history and culture in the centre of the island, to farm produce in the south to street food stalls in the north.
There is something for everyone here, and it makes for a memorable experience for the whole family.
23. Olive Festival – Bilçë, Albania
Dates: 10th October
The humble olive: a classic bar snack, a dirty martini garnish, or something that kids tend to recoil at.
Olives are one of the main foods that people tend to either love or hate. But if you’re an olive lover, then there’s only one place you should be on 10th October 2026.
Found in Bilçë, just outside the Albanian city of Berat, this quaint food festival is dedicated to the small yet mighty olive.
Artisans offer demonstrations on how to make soap with olive oil, experts showcase excellent food pairings, and live music also ensures that the vibes keep going long into the night.
22. Dartmouth Food Festival – Dartmouth, England
Dates: 23rd–25th October
For one weekend every autumn, the small town of Dartmouth transforms into one of Devon’s most beloved food festivals.
The historic streets of the seaside town fill with some of the region’s – and the country’s – finest chefs, who showcase their wares through live cooking demonstrations and talks, while local sellers also flog their produce in quaint street food stalls and markets.
While seafood naturally plays a major role, you can also expect a wide range of cheeses (Devonshire cheese is known for being some of the best in the UK), pastries, drinks and more to whet your appetite.
Now in its 23rd year, it’s easy to see why this food festival leads the way in the Southwest autumnal culinary scene.
21. Aegina Fistiki Festival – Aegina, Greece
Dates: 17th–20th September
We know, we know. Dubai chocolate has kind of tainted pistachios' reputation with the kiss of death: virality. But pistachios have long been used in traditional cooking across the world. The Aegina Fistiki Festival (fistiki translates from Greek to English as pistachio) has celebrated the green nut in festival form since 2008.
With over 20,000 visitors every year, the region’s famed Aegina pistachio is the centre of attention here, being sold in all sorts of forms, from its natural form to pistachio powder and even pistachio-flavoured liqueurs.
With well-known Greek musicians making an appearance, theatre shows and a full-blown Opening Ceremony (like the Olympics), this festival is truly a one-of-a-kind cultural experience.
20. Pilsner Fest – Plzeň – Czech Republic
Dates: 5th–10th October
2026 marks the 184th anniversary of the Pilsner Urquell beer, and where better to celebrate this Czech tipple than where it was invented?
The festival is free to enter, and while the main focus is on Pilsner beer – Plzeň gave its name to the beer – the festival is also suitable for non-drinkers, as there is also a wide range of food tents supplying traditional Czech food options alongside the beer.
The party atmosphere is elevated with traditional Czech music, and offers an insight into the region’s history through its music, food, and most importantly, pilsner beer.
19. Abergavenny Food Festival – Abergavenny, Wales
Dates: 19th–20th September
One of the UK’s best-known food festivals, Abergavenny Food Festival is in the calendar of every serious foodie and casual eater months before it takes place.
Celebrating the very best of Welsh produce and cuisine, the festival has a strong focus on supporting the British farming industry, with an equally strong emphasis on the importance of farm-to-table food.
With live cookery demonstrations, engaging talks, and family-friendly events, Abergavenny Food Festival is simply a must-visit for every foodie in the UK in September.
18. Helsinki Baltic Herring Market – Helsinki, Finland
Dates: 4th–10th October
One of Finland’s longest-running public events, and one of the oldest food festivals in the world, Helsinki Baltic Herring Market has been celebrated since 1743.
Held on the Finnish capital’s waterfront, the historic market brings together fishermen and producers selling herring in countless different ways, from the traditional Nordic way of enjoying it: pickled and served on rye bread with fresh dill and sour cream, to slow-smoked herring, the aromas of which travel throughout the city and make stomachs grumble and mouths water kilometres away.
With over 90,000 visitors in 2025, the Helsinki Baltic Herring Market continues to grow. The event demonstrates that herring can be caught sustainably, contributing to a healthier and more ecologically diverse Baltic Sea.
17. National Gastronomy Festival – Santarém, Portugal
Dates: 22nd October – 1st November
Portugal’s oldest and largest food festival, now in its 45th year, the National Gastronomy Festival in Santarém celebrates the whole of Portugal.
Bringing together cuisines from all over the country, Santarém transforms into a true Portuguese culinary melting pot: from spicy meat dishes to delicate seafood, tangy liqueurs and sweet custard tarts, the flavours and smells of the city attract thousands of visitors every year.
This is one of the best locations to truly appreciate and learn about Portuguese cuisine, and with over a week to explore the festival and its vivid flavours, there’s plenty of time to work up an appetite.
16. Kyperounda Apple Festival – Kyperounda, Cyprus
Dates: 10th–11th October
The small Cypriot village of Kyperounda is unassuming to many visitors to the island, but it is responsible for generating around a third of the nation’s apples and pears.
It is only right, then, that these apples – which the locals are very proud of – are celebrated every year. The varieties included are Kathista and Lortika, two indigenous varieties beloved for their versatility and sweetness.
