Prepare your taste buds for Dorset’s hottest food festival!
Ready for a day out with a little extra kick? Great Dorset Chilli Festival returns to Stock Gaylard Estate near Sturminster Newton on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August 2026, bringing together chilli growers, food producers, live entertainment and fiery competitions for one brilliantly bold weekend in Dorset.
- Explore stalls packed with chilli plants, seeds, sauces, chutneys, oils, jams, cheeses and spicy treats
- Watch chilli eating competitions, cooking demos, growing talks and live cook-offs across the weekend
- Feast on street food including Thai curries, gourmet burgers, Caribbean food, burritos, samosas and more
- Enjoy live music, Mexican mariachi performers and family-friendly entertainment throughout the festival
- Cool things down with local ice cream, Dorset-roasted coffee, beers, ales, cider, bubble tea and rum
- Children under 11 go free, with plenty for younger visitors to enjoy too
Great Dorset Chilli Festival 2026 dates, times and location
- Dates: Saturday 1st - Sunday 2nd August 2026
- Opening times: Gates open at 10am on both days, with last entry at 4:30pm
- Trading ends: 5pm
- Location: Stock Gaylard Estate, Lydlinch, Sturminster Newton, Dorset DT10 2BG
- Tickets: Online tickets are valid for either Saturday 1st or Sunday 2nd August and can only be scanned once
What’s on at Great Dorset Chilli Festival 2026?
Great Dorset Chilli Festival is made for chilli enthusiasts, curious foodies and families who like their days out full of flavour. Browse specialist chilli stalls, chat to growers and makers, discover Dorset food and drink, and pick up everything from mild marinades to seriously fiery sauces.
- Saturday: Chilli Plant Competition, Curry Cook-Off and live music from The Killbillies UK and Fat Marrow Blues Band
- Sunday: Chilli Sauce Competition, Chilli Cook-Off and live music from The Mother Ukers and Swamp Stomp String Band
- Both days: Chilli Eating Competitions on the music stage at 4pm, live talks on growing tips, sauce-making insight, oyster talks and live cooking from food experts. There's also an abundance of family fun with bouncy castles, face painting, falconry, circus workshops, land trains and pocket money toys
Food, drink, music and chilli-fuelled fun in the Dorset countryside
Come hungry, because there’s plenty to tuck into. The festival brings together street food, artisan traders and local flavours, with everything from spicy squid and Greek kebabs to crepes, nachos, bratwurst and Dorset dairy ice cream. If chilli is your thing, you’ll be in your element. If it isn’t, don’t worry — there are plenty of non-spicy options too.
There’s also music across the weekend, including festival bands, cider tent performances and the returning Mexican mariachi trio. Add in the Stock Gaylard Estate setting, free parking and a warm, friendly festival feel, and you’ve got one of the tastiest summer days out in Dorset.
Book Great Dorset Chilli Festival tickets today and get ready for a food festival with flavour, fire and just the right amount of chaos.