Cork on a Fork Fest Named Europe's Top Food Festival

Cork on a Fork Fest has been named the number one food festival in Europe by Big 7 Travel, the influential travel and lifestyle website.

The Cork City Council festival, now entering its fifth year, is delivered in partnership with Cork's hospitality, tourism, and food and drink sectors. Running from 12 to 16 August, this year's festival features more than 150 events for all ages, with over half of them free to attend.

To compile the ranking, the Big 7 Travel team drew up a shortlist of summer food festivals across Europe and scored each against a consistent set of criteria, including the quality and distinctiveness of local cuisine, overall atmosphere and visitor experience, accessibility, and the festival's reputation among food-focused travellers.

Chester Ollivier, of Big 7 Travel, who attended Cork on a Fork Fest 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."

In his review at the time, he added:

"To visit Cork on a Fork is to experience Cork at its most authentic. From the warm welcome of traders to the sheer scale of the organisation, the event puts Cork among Europe's great food destinations – a city that strikes a balance between an evolving food scene and heritage cooking. 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."

Other high-profile European festivals featured on the list include the Gladmat Festival in Stavanger, Norway, the Stranraer Oyster Festival in Scotland, Copenhagen Cooking, Taste of London, the Big Feastival in Oxfordshire, La Tomatina in Spain, and the Gailtaler Speckfest in Austria.

Cork on a Fork Fest is 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.

Some events are already sold out. The full programme is available at corkonaforkfest.ie.