Farmers and local producers line the streets with their market stalls, offering everything from ripe apples to apple vinegars, sauces, syrups, cookies and more – all featuring delicious Cypriot apples.
With apple-themed photography competitions, apple-tasting events and the ability to buy as much produce as you can carry, this food festival is a celebration of one of the most overlooked ingredients in any household across the world.
15. Saaremaa Food Festival – Saaremaa, Estonia
Dates: 4th–13th September
Estonia’s largest island is well-known for its stunning landscapes, but it is also known for its increasingly exciting food scene.
The Saaremaa Food Festival celebrates local ingredients and producers, with street food stalls as well as more immersive restaurant dining experiences and food tasting opportunities.
With everything from tea and coffee tasting to arts and crafts workshops, all centred around the versatility of the produce grown in and around Saaremaa, this is a wonderful food festival experience for those who want to see what Estonian food and food culture is all about.
14. San Sebastián Gastronomika – San Sebastián, Spain
Dates: 6th–9th October
San Sebastián is already one of Europe’s great foodie cities, so it’s no surprise to see that it’s also home to one of Europe’s great food festivals.
While the festival has a strong focus on local food and produce, chefs from all over the world feature as guest speakers – this year, you can expect to see chefs from as far afield as Peru, the USA and the Faroe Islands – all with the main focus of bringing people together through food.
As well as local food samples, this is a great opportunity to learn about everything to do with food – from how we can eat sustainably to the future of gastronomy in our turbulent world. An excellent festival for food enthusiasts.
13. Foire Internationale & Gastronomique de Dijon – Dijon, France
Dates: 1st–11th November
France is known as one of the world’s leading food destinations, and in Dijon this autumn, you can find one of the continent’s best food festivals.
A celebration of French and international cuisine, this is an excellent food festival for those who want to eat their way around the world without leaving the city. Naturally, being in Dijon, the world-famous namesake condiment also takes centre stage in many recipes and demonstrations.
With over 170,000 visitors in 2025, the 2026 edition is set to be even bigger and more spectacular, featuring Burgundy specialities and chefs, alongside those from further afield who share their expertise through live cooking demonstrations and talks.
12. Dolci d’Italia – Spoleto, Italy
Dates: 30th October–1st November
Italian cuisine is a global favourite, but when we think of Italian food, our mind tends to drift towards pizza and pasta, and does not often centre on sweet treats.
However, if you have a sweet tooth, then this is the place to be. It’s a lot more than just tiramisu – at Dolci d’Italia, you can expect traditional Italian cakes, pastries, sweets, chocolate, biscuits and countless other treats to sate your appetite.
With producers coming from all over Italy, you can learn about Italy’s relationship with sweets from the Middle Ages onwards, and from the north of the country to the south. This is a fantastic festival for anyone with a sweet tooth and a keen interest in food history.
11. Gastro Sweet Fest – Prague, Czech Republic
Dates: 2nd–3rd October
Gastro Sweet Fest in Prague is the food festival for dessert lovers. This weekend celebration of pastries, baking, coffee and modern gastronomy brings together some of the Czech Republic’s leading culinary experts under one roof.
Alongside the vast array of desserts and sweet treats, you can also expect live demonstrations, showcasing everything from home-baking techniques to modern culinary science. This food festival really showcases Prague as a foodie destination, and if you’re in the Czech capital that particular weekend, it makes for an excellent place to stop off for a coffee and a cake.
10. Epicurialpes – Grimentz, Switzerland
Dates: 9th–11th October
For a food festival with a truly spectacular setting, Epicurialpes is hard to beat.
Held in the picturesque Alpine village of Grimentz, Epicurialpes is a celebration of mountain flavours and culinary traditions, bringing together local producers, artisans and some of the biggest names in Swiss gastronomy.
The gorgeous Valais Alps provide the backdrop to this food festival, with markets showcasing local cheeses, wines and other Alpine specialities, alongside live cookery demonstrations and invaluable talks about food in the region from the experts who know it best.
9. Stranraer Oyster Festival – Stranraer, Scotland
Dates: 11th–13th September
A must-visit in the calendar for any seafood lovers, Stranraer Oyster Festival celebrates Scotland’s last remaining wild and native oyster bed.
With live celebrity chef appearances, live oyster shucking demonstrations and family-friendly events, the festival is a true culinary celebration of local and traditional Scottish seaside-based cuisine, with a special focus on the oysters from Loch Ryan.
Whether you want to enjoy a couple of drinks and some oysters at the bar or watch expert oyster shucking in real time, Stranraer Oyster Festival is simply a must-visit for mollusc lovers this autumn.
8. York Food & Drink Festival – York, England
Dates: 18th–27th September
York’s medieval streets provide the ultimate backdrop for one of northern England’s best food festivals.
Bringing together local vendors, producers and chefs for a packed programme of food tastings, live cooking demonstrations and talks, street food and markets in the heart of the city, the food festival attracts thousands of visitors every year.
