Waterford Harvest Festival returns from Friday, 4 September to Sunday, 6 September 2026, bringing three days of food, live entertainment, culture and family activity to the heart of Ireland’s oldest city.

Following a hugely successful festival in 2025, which welcomed more than 200,000 people to Waterford City, this year’s programme will once again celebrate exceptional food and the passionate people behind it. Local producers, chefs, restaurants, performers and independent businesses will take centre stage across a lively mix of free and ticketed events.

One of the highlights of the 2026 programme is Sheer Luck Holmes: The Case of the Floating Fiancée, a wonderfully entertaining murder mystery dining experience taking place at Dooley’s Hotel on Friday, 4 September.

Holmes, Watson and Mrs Hudson invite guests to an evening filled with comedy, curious clues, deadly twists and suspicious characters. While enjoying a delicious three-course meal, diners will be drawn into a fully interactive investigation and challenged to uncover the culprit. Will sharp detective work solve the case, or will the answer come down to sheer luck?

The festival programme offers plenty more for food lovers, including the new Food Lovers Global Taste Trail, The Big Breakfast Swap in support of Waterford Foodbank and Comedy, Cocktails & Canapés. Visitors can also enjoy a guided foraging experience at Mount Congreve Gardens, river cruises on the River Suir and the return of the popular Yoga Breakfast.

Live entertainment will feature acclaimed Irish singer Mary Coughlan, along with free performances from Mick Hanly, The Glitterbugs and Brian Kennedy. Renowned storyteller Eddie Lenihan will also bring Irish folklore and legend to life through a series of free storytelling events.

New for 2026, Ballybricken Green will be transformed into The Old Quarter, a festival hub celebrating the history, character and community spirit of one of Waterford’s most significant areas. Centred around the historic Ballybricken Bull Post, it will bring together local food, music, culture, stories and enterprise throughout the weekend.

Kitchen Stage Returns with Local and International Talent

The popular Waterford Harvest Festival Kitchen Stage returns for 2026, once again showcasing the chefs, food producers and volunteers who made it a highlight of last year’s event.

This year’s stage will celebrate Waterford’s long-established food businesses, with appearances from Wayne and Kristina of The Olive Café, David and Silvia of Sunny South East, Kamila and Michael of Momo, and Dvir and Nicola of Mezze in Tramore.

They will be joined by a wave of newer Waterford food entrepreneurs, including Alex da Costa, Hoi of Bánh Chả Journey, and Thuany and Joseph of Grill Mina’s House, reflecting the city’s growing culinary diversity.

The festival will close its Kitchen Stage programme on Sunday with an appearance from Michelin-starred Galway chef JP McMahon, alongside a range of other chefs and producers from across the region.

New Competitions and Family Entertainment

Building on last year’s success, the 2026 programme adds new interactive elements, including live audience competitions, the popular Beat the Chef challenges, and the Blaa Challenges. New for this year is the King of the Grill barbecue competition, held in partnership with Dawn Meats and Smoke & Soul at John Roberts Square.

Also returning are two festival favourites: the Waterford Chowder Competition and the Electro City Waterford Junior MasterChef Competition, which showcases the city’s next generation of culinary talent.

Signature Events Across the City

Beyond the Kitchen Stage, the festival has introduced several standalone experiences:

• Comedy, Cocktails & Canapés — an intimate 40-seat event in partnership with Zanzibar Cocktail Bar, featuring three comedians from Kilkenny Comedy Club alongside bespoke Harvest Festival cocktails and canapés.
• Global Taste Tour — a new Saturday afternoon event with Tasteful Tours, taking 20 guests on a walking journey through Waterford’s internationally inspired restaurants, spanning cuisines from India, Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil, Japan and Italy.
• A Collaborative Tasting Menu — Waterford chef Lewis Martin of Mara Restaurant will join Michelin-starred chef JP McMahon to create an exclusive tasting menu for 24 guests, celebrating the best of Waterford and Irish produce.

Harvest Festival Cruises Return — With Three New Themes

Following the success of last year’s cruises, Waterford Harvest Festival 2026 will run three themed cruises aboard the Barrow Princess:

• Friday: A sushi and sashimi evening cruise along the River Suir, prepared live by the team from Kyoto Asian Street Food.
• Saturday: A Disco Brunch, with DJs Daz and Martin (Get Down Edits) and brunch served by the award-winning Momo Restaurant team.
• Sunday: An Afternoon Tea Cruise featuring Michelin-starred pastry chef Tom Phelan of the Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate.

Big Breakfast Swap Supports Waterford Food Bank

The festival will also give back to the local community through the Big Breakfast Swap on Sunday morning. Fifty guests will receive a free Big Breakfast Blaa at The Olive Café on John Roberts Square — with the only “cost” being a donation of non-perishable food.

The event is supported by The Olive Café, Hickey’s Bakery and Country Style Foods, with all donations going directly to the Waterford Food Bank to support local families and individuals in need.

Foraging at Mount Congreve Gardens, Kilmeaden

A fascinating guided foraging experience through the historic woodlands and gardens of Mount Congreve Gardens, one of the Great Gardens of the World, on Saturday 5th September.

Set against the stunning backdrop of 18th-century gardens and ancient woodlands, this immersive experience invites guests to explore the wonders of hedgerow foraging and the rich biodiversity that flourishes across our grounds.

Guided by their knowledgeable expert, guests will learn to identify a variety of edible plant species, discover sustainable foraging practices, and gain fascinating insights into the hidden world of plant communication and adaptation.

Waterford Harvest Festival Competition

With activity taking place across Waterford City, Dooley’s Hotel provides an ideal base for enjoying the festival. Situated on Merchants Quay along the banks of the River Suir, the family-owned hotel has welcomed guests for more than 75 years. Its central location, comfortable accommodation, welcoming atmosphere and delicious dining make it a convenient choice for a Waterford city break.

To celebrate Waterford Harvest Festival 2026, Taste.ie is offering one lucky winner and a guest the chance to enjoy two tickets to Sheer Luck Holmes: The Case of the Floating Fiancée, together with an overnight stay and breakfast at Dooley’s Hotel.

Waterford Harvest Festival takes place across Waterford City from 4 to 6 September 2026. Discover the full programme at waterfordharvestfestival.ie.