Newcastle’s popular Tuna Festival is returning bigger than ever in 2026, expanding from a two-week celebration into a month-long seafood festival designed to showcase the city’s thriving dining scene and support local hospitality venues through winter.
Running throughout July, the festival has evolved beyond its original focus on tuna to embrace premium seafood in all its forms.
The centrepiece of the event will be the expanded Seafood Trail, which will see participating venues create exclusive Chef’s Catch dishes that highlight their culinary creativity and signature style.
Diners will be encouraged to explore Newcastle one seafood dish at a time, discovering new restaurants, bars and dining experiences across the city.
The festival arrives at a time when many hospitality businesses are facing a challenging winter period.
By drawing locals and visitors into venues during the quieter months, organisers hope the month-long celebration will provide a welcome boost to Newcastle’s restaurants, bars and dining rooms while giving food lovers an excuse to venture out despite the cooler weather.
Alongside the Seafood Trail, a series of special events will take place across July, featuring multi-course seafood menus crafted by some of the region’s leading chefs.
From intimate degustation experiences to waterfront dining events, the program aims to showcase the depth of talent within Newcastle’s hospitality industry while highlighting the quality of seafood available throughout the region.
More than 30 venues have already signed on for the 2026 Seafood Trail, with additional participants expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The first wave includes Arnos, Âpé, Bartholomew’s, Crystalbrook Kingsley, Customs House, East End Hub, Foghorn Brewery, George on Darby, Harrisons, Kingfish, Maru HiFi and more.
Founded in 2025 by local restaurateur Taiyo Namba and the team behind several of Newcastle’s best-known dining venues, the festival has quickly established itself as a major event on the city’s culinary calendar.
Newcastle Tuna Festival 2026 runs from 28 June to 31 July. Tickets for featured events and details of the full Seafood Trail, including an interactive map and updated venue list, are available at newcastletunafest.com.au.
