Adelaide’s CheeseFest is turning 21 with a huge weekend of cheese, wine, live entertainment and a brand-new festival tradition involving a 45kg wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano.
Returning to Rundle Park/Kadlitpina on Saturday, October 17th and Sunday, October 18th, CheeseFest 2026 will bring more than 100 cheese, food, wine, beer, spirit and beverage producers together for two days of tastings, masterclasses, cooking demonstrations and family-friendly fun.
And this year, the festival is kicking things off with a little theatrical flair.
Celebrity chef Miguel Maestre will officially open CheeseFest with the inaugural ceremonial cracking of an enormous wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano, often referred to as the ‘King of Cheese’.
Before the ceremony, the wheel will make its way around Rundle Park on the official CheeseFest cart, led by a roaming minstrel.
Miguel will then carefully tap the cheese, listening for hollow areas before using specially designed Parmigiano Reggiano knives to crack it open.
Following the ceremony, the cheese will be taken backstage for Miguel’s cooking demonstration on the RAA Cooking Demo Stage, while the remaining Parmesan will be portioned and handed out to festivalgoers throughout the weekend.
The festival’s 2026 stallholder line-up includes 24 newcomers, alongside a long list of returning cheesemakers and producers from South Australia and beyond.
New South Australian cheese producer Stefano Magrofuoco will present Fromaj, joining Copperhead Creamery, Hanging Cheese & Pasta, Mercato and Bunchilicious Australia.
They will be joined by established favourites including Long Paddock Cheese, Woodside Cheese Wrights, Kris Lloyd Artisan, Vannella Cheese, Cremeux, Milawa Cheese Company, Coal River Farm, Moondarra Cheese and Project Burrata.
Food lovers can also expect plenty of new additions, including Francesca’s Pizza + Sandos, Pseudo Spaghetti, Pardon My French, Braising Boy, Asador Al Grill and La Mia Luna Pizza.
Returning favourites such as Gang Gang, Taco Cartel and That Arancini Guy will also be serving up food, while Gelato Bello is set to offer a special CheeseFest gelato flavour.
The drinks program will feature newcomers Two Hands Wines, Vinteloper, Lenswood Cider Co., Shapeshifter Brewery and Tancello Spritz, alongside producers including Never Never, Threefold Distilling, Sidewood Estate, Prancing Pony Brewery, Kimbolton Wines and LOBO Spirits & Cider.
CheeseFest founder and award-winning cheesemaker Kris Lloyd AM said, “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.”
Miguel will be joined on the cooking demonstration stage by MasterChef 2025 winner Laura Sharrad, Callum Hann, Warren Mendes, and mother-and-son duo Eddie Noble and Jane Reilly OAM.
The program also includes masterclasses, live music, the free Great Wine Voyage and the Foodland Mighty SA Food Trail, which will be available as a ticket add-on for the first time.
Children under 12 receive free entry with an adult, with free kids’ entertainment, cooking demonstrations and tastings included with general admission.
Tickets start at $29, with several entry options available.
CheeseFest
When: Saturday, October 17th and Sunday, October 18th
Where: Rundle Park/Kadlitpina
Price: From $29
For more information, click here.
