Food & Dining

Taste Port Douglas 10-year celebration

Written by: Times Media

Serving up more than 40 events across four days, the anniversary edition promises a vibrant celebration of connection, flavour and place this August

Taste Port Douglas Food & Drink Festival, presented by Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas, will return from 6 to 9 August 2026 for its 10-year anniversary, unveiling a milestone line-up of celebrated Australian chefs, international culinary talent and an immersive four-day celebration of food, drink and destination.

Supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, along with principal and major partners, the anniversary edition will once again transform Port Douglas into a vibrant stage for exceptional dining, intimate masterclasses, chef-led events and destination experiences.

International culinary talent will be a defining feature of the 2026 festival, with an exceptional line up of chefs joining Taste Port Douglas from across Australia and overseas. Leading the international contingent are globally recognised names including Kirk Westaway of Singapore’s acclaimed JAAN by Kirk Westaway, Rishi Naleendra of Cloudstreet in Singapore, Ryan Clift of The

Cave by Chef Ryan Clift at The Edge, Bali, Michael Wilson, chef patron of Marguerite and Hortus in Singapore, and Sam Aisbett of Akuna in Vietnam.

Together, they underscore the calibre of talent being drawn to Port Douglas for this milestone year, spanning Michelin-starred restaurants and internationally acclaimed culinary destinations.

Appearing at Taste Port Douglas for the first time, Mindy Woods of Karkalla, Byron Bay, leads a fresh wave of Australian talent joining the 2026 line-up. She joins returning favourites Manu Feildel of Bistro Red Lion by Manu in NSW and My Kitchen Rules, Laura Sharrad of Nido Bar & Pasta and Fugazzi Bar & Dining Room in Adelaide and MasterChef, Ben Williamson of Agnes and Same Same from Brisbane’s Anyday Group, and Jerry Mai, culinary leader of Roll’d, balancing new additions with familiar names that have helped shape the festival’s identity.

Set between two UNESCO World Heritage-listed natural wonders, the ancient Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas provides the spectacular tropical backdrop that sets Taste Port Douglas apart. In 2026, festival founders Reina and Spencer Patrick are inviting guests to experience a stronger sense of place through programming across standout locations including the return of Rex Smeal Park to the festival program as the Culinary Pavilion.

Overlooking the Coral Sea and framed by palms, the waterfront setting will host standout events including the Official Opening Party, the sell-out Long Lunch Series and new signature event Sunrise Session, a feel-good sober rave.

Across the festival weekend, Port Douglas’ favourite venues will welcome guest chefs for the Takeover Series, presented by Singapore Airlines, while the Daintree Rainforest will once again come alive for the fourth edition of Night of Fire, the festival’s signature rainforest dining and fire experience.

Reina Patrick, Festival Director of Taste Port Douglas, said the anniversary line-up reflects the festival’s evolution into one of the country’s most distinctive food and drink events.

“The 2026 program is a celebration of everything Taste Port Douglas has become over the past decade, world-class culinary talent, unforgettable food and drink experiences, and a genuine connection to place,” Patrick said.

“To welcome such an exceptional mix of international chefs, leading Australian talent and returning favourites to Port Douglas for this milestone year is incredibly exciting. We are proud to showcase the very best of our region while giving guests the chance to experience the warmth, beauty and flavour of Tropical North Queensland in a way that feels intimate, vibrant and uniquely Taste Port Douglas.”

Multi-day Series

Sheraton Festival Village, Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August The weekend’s must-do festival experience at Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas, featuring hourly chef demonstrations on the Moffat Main Stage, premium restaurant and produce stalls, renowned wines, local spirits and live music.
Moffat Masterclass Series, Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 August Intimate sessions for 24 to 30 guests, offering the chance to learn from culinary stars, award-winning producers, winemakers and distillers, with food and beverage pairings in an up-close setting.
Takeover Series presented by Singapore Airlines, Friday 7 to Sunday 9 August Some of Port Douglas’s best venues will welcome guest chefs into their kitchens, giving diners a taste of award-winning culinary talent in a tropical setting.
Lexus Long Lunch Series, Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August A celebration of the Tropical North Queensland lifestyle, pairing standout menus with premium beverages and live entertainment in iconic outdoor settings.
The Original Long Lunch, Friday 7 August Hosted by Alastair McLeod, with a collaborative menu by four Port Douglas favourite venues and four guest chefs, alongside live music, premium Margaret River Vasse Felix wine and welcome cocktails by Tequila Tromba.
The Italian Long Lunch, Saturday 8 August Presented by La Cucina e Bar and hosted by Massimo Mele, with a menu by Laura and Max Sharrad and Luca Ciano, celebrating Italian food, wine and storytelling.

