28 April 2026: Winter on the Sunshine Coast comes with a new reason to travel, as The Curated Plate food and drink festival releases its first taste of this year’s program – and it’s shaping up as a global culinary journey grounded firmly in local produce.
Early release tickets are on sale from today, unlocking access to more than 30 events running from 24 July to 2 August, with a further wave of experiences to be revealed next month.
Set across beaches, hinterland and farm gates, the 10-day festival brings together leading chefs, producers and venues for a series of immersive food experiences that showcase the region’s ingredients through an international lens.
Over 30 events are available in this first release, giving travellers a head start on planning a winter escape built around long lunches, fire-cooked feasts and behind-the-scenes producer experiences.
Festival Culinary Director Peter Kuruvita said the 2026 program reflects a broader shift in how the Sunshine Coast is telling its food story.
“This year’s program brings together more cuisines and cultural influences than ever before, but it’s still anchored in what grows here,” Mr Kuruvita said.
“You might be experiencing Sri Lankan flavours one day, Greek the next, or a European-style long lunch – but it all starts with local seafood, local farms and the people behind them.”
Leading the program is the opening event, Island Fire, where Kuruvita draws on his Sri Lankan heritage to deliver a vibrant, garden-set feast that blends bold spices, storytelling and live cooking.
Across the program, global influences continue to play out in distinctly Sunshine Coast settings – from treetop breakfasts and paddock-to-plate lunches to coastal degustations and hinterland feasts.
Highlights include the elevated Tasting in the Treetops, the fire-driven Good Soil: Farm. Table. Beast. at Mapleton Tavern, and the Ember and Harvest weekend in Kenilworth, where visitors can immerse themselves in a series of farm, fire and flavour-led experiences across the region.
Festival favourites also return, including the Hinterland Producers Lunch at Spicers Clovelly Estate and the Sunshine Coast Asian Food Festival at Spicers Tamarind, alongside new additions such as the Curated Nine Holes and Long Lunch in Maleny and the tranquil Nourish Body, Mind & Soul experience at the Chenrezig Institute.
Elsewhere, Japanese precision meets theatre at SOKA’s returning Tuna Cutting Show, while OPA! Smashing Supper brings Greek tradition to life with shared plates, music and celebration.
Across every event, the common thread is a commitment to local sourcing, from Mooloolaba seafood to hinterland-grown produce, reinforcing the region’s reputation as one of Australia’s leading food destinations.
With only part of the full program now live, the early release offers a preview of what is expected to be the festival’s most expansive and culturally layered lineup to date.
“This is just the first look,” Mr Kuruvita said.
“There’s a lot more to come, and it will continue to build on that sense of discovery – not just of flavours, but of place.”
Early release tickets are limited and expected to sell quickly.
The Curated Plate is delivered in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council, Visit Sunshine Coast, and Tourism and Events Queensland, alongside industry and community collaborators.
For tickets and more information, visit thecuratedplate.com.au
Ends.
For more information, images and video please reach out to:
Jennifer Swaine | 0438952830 | jen@commspeople.au
Heather Mollins | 0412421411 | heather@commspeople.au