From the UK to Italy, Australia to USA, cheese festivals offer an unforgettable experience that combines rich flavours, expert knowledge, and a community of like-minded food lovers. So, pack your bags, gather your fellow cheese lovers, and get ready for an unforgettable journey through the world of cheese!
A Cheese Festival is a vibrant celebration dedicated to all things cheese. It brings together enthusiasts, artisans, and local producers to showcase a variety of cheeses through tastings, workshops, live demonstrations, and culinary pairings. These events offer a unique opportunity to explore the rich diversity of cheeses, learn about traditional cheese-making techniques, and enjoy the cultural and gastronomic experiences that make cheese so beloved around the world.
Cheese is more than just a food, it’s an experience. For cheese lovers, there’s nothing quite like the excitement of indulging in the finest cheeses, discovering new varieties, and learning about the provenance behind their favourites.
Across the UK and beyond, cheese festivals offer a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of cheese. Whether you’re a lifelong cheese enthusiast, new to the scene, or perhaps embarking on a career in cheese, here’s a guide to some of the best cheese festivals around the UK and further afield, including why you should make a point of attending them.
Locations: Christchurch / Winchester / Chichester / Guildford
When: 17 – 18 May / 7 – 8 June / 21 – 22 June / 19 – 20 July
The Cheese & Chilli Festival is the only show in the UK which celebrates both cheese and chilli within a festival setting. Held at four locations throughout the south of England: Christchurch, Winchester, Chichester and Guildford, the festival is in its 11th year, providing family-oriented entertainment and offering an abundant array of cheeses, chillis, crafts, samples to savour, cooking demonstrations as well as the crazy chilli-eating competition.
Location: Brisbane / Melbourne / Perth
When: 23-25 May / 4 – 5 July / 8-10 Aug
Billed as the Biggest, Cheesiest Pinot-Perfect Party Australia’s ever seen, MOULD returns to showcase over 50 varieties of the very best in Australian artisan cheese from around the country. Meanwhile, alongside the cheese festival, Pinot Palooza will be celebrating its 13th year celebrating the diversity of Pinot Noir, and all its glory. Expect to see over 50 examples from Australia and beyond. Just $59 gets you festival access, ALL cheese and pinot tastings, plus a complementary cooler bag for keeping your cheese at the perfect temperature, a wine glass and tote bag!
Location: Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, UK
When: 24th– 25th May
Melton Mowbray is the historic heart of the UK’s food scene and a must-visit destination for cheese lovers. While the town itself is synonymous with the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie it is, more importantly (we are biased), the centre of Stilton cheese production – one of just two cheeses with protected status in the UK.
The Artisan Cheese Fair is the UK’s largest cheese fair with around 50-60 Artisan Cheesemakers from across the UK and Ireland who between them make some 300 cheeses. Whether you’re looking to sample the famous Stilton or discover lesser-known varieties, this festival offers a unique chance to interact with cheese makers and food artisans, whilst exploring this traditional market town with its thatched pubs, village greens and cosy tea rooms.
Location: Little Chute, Wisconsin
When: 6th – 8th June
Since 1988, the first weekend in June has been cause for celebrating in Little Chute as this weekend heralds in June Dairy Month with the Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival. A three-day family event featuring cheese tasting, live music, food booths, carnival rides, parade, walk/run, cheese curd eating contest, children’s games and entertainment, and more.
The festival benefits the community in many ways. Since its inception, the Festival has donated over $1,831,181 to community organisations, projects, and schools. It welcomes new visitors and embraces all those who come back home for the event, as well as everyone who lives in and near the community.
When: 13th – 14th Sept
Location: Sturminster Newton, Dorset
Known as the “Heart of the Blackmore Vale”, Sturminster Newton was once home to Thomas Hardy, who referred to the market town as “The vale of little dairies”. The Cheese Festival in this pretty Dorset town was launched in 1999, in a bid to invigorate the community following the closure of its weekly cattle market. The weekend proved to be a great success and is still going strong.
