GrillFest 2026

Get your appetite ready because GrillFest is back for 2026, and this year’s lineup is packed with fire, flavour, butchery, cocktails, serious BBQ talent and a little bit of glorious chaos. 

Join us for a full day of live demos, tastings, sizzling grills and smoky inspiration as we celebrate all things outdoor cooking at GrillFest 2026, running from 11am to 5pm. This year’s event features a brilliant mix of returning favourites and exciting new names, with demos taking place across our 60,000 square foot showroom.  

From butcher’s block to open flame, from low-and-slow barbecue to a seriously fiery wing contest, GrillFest 2026 is shaping up to be our biggest and boldest year yet. 

We’re buzzing to welcome back Pat Conway and Jim O’Brien, the dynamic duo behind Smokin’ Soul. Hailing from Cloonagh, Wexford, these smokehouse legends are on a mission to share their fire cooking obsession with the people of Ireland. Renowned for handcrafting their own custom-built range of BBQs, smokers, and accessories, along with their very own smokehouse takeaway and Feast of Fire festival,  Pat and Jim have become much-loved names on the Irish BBQ scene. With big personalities, serious fire-cooking know-how, and a brilliant passion for all things smoke and flame, Smokin’ Soul bring exactly the kind of energy GrillFest is all about. 

Prepare for an unforgettable grilling experience at GrillFest as Emily from Lo & Slo BBQ comes fresh from her Wild & Fired BBQ School at the historic Brookhall Estate in Co. Derry! Fuelled by her American roots and a genuine passion for cooking with fire, Emily has cultivated a journey that celebrates the art of BBQ using locally sourced, farm-fresh ingredients. Lo & Slo will be chatting to visitors, bringing their live and interactive demonstration, where mouthwatering dirty tomahawk steak tasters will be served up sizzling on hot smoking coals.    

We’re so excited to welcome Kate O’Driscoll to GrillFest 2026. Kate is a wife, mum, and backyard BBQ enthusiast with a real passion for food, fire, and flavour. A cook, baker, and barista in a local bistro by day, Kate brings that same love of great food home, where she does it all again over fire for her family. With her warm, energetic style, strong online following, and genuine enthusiasm for outdoor cooking, Kate has become a favourite with fellow food lovers and brings plenty of personality and GrillFest spirit to this year’s event.

Oisín Davis of Great Irish Beverages returns this year with some mighty fine cocktail demos. Oisín is one of Ireland’s best known drinks experts, with a background spanning hospitality, writing, consulting, events, and brand-building. As founder of Great Irish Beverages, and with more than 25 years in the industry, he brings a huge amount of knowledge, energy, and charisma to Grill Fest. Oisín will also be hosting our ‘Hot as Hell’ chicken wing contest. With his infectious energy and gift for entertaining a crowd, he always brings a brilliant atmosphere to the day. A long-time supporter of Irish food and drink, he adds plenty of flavour and spirit to the GrillFest lineup. 

We’re delighted to welcome Conor Wilson to GrillFest 2026. While many will know Conor from his work as a journalist and broadcaster with RTÉ’s Prime Time, he’s also a passionate barbecue enthusiast with a real love for cooking over fire. With a great appreciation for quality ingredients, outdoor cooking and all things grill-related, Conor is a brilliant addition to this year’s lineup and sure to bring plenty of flavour and inspiration to the day. 

There’s no show like a Joe Show! We’re delighted to welcome Joe’s Smokehouse to GrillFest 2026, fronted by our GrillFester Joe Savage — a Ballymaloe alumni and seasoned food-and-fire chef with a real flair for live-fire cooking. Based in North County Dublin, Joe’s Smokehouse has built a reputation for authentic BBQ, smoky flavour, and seriously good food cooked low and slow. With great energy, plenty of experience, and a clear passion for all things barbecue, we’re delighted Joe’s returning for the third year running to this year’s GrillFest lineup. 

We’re thrilled to welcome Martin Sikula to GrillFest 2026. The face behind The Craft Butcher in Rathdrum, Martin has built a fantastic reputation for top-quality produce, traditional skills, and a real passion for doing things properly. Deeply respected in the Irish BBQ and food scene, Martin is known not only for supplying exceptional local meat, but also for working with some of the country’s best fire-cooking talent, including Smokin’ Soul and Joe’s Smokehouse. With his commitment to craft, sustainability and seriously good food, Martin brings a huge amount of knowledge and authenticity to the GrillFest lineup. 

Think you can handle the heat? Apply now for the ‘Hot as Hell’ Chicken Wing Contest at Grill Fest, in partnership with Mic’s Chilli Sauces. We’re recruiting 16 brave contestants to take on fiery wings, win giveaways throughout the contest, and battle for a €1,000 voucher for the BBQ Centre at OutdoorLiving.ie. Bring the bravery, the banter, and your best BBQ energy. 

Get ready for some knockout pizza at GrillFest with the one and only Reggie White, the mastermind behind Reggie's Pizzeria in Rathmines who has played a pivotal role in the explosion of pizza culture across the country. Reggie will be gracing Grill Fest to share his expert skills in crafting the perfect Neapolitan style pizza, demonstrating how to achieve that irresistible crust and balanced flavours right on the grill.

Prepare to raise a glass at GrillFest as O Brother Brewing join us from their award winning craft brewery in Greystones, Co. Wicklow! Founded by the O’Neill brothers in 2014, this independent brewery has built a reputation for producing flavour driven beers using the very best ingredients. Nestled within the Georgian walled garden at Belmont Demesne, their taproom has become a favourite destination for walkers, cyclists and beer lovers alike. At GrillFest, O Brother Brewing will be serving up a refreshing range of non-alcoholic craft options, including their Bimble 0.3%, perfectly paired with a day of great food, fire and outdoor fun.

So there you have it. GrillFest is back for 2026, and we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone for what promises to be a fantastic day of food, fire and outdoor cooking inspiration. 

Join us between 11am and 5pm on Bank Holiday Monday 4th May 2026 at the OutdoorLiving.ie showroom in Glen of the Downs for a day packed with live demos, brilliant guests, sizzling grills and plenty of festival fun. Whether you’re a long-time BBQ enthusiast or simply looking for a great day out, GrillFest 2026 is the perfect place to kick off the season.