Entries for the 2026 Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards are now open

The Manchester Food and Drink Festival (MFDF) Awards have unveiled the 17 categories included in this year’s edition.

Celebrating the region’s exceptional food and drink industry, local hospitality businesses are now invited to put themselves forward.

The MFDF Award shortlists are determined by the MFDF panel of judges, which is comprised of the region’s leading food and drink critics, writers and experts.

MFDF has also announced a major new five-year partnership with Therme Manchester, which will see the landmark wellbeing resort become headline sponsor of the prestigious awards.

To enter, businesses must complete a registration and entry form for review by the panel of judges.

This year’s Manchester Food and Drink Award categories are:

• Affordable Eats Venue of the Year sponsored by Therme
• Takeaway of the Year
• Cafe or Coffee Shop of the Year
• Wine Offering of the Year
• Food Trader of the Year
• Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year
• Independent Drink Producer of the Year
• Independent Food Producer of the Year
• Neighbourhood Venue of the Year
• Pub or Beer Bar of the Year
• Great Service Award
• Low or No Offering of the Year
• Bar of the Year
• Newcomer of the Year
• Chef Of The Year
• Restaurant of the Year
• The Community Food and Drink Project of the Year

Local businesses are encouraged to highlight all they bring to the region’s outstanding hospitality scene and can submit their self-nomination for any of the categories.

Shortlists will be announced in September when the public voting will open on the MFDF website. The public voting is combined with scores from a mystery shopping period where judges visit nominated venues in some categories via an anonymous dining visit. The winners will be announced at the MFDF Awards on Mon 25 Jan 2027.

Returning for 2026 is The Community Food and Drink Project of the Year sponsored by Therme, which celebrates outstanding community food and drink heroes.

The award will recognise a project or initiative in Greater Manchester that champions genuine social impact, innovation and long-term, sustainable benefits to local communities. This may be through tackling food poverty, promoting sustainability, boosting access to healthy food or creating community connections through food and drink. The winning initiative will receive a £1,000 grant from Therme to support its work, alongside the co-creation of a £2,000 ‘legacy’ project and mentorship support from the Therme Manchester team.

Last year’s winners, MUD, have worked alongside Therme to create a digital and print publication called The Manchester Pea, which aims to educate people on the lost history of growing food in Manchester. Nominations for this award can be submitted via the Google Form link here.

Alexa Stratton-Powell, Awards Director of MFDF Awards, commented: “We’re thrilled that Therme Manchester has chosen to partner with us for the next five years. It’s a huge vote of confidence in the awards and in the strength, resilience and creativity of Greater Manchester’s outstanding hospitality industry.

“The awards shine a spotlight on the incredible businesses and individuals who make our region one of the UK’s most exciting food and drink destinations. We would love to hear from hospitality businesses from across Greater Manchester who would like to put themselves forward for this year’s awards so that we can discover even more great venues and showcase as many businesses as possible to the judging panel. The winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony in January 2027.”

Ben Dutson, Director of Culinary Experiences at Therme Manchester, added: “Greater Manchester has an extraordinary food and hospitality culture, and Therme Manchester will become part of that story. This five-year partnership is much more than sponsorship of an awards ceremony – it represents a long-term commitment to celebrating the talent, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that make the region’s food and drink sector so special.

“Food and culinary experience will be a fundamental element of Therme Manchester, so building relationships with the region’s food, producers, businesses and communities is incredibly important to us. We want to champion the best of Greater Manchester, support new ideas and talent, and use our partnership with MFDF to create a positive legacy that extends well beyond the Awards themselves.”

Featured image: Carl Sukonik