Feast of the Senses Festival – Sunday March 29
If exotic fruits like mangosteen, durian and soursop are on your must-try foods list, then Tropical North Queensland’s Feast of the Senses Festival is one event you should plan a holiday to experience. Held over four days from March 26–29, an hour south of Cairns in Innisfail, North Queensland’s premier food festival showcases the region’s vibrant exotic fruits, fresh local produce, seafood and meats. Offering more varieties of exotic and tropical fruit than almost anywhere else in the world, Feast of the Senses Festival is unrivalled when it comes to the diversity of flavours and culture. The event program features food trails, cooking competitions, live music, children’s rides and a huge market day extravaganza – head to the festival’s website for the lowdown.
Meatstock – April 10–11
If you’ve got some carnivorous cravings, there’s no festival more deserving of your patronage than Meatstock. A highlight of the Queensland foodie calendar, this barbecue bonanza is kicking off its 2026 national tour in Toowoomba in April, celebrating the best of barbecue culture and live music for two days of fun. Some of the best Australian and international pitmasters will be firing up the smokers in 2026, with guests able to eat their body weight in low ‘n’ slow meats. Barbecue enthusiasts can also peruse a range of products at the Meatstock Expo before catching some sensational tunes from the likes of Morgan Evans, Chase Matthew and The Wolfe Brothers. Tickets are on sale now – get yours via the Meatstock website.
GourMay Mary Valley – May 1–31
The best of Mary Valley Country will be celebrated for the entire month of May for the GourMay Mary Valley Food Festival. Known for shining a light on the region’s agricultural heritage, vibrant food culture and innovative producers, gourmands flock to the area to get a taste of top produce, score wares from talented artisans and learn more about Mary Valley Country’s agricultural roots. The calendar includes a host of activities, from farmers markets and cooking workshops to farm tours and live music. Highlights include the Festival Day on Saturday May 10 in Imbil Town Square and the Gala Celebration on Sunday May 31. To find out what’s in store for 2026, head to the GourMay Mary Valley website.
Grazing the Granite Belt – May 2–3
Twice a year, wine and food enthusiasts make their way to Granite Belt Wine Country for Grazing the Granite Belt – a weekend of tastings and snacking. Ticket holders can hop on and off specialised coaches that shuttle visitors to various cellar doors in the area. Each ticket gives guests access to wine, beer or cider tastings, as well as vouchers for entree-sized signature dishes. There’s also a special Sunday brunch event for those staying overnight. Keen to dive head-first into everything Granite Belt Wine Country has to offer? Head to the Grazing the Granite Belt website for more information on its autumn edition.
