Waterford festival draws 80,000 attendees

Waterford Festival of Food said its 2026 edition drew an estimated 80,000 people to Dungarvan, Waterford City and surrounding areas over the weekend. (hospitalityireland.com) The 17th festival delivered more than 150 events across four days, according to organisers. Eunice Power, the festival’s chief executive, said the expansion into Waterford City felt like “a natural expansion” of the event’s growth. (hospitalityireland.com) (wlrfm.com) The 2026 programme marked the first time Waterford City was folded into the festival, which had previously centered on Dungarvan and West Waterford. WLR FM reported the event ran from April 23 to April 26, while other official listings promoted the main public programme from April 24 to April 26. (wlrfm.com) (waterfordcouncil.ie) Before this year, Waterford News & Star said the festival welcomed 75,000 visitors in 2025. The new attendance estimate suggests organisers cleared that mark after widening the footprint beyond its traditional Dungarvan base. (waterford-news.ie) (hospitalityireland.com) Dungarvan still anchored the weekend. Organisers said the Quayside Market and Sunday’s outdoor market drew heavy footfall, while family events at Dungarvan Castle remained a central part of the programme. (hospitalityireland.com) The city expansion added a food symposium at South East Technological University, restaurant trails and dining events at new venues. RTÉ reported the wider county programme also included tours, cruises, foraging sessions and wellness events. (rte.ie) (wlrfm.com) Organisers also pushed accessibility and sustainability in the run-up to the festival. WLR FM said the programme included autism-friendly sessions, quiet hours, refill stations and reusable cup systems. (wlrfm.com) Power said visitors kept talking about how welcoming the festival felt. After 17 editions, the event is now stretching from Dungarvan into Waterford City without dropping the local producers and community volunteers that built it. (hospitalityireland.com)