A coastal food festival is coming back to a seaside town in Victoria's far east. The event celebrates the seafood, people and wild places of the region.
The program runs across a long weekend and mixes free and paid activities. Visitors can expect boat trips, markets, fishing clinics and plenty of fresh seafood.
What is the festival
The event is the Wild Harvest Seafood Festival, and it returns to Mallacoota in far East Gippsland. It runs from Friday 25 September to Sunday 27 September 2026.
The festival has run since 2019 and is held every two years. It celebrates the seafood, people, stories and wild landscapes of the Far South Coast. It is a chance to honour the food and the communities of the coast.
The festival honours more than food. It celebrates the people who fish the coast, the stories they carry, and the wild landscapes that shape the region. That mix is what makes it more than a market.
Because the festival is biennial, each return feels like a special occasion. Locals and visitors alike mark the dates on the calendar.
Mallacoota is a seaside fishing town surrounded by Croajingolong National Park. The town sits on the East Gippsland coast. It is a natural home for a festival built around the sea. The inlet and the national park frame the town. The town's fishing heritage gives the event its heart.
Mallacoota Inlet at the edge of Croajingolong National Park. Photo: ElPhantomero via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Image for reference only.
Friday 25 September
The opening day packs in three events. An Urchin and Uni Cruise runs aboard the M.V. Loch-Ard from 3pm to 5pm. It departs from the Main Wharf.
The cruise puts sea urchins front and centre. Passengers can see and learn about this local delicacy. It is a gentle start to the weekend on the water. Those on the cruise can then head to the evening feast.
Later that evening, a seafood feast takes place at the Mallacoota Golf and Country Club. Live music will play alongside the meal. The club provides the setting for the evening. It is a night for locals and visitors to share a table.
A twilight fishing clinic also runs at Mallacoota Wharf. It is a chance to learn the basics as the day winds down.
Saturday 26 September
Saturday brings the Wild Harvest Market at Lions Park. It runs from 8:30am to 2:30pm. The market runs through the morning and into the afternoon.
The market is a hub for the whole weekend. It brings growers, fishers and cooks together in one place. Visitors can taste and buy local produce.
A lake cruise on the Loch-Ard also runs on Saturday. Passengers can learn about the local waterways and environment. It turns the focus to the water and the landscape. It shows the town from a different angle.
Sunday 27 September
Sunday closes the festival with a family fishing clinic at Mallacoota Wharf. It is a relaxed, hands-on way to end the weekend.
The clinic is aimed at families and children. It gives young fishers a safe, simple start on the water. It is a fitting close to a weekend built around the sea.
What to eat and drink
The festival's food list is broad and bold. The menu mixes familiar favourites with bolder local choices. Every dish leans on the region's fresh catch. There is a dish for every appetite.
Seafood and street food
Fish tacos, prawn pad thai and seafood paella are all on the menu. Each one puts fresh local seafood at the centre.
Abalone fettuccini offers something richer. It pairs tender abalone with pasta.
Local delicacies
The festival also highlights lesser-known local delicacies. Sea urchins, known as uni, feature on the program. Samphire is another local special to try. These are lesser-known treats that many visitors have never tried.
For the curious, uni and samphire are worth seeking out. Staples like prawns, abalone and oysters round out the offering.
Drinks
Drinks get the same creative treatment. Sea urchin beer and oyster stout are on the list for those feeling adventurous.
Plan your visit
The program mixes free and paid events. Check the official program before you go to book any paid sessions. Plan the day around the event times, as they are spread across morning, afternoon and evening.
Most events centre on the wharf, the golf club and Lions Park. The town is small, so most venues are close together.
Mallacoota is part of the wider Gippsland region. Visitors can pair the festival with time in Croajingolong National Park.
Conclusion
The Wild Harvest Seafood Festival returns with a full three-day program. It offers food, boats, markets and fishing for all ages. It has been a fixture of the town's calendar since 2019.
For food lovers, the festival is a rare chance to try uni and samphire. For families, the fishing clinics and market make an easy day out. For anyone who loves seafood, it is a date worth keeping.
With free and paid events across the weekend, there is plenty to choose from. The festival mixes food with time on the water and in the landscape.
To explore Mallacoota and the wider East Gippsland region in more depth, visit the Every Suburb Victoria guide.
Works Cited
"Fresh Seafood and Salty Adventures at Mallacoota's Wild Harvest Seafood Festival." Gippsland Times, 15 Sept. 2026, https://www.gippslandtimes.com.au/news/2026/09/15/fresh-seafood-and-salty-adventures-at-mallacootas-wild-harvest-seafood-festival/.
"Wild Harvest Seafood Festival." Wild Harvest Seafood Festival, 2026, https://www.wildharvestseafoodfestival.com/blog.