The Curated Plate serves up biggest celebration yet
Nearly 10,000 people have come together over the past 10 days to celebrate the Sunshine Coast's vibrant food culture as The Curated Plate wrapped up, delivering its most diverse program in the festival's history.
Coconut Mousse with Chocolate Soil, Goat Cheese Crémeux, Ube, Jackfruit, and Caramelized Banana “Turon” | Mango’s Bar & Grill After Dark: Filipino Kitchen Takeover
From Sri Lankan fire feasts and Japanese tuna-cutting demonstrations to Greek dinners, New Orleans-inspired dining, Filipino flavours, hinterland farm experiences and family-friendly community events, this year's festival showcased the diversity of the Sunshine Coast's culinary landscape while remaining firmly rooted in local produce.
The Curated Plate has become a powerful platform for celebrating the farmers, fishers, producers, chefs and hospitality businesses that define the region, while delivering significant benefits to the local visitor economy.
Storytelling through food
Festival Culinary Director Peter Kuruvita said the 2026 festival demonstrated that food has the power to connect people, tell stories and create memorable travel experiences.
"Food has an incredible way of bringing people together, and that's exactly what we've seen over the past 10 days. Around every table were conversations, connections and shared experiences built around the incredible produce grown and caught here on the Sunshine Coast," Mr Kuruvita said.
"What makes The Curated Plate special is that it shines a light on the people behind the food.
“Whether it's the trawler bringing seafood into Mooloolaba before sunrise, the finger lime grower opening their farm to visitors, or the next generation of chefs creating exciting new dishes, every event tells the story of this region."
The festival's broad program highlighted the diversity of the Sunshine Coast's food scene, with experiences spanning coastal seafood celebrations, intimate farm dinners, luxury degustations, hands-on masterclasses and large-scale community events.
Beyond the dining table, the festival also delivered tangible economic benefits across the region, attracting visitors who stayed overnight, dined locally and explored Sunshine Coast towns and villages.
One standout example was the Kenilworth and Mary Valley region, where businesses reported strong visitation during the Ember and Harvest Weekend, with accommodation across the area at capacity as visitors travelled to experience the festival's hinterland events. The influx of guests flowed through to local cafés, retailers, accommodation providers and tourism operators, demonstrating the multiplier effect of food tourism across regional communities.
Another festival highlight was the inaugural Mooloolaba Seafood Market Day, where thousands of visitors gathered on The Spit to celebrate one of the Sunshine Coast's most important industries.
The collaborative event brought together the businesses of The Spit to showcase the region's seafood sector, giving visitors the opportunity to sample a range of local seafood for just $5 a plate while learning more about the industry that supports local jobs and exports premium Sunshine Coast seafood around Australia and the world.
Mr Kuruvita said introducing people to new flavours and experiences was one of the festival's greatest strengths.
"Not everyone is ready to book a five-course degustation, but almost everyone is willing to try something new when it's approachable,” Mr Kuruvita said.
“The Mooloolaba Seafood Market gave people the chance to discover different local seafood, meet the people behind it and better understand why our seafood industry is so important to the Sunshine Coast."
Food tourism continues to grow for the region
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said The Curated Plate continued to prove that food tourism delivers benefits well beyond the hospitality sector.
"The Curated Plate is an investment in our local economy. Every visitor who travels here for an event also stays in accommodation, shops in our towns, visits attractions and supports local businesses, creating economic benefits that extend right across the Sunshine Coast," Mayor Natoli said.
"Just as importantly, the festival provides an opportunity for our local producers, growers, fishers and hospitality businesses to share their stories with thousands of visitors.
“It reinforces the Sunshine Coast's reputation as one of Australia's leading food destinations while creating experiences that simply can't be replicated anywhere else."
The Curated Plate is delivered in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council, Visit Sunshine Coast, and Tourism and Events Queensland, alongside industry and community collaborators.