Championing artisan cheesemakers from the West Country and beyond, you can expect to see the likes of Bath Soft Cheese, Westcombe, Felthams Farm, Lyburn Farm, White Lake Cheese and The Book & Bucket Cheese Company, as well as plenty of cheese-adjacent drinks and accompaniments. Spread across two large marquees, there will also be a full line up of music and family-friendly entertainment.
Location: Bra, Piedmont, Italy
When: 19th – 22nd September
The BRA Cheese Festival in Italy is a mecca for cheese lovers from all over the world. Held in the charming town of Bra, located in the Piedmont region of Italy, this bi-annual event attracts thousands of cheese enthusiasts and professionals, who descend on the narrow streets and squares of BRA to taste cheeses they’ll never find anywhere else. The brainchild of Slow Food, the global organisation with a mission to preserve local food cultures and traditions, it’s the world’s largest festival dedicated to raw milk cheese.
Beyond the tastings, the BRA Cheese Festival offers workshops, tours, and masterclasses led by some of the world’s top cheese experts. If you’re up for an adventure, this festival is a global gathering of some of the most passionate cheese makers and connoisseurs you’ll ever meet.
Location: Bern, Switzerland (Varies from year to year)
When: 13-15th November (Typically in October / November)
Whilst traditionally a trade-only event, bringing the professional global cheese community together, the World Cheese Awards is fast becoming known for its post-awards consumer show – a major draw for cheese lovers around the world.
This November, in the newly-built Festhalle Bern,approximately 5000 cheeses from around 50 countries are expected to compete for the coveted Super Gold medals, which will be judged by experts on the 13th November. Besides the exciting competition to crown the world’s best cheeses, a varied programme awaits visitors: fascinating insights into the Swiss world of cheese, a Swiss Fine Food Market and a wide range of side events for cheese lovers young and old, including the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes with expert-led guided tours.
When: 2026 Dates TBC
Where: Sonoma County, California
Every spring, cheese enthusiasts from across the country flock to Santa Rosa, California, for the California Artisan Cheese Festival, which highlights the artistry, flavors, and stories behind some of the nation’s finest cheeses. Nestled in Sonoma County, a region renowned for its culinary excellence, this festival offers attendees a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich tradition of cheese-making while enjoying the perfect pairing of locally produced wines.
From farm tours and meet the maker events, cheese tastings and pairing workshops to chef demonstrations and live cooking competitions, the event offers an in-depth look at the world of cheese. For those interested in more than just tasting, the festival includes seminars that dive into the science and art of cheese-making, offering insights into everything from ageing techniques to pairing tips.
Location: Shepton Mallet, Somerset, UK
When: 2026 Dates TBC
The Bath & West Food and Drink Festival is one of the UK’s largest agricultural festivals, and it’s a fantastic showcase of regional food, including cheese. This year, it is also host to the British and Irish Cheese Awards, with the judging taking place on the Friday. If you’re looking for a unique experience whilst there, you can join one of the Cheese Tasting Tours – guided by renowned cheese experts, where you will be able to sample some of the finest cheeses from the British & Irish Cheese Awards and Artisan traders of the Food & Drink Festival.
Located in the picturesque county of Somerset, which is famous for its cheddar, this event is a celebration of all things agricultural, but cheese takes a starring role. At the show, you’ll find numerous cheese makers offering a wide array of cheeses to sample, many of which are unavailable in regular supermarkets. There’s also the chance to learn about the craft of cheese-making and enjoy food pairings, cooking demonstrations, and more.
From the UK to Italy, Australia to USA, cheese festivals offer an unforgettable experience that combines rich flavours, expert knowledge, and a community of like-minded food lovers. Whether you’re enjoying local British cheeses at Melton Mowbray, discovering international varieties at the BRA Cheese Festival, or celebrating the best of American cheese in California, there’s no better way to indulge your passion for cheese than by attending one of these fantastic festivals. So, pack your bags, gather your fellow cheese lovers, and get ready for an unforgettable journey through the world of cheese!
What is your most memorable cheese tasting experience, and which cheese left a lasting impression on you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Member of the Academy, Rachel loves a good cheese and wine session. Her love of all cheeses, artisanal or otherwise, has grown from her early years of working on the cheese counter at Fortnum & Mason. She has a personal mission to taste as many cheeses as possible and to encourage this passion in others.
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