The Curated Plate 2026
From open-flamed feasts to hinterland harvests, Jennifer Swaine discovers The Curated Plate’s biggest program yet…
Winter on the Sunshine Coast has its own kind of magic. The days are crisp, the hinterland glows and long lunches stretch effortlessly into the afternoon. It’s the season made for gathering, lingering a little longer and discovering the incredible food culture this region has become renowned for. That spirit unfolds when The Curated Plate returns from 24 July to 2 August, transforming the Sunshine Coast into a celebration of flavour, community and great dining.
Leading the program is Island Fire by Culinary Director Peter Kuruvita at Alsahwa Estate – a spectacular event inspired by the sights, sounds and flavours of Sri Lanka. Expect traditional dancers, drummers and a bold three-course feast celebrating spice, rhythm and storytelling. It sets the tone for an extraordinary 10 days.
The first weekend alone makes it worth extending your stay. Head inland to Kenilworth where the Ember & Harvest Weekend delivers country hospitality at its finest. Friday night’s Smokin’ Boot Scoot brings live music, dancing and farm-fresh dining, while Saturday’s Wildfire & Wine gathers guests around fire pits beneath the stars for an open-flame feast paired with exceptional wines and acoustic music.
Along the coastline, seafood takes centre stage throughout the festival, culminating in the ever-popular Mooloolaba Seafood Market Day. Head to the wharf as local fisheries serve fresh plates, musicians perform beside the trawlers and visitors get a rare look into the local seafood industry that defines this stretch of coast.
For hinterland lovers, Tasting in the Treetops at Kondalilla offers a breakfast degustation above the rainforest canopy, while The Rocks Curated Plate Long Lunch in Yandina combines riverside dining with rustic charm. Elsewhere, guests can tour working farms, learn about bees before brunch at Alsahwa Estate, enjoy French-inspired coastal dining at Bonjour, Beaches!, or share a Sicilian-style feast at Bottarga in Maroochydore.
The Sunshine Coast Asian Food Festival at Spicers Tamarind Retreat remains a festival highlight – guests wander between food stations, enjoy live music and graze through Asian-inspired dishes from some of the region’s best chefs, all set among lush rainforest.
What makes The Curated Plate so special is not simply the food – it’s the way the festival captures the personality of the Sunshine Coast. Relaxed yet refined, welcoming yet world-class, it celebrates local people, local produce and the joy of coming together around a table. Whether you come for a weekend or stay for the ten days, you’ll leave already planning your return.
Visit www.thecuratedplate.com.au for more information and to book tickets.
