Hunter Valley events & festivals 2026
The Hunter's calendar revolves around food, wine, music and the outdoors — from winter snow play and a wine-and-beer festival to spring food festivals, big-name winery concerts and the famous Christmas Lights. Here are the 2026 highlights by season, so you can time your visit. Dates can change, so always confirm on the official event sites before booking.
Snow Time, wine & beer, and the Games
Winter is livelier than you'd think. Snow Time in the Gardens (27 June–26 July) brings real snow play to the Hunter Valley Gardens for the school holidays, and the Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival (11 July, at Rydges Lovedale) celebrates the region's drinks over a big day out. In August, the Hunter Valley Highland Games (22 Aug) and the Hunter Valley Masters golf (16–18 Aug) add to the calendar — all with the bonus of cosy cellar-door fires.
Food festivals, golf & the first concerts
Spring is festival season. The D'Vine Food & Wine Festival (11–13 September) showcases the region's producers and winemakers, and golf takes centre stage when The Vintage hosts the NSW Open (12–15 November). Late spring also kicks off the concert season, with the Red Hot Summer Tour at Roche Estate on 31 October — a big night of Australian rock among the vines.
Concerts & the Christmas Lights
Summer is the Hunter at its most festive. The Christmas Lights Spectacular lights up the Hunter Valley Gardens nightly from around early November into late January, and the big winery concerts roll on — headlined by A Day on the Green at Bimbadgen on 5 December (Boyz II Men and more). Warm evenings, live music and millions of lights make it a magical (and busy) time — book well ahead.
Hunter Valley events 2026: your questions
Highlights include Snow Time in the Gardens (27 Jun–26 Jul), the Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival (11 Jul), the Hunter Valley Highland Games (22 Aug), the D'Vine Food & Wine Festival (11–13 Sep), big winery concerts (Red Hot Summer Tour 31 Oct; A Day on the Green 5 Dec), the NSW Open golf (12–15 Nov) and the Christmas Lights Spectacular from around November. Confirm dates on official sites before booking.
No — the Lovedale Long Lunch is not running in 2026. After 31 years, the beloved May food-and-wine event has been paused, with organisers planning a refreshed return in 2027. If you see older listings promoting it for 2026, they're out of date — the region's current food festivals are the July Wine & Beer Festival and September's D'Vine.
The Christmas Lights Spectacular runs each summer from around early November into late January (the previous season ran 7 Nov 2025 – 26 Jan 2026). The exact 2026–27 dates hadn't been officially announced as of mid-2026, so check the Hunter Valley Gardens website for confirmed dates and ticket details before planning your visit around it.
Confirmed shows include the Red Hot Summer Tour at Roche Estate on 31 October and A Day on the Green at Bimbadgen on 5 December (with Boyz II Men and more), plus additional touring acts at Hope Estate through the season. See our winery concerts guide, and book accommodation early — the valley fills fast around big shows.
Yes. The main 2026 food-and-wine events are the Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival (11 July, at Rydges Lovedale) and the D'Vine Food & Wine Festival (11–13 September), alongside tastings and long lunches at the wineries year-round. (The long-running Lovedale Long Lunch is paused for 2026.)