Daily Highlights

Official Launch Party presented by Olsson’s Salt, Thursday 6 August A sunset celebration overlooking the Coral Sea and rainforest ranges, with a roving menu by Sheraton’s Culinary Director Belinda Tuckwell, the official in-person introduction of the 2026 line-up and the first toast of the festival weekend.
The Red Book Collective, Friday 7 August As part of the Takeover Series, Harrisons Restaurant will host four chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants in a truly special festival first. Join Kirk Westaway, Sam Aisbett, Rishi Naleendra and Michael Wilson for a multi course collaboration menu paired with Champagne Pol Roger and iconic Jim Barry Wines.
Sunrise Sessions, Saturday 8 August A new anniversary experience at the Rex Smeal Park Culinary Pavilion, bringing together DJs, dance, mindful bites, local Tablelands Jack Murat Coffee and alcohol-free beverages in an early morning celebration by the sea.
Night of Fire, Saturday 8 August A return to Australia’s only rainforest dining experience, with fire-fuelled cooking in the Daintree Rainforest, hosted by Colin Fassnidge and brought to life with live music and dishes from the festival’s leading fire chefs.
Louis Tikaram / Stanley Yum Cha Lunch, Sunday 9 August Louis Tikaram brings his signature modern Asian cuisine, blending Southeast Asian and Fijian-inspired flavours with contemporary techniques, to the tropics for a favourite Sunday ritual.
Festival Sunset, Sunday 9 August A laid-back closing celebration featuring a roving menu by two-hat Harrisons Restaurant, live DJ sets and one final farewell to the weekend, the talent and new and old friends.

Full 2026 chef line-up

From award-winning restaurateurs and television favourites to globally recognised innovators and Michelin-star talent, the 2026 line-up reflects the festival’s most ambitious culinary program to date and reinforces Taste Port Douglas as Australia’s premier tropical food and drink festival.

International

Kirk Westaway, Chef, JAAN by Kirk Westaway 2* (Singapore)
Michael Wilson, Chef, Marguerite 1* (Singapore)
Rishi Naleendra, Chef, Cloudstreet 2*, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants (Singapore) • Ryan Clift, Chef, The Cave (Bali), The Tippling Club, now closed (Singapore) • Sam Aisbett, Chef, Akuna 1* (Vietnam)

Queensland

Alastair McLeod, Chef and TV presenter
Ben Williamson, Chef, Agnes, sAme sAme, Honto (Anyday Group)
Jake Nicolson, Chef, Blackbird, Donna Chang, Boom Boom Room (Ghanem Group) • Louis Tikaram, Chef and TV presenter, Stanley Restaurant
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Chef, The Ohana Group

New South Wales

Colin Fassnidge, Chef and TV presenter, My Kitchen Rules
Luca Ciano, Chef, TV host and author
Manu Feildel, Chef and TV presenter, Bistro Red Lion by Manu, My Kitchen Rules • Matt Stone, Chef, Eltham Hotel, You Beauty, Ciao Mate
Mindy Woods, Chef, Karkalla

Victoria

Darren Purchese, Chef, author and TV host, Studio Kitchen
Guy Grossi, Chef, restaurateur and industry legend
Jerry Mai, Chef and consultant, Roll’d Australia
Raymond Capaldi, Chef, consultant, Wonderpies, Traderne
Telina Menzies, Chef, Australian Venue Co.

South Australia

Laura Sharrad, Chef and restaurateur, Nido, Fugazzi, MasterChef
Max Sharrad, Chef and restaurateur, Nido, Fugazzi

Tasmania

Massimo Mele, Culinary Director, Peppina, Grain of the Silos

Taste Port Douglas will invite subscribers to access Early Bird tickets to select events from Thursday 26 March 2026. Tickets and additional program information will be available to the public from Thursday 9 April 2026.

Guests can purchase tickets and sign up at www.tasteportdouglas.com.au

About Taste Port Douglas

Taste Port Douglas is Australia’s premier tropical food and drink festival, celebrating the best of Australia’s food culture in Tropical North Queensland through a boutique, sensory-rich program of curated dining events, masterclasses and experiences.

Held in Port Douglas, the festival brings together world-class Australian and international chefs, passionate producers and hospitality leaders for an intimate celebration of flavour, friendship and place, set between the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.

Address: Port Douglas, Queensland 4873

Website: https://www.tasteportdouglas.com.au

Social Media: @tasteportdouglas

About Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas

Set on the edge of Four Mile Beach, Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas is a tropical beachfront resort and the presenting partner of Taste Port Douglas.

With expansive lagoon pools, palm-lined gardens and a relaxed luxury atmosphere, Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas offers an ideal base for festival guests to stay, savour and explore the region.

Address: 168-190 Port Douglas Road, Port Douglas, QLD 4877

Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/cnssi-sheraton-grand-mirage-resort-port douglas/overview/

Social Media: @sheratongrandportdouglas

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