South Australia’s biggest celebration of cheese, food, wine and artisan produce is turning 21, and to celebrate, they’re throwing a birthday party worthy of the occasion.
Returning to Rundle Park/Kadlitpina on Saturday, October 17th and Sunday, October 18th, CheeseFest 2026 is bringing a bold new visual identity, with more than 100 producers from across Australia and the festival debut of beloved chef and television personality Miguel Maestre.
Over the past two decades, CheeseFest has grown from a celebration of artisan cheese into one of Australia’s top food festivals, showcasing the makers, growers and producers behind some of the country’s finest food and beverage products.
This year, Miguel Maestre will make his first-ever CheeseFest appearance, taking over the RAA Cooking Demonstration Stage on Saturday.
“I’m so excited to be involved in this year’s CheeseFest,” said Miguel. “As a passionate foodie and lover of cheese, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday in October – talking about and cooking with quality produce, interacting with the producers, the community, and of course eating my way through cheese!
“South Australia has some of the best produce in the country and events like CheeseFest enable producers and makers to showcase their products and celebrate their achievements, and I’m really proud to be part of that.”
CheeseFest founder and award-winning cheesemaker Kris Lloyd AM said Miguel was the perfect addition to celebrate the festival’s milestone year.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Miguel Maestre to CheeseFest for the first time,” Kris said. “Miguel has such an infectious love of food and brings incredible warmth, humour and energy to everything he does. We know our CheeseFest audience is going to love him.”
Joining Miguel on the program is returning favourite and South Australian MasterChef 2025 winner Laura Sharrad, who will once again share her passion for local ingredients and creative cooking.
Visitors can expect two days filled with live cooking demonstrations, hands-on masterclasses, cheese and beverage tastings, premium lounges, live music and countless opportunities to meet producers and sample their creations.
“This will be one of our most diverse and exciting producer line-ups yet, at its heart, CheeseFest has always been about giving producers the opportunity to put their products directly to consumers, share their stories and build lasting connections with customers,” said Kris.
To celebrate its 21st birthday, the festival has also unveiled a new visual identity created by acclaimed South Australian artist and illustrator Billie Justice Thomson. Known for her colourful, playful artwork celebrating food and everyday life, Billie’s designs will feature across CheeseFest’s branding, merchandise and festival experience.
Around 18,000 people are expected to attend this year’s event, with visitors travelling from across metropolitan Adelaide, regional South Australia, interstate and overseas.
Early bird tickets are on sale now, with more program announcements expected in the coming months!
CheeseFest
When: Saturday, October 17th and Sunday, October 18th
Where: Rundle Park/Kadlitpina
Price: From $29
For more information, click here.
