Food On The Edge has always worked best as a conversation with momentum. In 2026, that conversation takes a new turn: for the first time, the symposium moves beyond Ireland and lands in Malta, bringing its annual two-day format to Fort St Elmo in Valletta on 19–20 October. The event was founded in Ireland in 2015, celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025, and is now framing Malta as the next chapter in its story.
What gives Food On The Edge its force is the mix of scale and ambition. It is a gathering for chefs and food enthusiasts around the world who want to build a better global network, but it is also explicitly a place to listen, talk and debate about the future of food in the industry and on the planet. That broader framing has been carried into the 2026 edition, where the site’s own line — “The Future of Food is a Call to Act” — sets the tone from the start.
The first speakers announced for Malta already give a sense of the event’s range. Sandor Ellix Katz, known for his fermentation work and workshops, joins the line-up alongside Sally Abé and Matt Orlando, two chefs whose recent announcements have helped build anticipation for the 2026 edition. More names are expected to follow, and the programme is still being developed, which only adds to the sense that this chapter is still taking shape.
That evolving line-up feels fitting for a symposium built around exchange rather than spectacle. Food On The Edge has never been about a single stage or a single headline act; it is about the accumulation of ideas, short talks, and big-picture thinking. The move to Malta gives that format a new backdrop, while keeping the spirit intact: practical, international and ambitious, with food culture treated as something alive rather than static.
The event also arrives with a clear offering for attendees. The 2-day ticket is priced at €295 and includes access to all speaker talks, lunches, masterclasses, speaker book signings and the Over the Edge afterparty, subject to scheduling. It is a straightforward package for a symposium meant to be experienced over the full two days, not just sampled from the sidelines.
The move from Galway to Valletta gives the event a new geography, but its deeper appeal remains the same as always: a sharp, high-level gathering where food serves as a lens for broader cultural, culinary, and planetary questions. Plus an amazing opportunity to network for the whole industry.
Practicalities:
Dates: 19–20 October 2026
Location: Fort St Elmo, Valletta, Malta
Format: Two-day symposium with talks, lunches, masterclasses, book signings and the Over the Edge afterparty
Tickets: €295 for a two-day pass - program and tickets here