With a strong focus on Yorkshire produce, it makes for a great opportunity to sample local foodstuffs, from traditional Yorkshire pudding wraps and artisan cheeses to more exotic items like Japanese katsu curry, made entirely with Yorkshire-sourced ingredients.
7. Alba White Truffle Fair – Piedmont, Italy
Dates: 10th October – 6th December
There are food festivals, and then there are food festivals dedicated to one of the world’s most luxurious ingredients.
The Alba White Truffle Fair is a celebration of the highly prized and rare white truffle, which attracts food lovers from across the world to Piedmont every year, as it runs for the duration of the truffle harvest season.
With special events including markets, tastings and demonstrations, visitors to the festival are given the opportunity to learn more about this incredibly sought-after ingredient and the traditions surrounding it. Combining it with top-quality Italian wines and ingredients is naturally part of the experience, too.
For a truly indulgent autumn food festival experience, this is hard to beat.
6. Veganské Hody Bratislava – Bratislava, Slovakia
Dates: 11th October
Proving that you do not need to eat meat as part of an immersive food festival experience, Veganské Hody in the Slovakian capital is the nation’s largest plant-based food festival.
This vibrant vegan celebration in Bratislava brings together plant-based food vendors, producers and food lovers for a day of delicious, creative and cruelty-free cooking.
Whether vegan burgers take your fancy or you want to learn about some new plant-based baking and dessert techniques, there is something for everyone here. Alongside educational talks, the festival is a fantastic way to connect with other like-minded foodies.
5. Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival – Ludwigsburg, Germany
Dates: 22nd August – 1st November
Pumpkins and autumn go hand-in-hand, so it is only right that one of Europe’s best autumn food festivals centres on this legendary Halloween vegetable.
Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival will feature 600 varieties of 450,000 pumpkins, from sculptures made out of the vegetable to delicious and creative recipes featuring the mighty squash.
Alongside the delicious food on offer, the festival is held in the Ludwigsburg Palace Gardens, making it a memorable experience all-round for food and history lovers. This is easily one of Germany’s most impressive food festivals, and fun for the whole family.
4. Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre – Paris, France
Dates: 7th–11th October
We all know that French wine is revered in the world of vino, but the capital is not particularly known for its vineyards.
However, the Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre proves that wine certainly has its place in Paris, too.
Now in its 93rd edition, the Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival celebrates the fruits of the small vineyard through parties, live music, wine tastings, family-friendly events, vineyard tours, cultural talks and more.
This truly immersive food festival celebrates Parisian wine – showing that you don’t need to travel to the Loire Valley for the best wine in France.
3. Csabai Sausage Festival – Békéscsaba, Hungary
Dates: 22nd–25th October
For sausage enthusiasts, this is the place to be in Hungary this autumn.
The Csabai Sausage Festival celebrates the region’s famed sausage, with countless opportunities to sample the smoky, spicy speciality in all sorts of creative forms.
For instance, the festival includes sausage-making competitions, live cooking demonstrations and live entertainment to keep the atmosphere vibrant throughout the festival.
It is one of the best examples of traditional Hungarian cuisine and culinary traditions, alongside contemporary entertainment suitable for the whole family.
2. Oktoberfest – Munich, Germany
Dates: 19th September – 4th October
Now in its 191st year, Oktoberfest is the world’s most famous beer festival, and lands perfectly in time for autumn.
However, while the main focus is on beer, Oktoberfest is also great for food, with traditional Bavarian cuisine celebrated just as much as the excellent beer.
Between pints, visitors can expect to tuck into juicy roast chickens, succulent sausages, crispy pretzels and a huge range of other Bavarian favourites to soak up the booze.
The scale of Oktoberfest in Munich is simply immense, and creates a party atmosphere like nowhere else. Whether you’re there for the beer or the food, you’ll come away with incredible memories for life.
1. Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival – Galway, Ireland
Dates: 25th–27th September
Taking the top spot is the world’s longest-running oyster festival: Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival.
Every year, over 25,000 people flock to the western Irish coastal city to sample some of the best oysters in the world.
Now in its 72nd iteration, the festival grows year-on-year and encompasses live music performances, cookery demonstrations and a range of other seafood aside from oysters to suit anyone’s taste.
The festival also hosts the World Oyster Opening Championship, where expert oyster shuckers come to prove themselves and see if they can win the coveted title of fastest and most skilled shucker in the world.
Set in one of Ireland’s most vibrant cities, this festival is the perfect combination of great food, excellent atmosphere and local culture, making it the number one autumn food festival in Europe.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chester Ollivier
Chester is passionate about exploring new places through food, history and heritage. Whether he is uncovering hidden gems in North East England or travelling to exotic locations across the globe, his enthusiasm for food and history fuels his adventures. His love for writing, combined with his intrigue of different cultures and their histories has led him to pursue a career as a travel writer.
