Cork on a Fork Fest named top European food festival by online travel guide

Cork on a Fork Fest has been named the number one food festival in Europe by Big 7 Travel, a website offering guides to the best places to visit around the world.

Now going into its fifth year, the Cork City Council festival is delivered in partnership with Cork’s hospitality, tourism, and food and drink sectors and will run from August 12 to 16 this summer.

Chester Ollivier of Big 7 Travel, who attended the festival in 2025, said: “With a strong emphasis and focus on sustainability, local produce and culture, Cork on a Fork Fest is a fantastic way to learn about Ireland’s vibrant, traditional and deeply historic food scene, often showcasing recipes that have been passed down through generations with sustainability and local community support at the heart of it.”

Other European food festivals on the list include the Gladmat Festival in Norway, Stranraer Oyster Festival in Scotland; Copenhagen Cooking; Taste of London; Big Feastival in Oxfordshire, England; La Tomatina in Spain and Gailtaler Speckfest in Austria.

Shortlists of festivals

To compile the ranking, the Big 7 Travel team drew up a shortlist of summer food festivals across Europe and scored each one against a set of criteria including quality and distinctiveness of the cuisine, atmosphere and visitor experience and accessibility.

Mr Ollivier said in his review at the time: “To visit Cork on a Fork is to experience Cork at its most authentic.

“Whether it’s hearing a trader speak about recipes handed down through generations or watching chefs reimagine local ingredients, the importance of local community here cannot be understated. 

"Cork puts artisans, traders, and communities at its heart, arguing that it’s not just about what we eat, but about how we can protect culture, livelihoods, and the environment through food.”

Cork on a Fork Fest is a Cork City Council festival, supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Visit Cork, Cork Airport, Cork Business Association, LEO Cork City, the Irish Hotels Federation Cork, MTU, and headline sponsor Musgrave.

The full programme for this year’s festival is available at https://www.corkcity.ie/en/cork-on-a-fork-fest.

There are more than 150 events for all ages, with over half of events free, but some events are already sold out, so early booking is advised.