The Adelaide Equestrian Festival is about to take its food and hospitality offering to the next level, with South Australian family-owned company YSG stepping up to deliver catering, manage vendors, and oversee hospitality across the entire 2026 Festival.
After making their debut in 2025 by servicing the premium hospitality suites, YSG impressed festival-goers with standout catering and slick service. Now, they’ll take full control of the food and beverage experience for the thousands expected to flock to Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi and Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka from 16–19 April next year.
For Event Director Kirsty Withers, the partnership is a natural fit.
“Partnering with YSG in 2025 was an excellent outcome. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and high-quality catering significantly enhanced the experience for our special guests. We’re excited to grow this relationship in 2026, expanding YSG’s involvement across the entire Festival to help us deliver great service and food and beverage options for all our patrons.”
It’s a major coup for festival lovers, who will now get to enjoy a range of food and drink experiences designed with South Australian flavour in mind. YSG Managing Director Adam Vonthethoff says his team is ready to deliver something special.
“The team are pumped about taking on the entire site, and creating a range of food and beverage experiences that live up to the high standards of not only the AEF, but South Australia as a major events destination.”
Executive Chef Luke Brabin is already busy planning the menus, promising twists on event favourites and plenty of local produce.
“The AEF is a great event, and our team love to bring the best of SA to an international and interstate audience. Putting a new spin on traditional event food is a challenge that we enjoy, and the crowd are always a lot of fun.”
And it’s not just the food that will shine. The Festival will again proudly partner with some of South Australia’s best-known names, including R.M.Williams, Coopers Brewery, Maggie Beer, and wines from K1 by Geoff Hardy. Expect everything from premium dining to casual bites, local beer and wine, and spaces that showcase the best of Adelaide’s hospitality scene.
The 2026 Festival is also hosting the prestigious Oceania Championships — a huge international event that will put Adelaide in the global equestrian spotlight. With almost half of ticket holders travelling from interstate or overseas, the city can expect another injection of energy and tourism spend, adding to the record-breaking $12.6 million boost delivered by the 2025 Festival.
For South Australians, though, the Festival is as much about the atmosphere as the competition. From enjoying a glass of South Australian sparkling—soon to include an exclusive collaboration with K1 Wines by Geoff Hardy—in the hospitality suites, to grabbing a drink and something delicious under the autumn skies while watching horses thunder through Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi and Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka, it’s a weekend that blends world-class sport with Adelaide’s passion for food, wine, and iconic events.
As Kirsty Withers puts it, “We’re incredibly excited about the growth the Festival has achieved over the past few years. To now be in a position to collaborate with an organisation like YSG and elevate the food and beverage experience across the entire event is a huge milestone. I’m confident our patrons will really notice—and appreciate—the difference.”
The 26th Adelaide Equestrian Festival runs 16–19 April 2026. Save the date, because this is one event that promises to serve up the best of South Australia — on the plate, in the glass, and on the field.
26th Adelaide Equestrian Festival
Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi and Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka, Adelaide
16–19 April 2026
www.adelaideequestrianfestival.com
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