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.
Discover more INspiring events and book your tickets!
PLATED: SUNSHINE COAST: COOKING CLASS
Presented by Chef Mel Alafaci
Join Chef Mel, “The Happy Chef,” for an interactive masterclass that blends elite culinary technique with high-octane entertainment. Learn how “cheffy” skills can produce a four-course feast, then enjoy it together.
- Friday 24 July, 11am–2pm
- $155pp, booking fees may apply
- The Studio Cooking School, Junction Drive, Coolum Beach
BONJOUR, BEACHES!
Presented by Cotton Tree Beach Bar
Classic French cuisine reimagined for the Sunshine Coast. This five-course dining experience brings together elegance, technique, and soulful flavour, adding timeless French artistry with a meticulous unmistakable ocean breeze.
- Friday 24 July, 5.30–9pm
- $179pp, booking fees may apply
- The Esplanade, Maroochydore
SUNSHINE SOCIAL X SEABORNE GIN
Presented by Sunshine Social Cotton Tree
Led by Head Chef Brandon Charlesworth the menu has a sharp creative edge with a deep respect for local ingredients. Teaming up with Seabourne Distillery creating a bespoke cocktail offering, alongside Jamsheed wines.
- Friday 24 July and Saturday 25 July, 5–10pm
- $95pp, booking fees may apply
- King Street, Cotton Tree
ISLAND FIRE
Presented by Alsahwa Estate
Chef and Festival Culinary Director Peter Kuruvita returns from Sri Lanka –where he currently serves as Head Judge on MasterChef Sri Lanka – to open The Curated Plate 2026 with an immersive cultural dining experience inspired by the island nation, in collaboration with Alsahwa Estate Head Chef Mal Meiers. Guests are welcomed with a curated cocktail and dance performance, followed by a live kottu roti demonstration and immersive drumming before a four-course shared feast inspired by Peter’s family recipes.
- Friday 24 July 2026, 12–3pm
- $199pp – SOLD OUT
- 20 Rifle Range Road, Palmwoods
TWILIGHT SOIREE
Presented by Green Valley Fingerlimes
A unique fingerlime farm experience, with a fingerlime tour, gin tasting from Dalcelo Distillery and your own private teepee picnic in the orchard, complete with a hamper filled with locally sourced produce.
- Saturday 25 July, 3–5pm
- $110pp, booking fees may apply
- 114 Stirling Road, Peachester
GOOD SOIL. FARM. TABLE. BEAST.
Presented by Mapleton Public House
Good Soil is built on two ideas: supporting local producers, and honouring the wine ingredient from root to tip and nose to tail. Gather round an open fire to watch the beast be prepared with music from Intercooler and Double Talk.
- Sunday 26 July, 11am–4pm
- Picnic entry: $30/adults $15, $25/kids $10 with pre-registration
- 2 Flaxton Drive, Mapleton
HINTERLAND PRODUCERS LUNCH
Presented by Spicers Clovelly Estate
Head Chef Geoff Abel presents a four-course lunch with wine pairing, using local produce from The Falls Farm, Maleny Buffalo, Maleny Dairies & Peachester Fresh, blended with the Provencal French style of The Long Apron.
- Friday 31 July, 12–4pm
- $135pp, booking fees may apply
- 38-68 Balmoral Road, Montville
SUNSHINE COAST ASIAN FOOD FESTIVAL
Presented by Spicers Tamarind Retreat
Bring a picnic blanket and indulge in vibrant Asian flavours from the title-studded chef lineup amongst the 18 acre rainforest property at Spicers Tamarind Retreat. Your ticket includes five dishes, two drinks, and live entertainment.
- Saturday 1 August, 12–5pm
- $165pp, booking fees may apply
- Spicers Tamarind Retreat, Old Lane South, Maleny
THE BUSH HARVEST MORNING TEA
Presented by Fairhill Gardens
Discover a generous, whimsical, beautifully presented menu with sweets and savouries from Peter Kuruvita and Fairhill’s renowned kitchen. Plus live music and flower-garlanded goats. Not to be missed.
- Sunday 2 August, 10am–2pm
- $50–$75, booking fees may apply
- Fairhill Gardens, 114 Farrell Road, Ninderry
PICNIC ON THE GREEN
Presented by The Doonan
The lush lawns at The Doonan turn into a laid-back picnic that’s all about good food and great company. Graze through a handcrafted picnic basket featuring a selection of locally sourced gourmet treats curated for two.
- Sunday 2 August, 12.30–2pm
- $130pp, booking fees may apply
- 6 Beddington Road, Doonan
Visit www.thecuratedplate.com.au for more information and to book tickets.
