Northern Ireland Takes Centre Stage as UK Food and Farming Finalists Announced
FoodNI celebrates a Belfast first as the BBC Food and Farming Awards mark their 26th year, with record Northern Ireland entries and a UK-wide spotlight on our food story.
Northern Ireland is preparing to welcome the best of UK food and farming as the BBC Food and Farming Awards 2026 announce their finalists ahead of the first ceremony to be held here.
Now in their 26th year, the UK-wide awards will bring outstanding producers, entrepreneurs, campaigners and innovators to Titanic Belfast on Wednesday 21st October, with broadcaster Holly Hamilton revealing the winners.
For FoodNI, which is supporting the event alongside the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), this is a landmark opportunity to celebrate Northern Ireland’s exceptional produce, enterprising people and generous hospitality.
DAERA’s support has been instrumental in shining a light on Northern Ireland’s producers, entrepreneurs, campaigners and innovators—the very people whose achievements are celebrated across the award categories. A record number of Northern Ireland entries, among thousands of nominations UK-wide, underlines the talent and ambition here.
The celebration mirrors the three central ambitions of the Northern Ireland Food Strategy Framework: improving lifelong health and wellbeing through food; supporting environmentally sustainable, safe and ethical supply chains; and building sustainable prosperity in the agri-food sector. These ambitions come alive through people caring for the land, nourishing communities and creating opportunities through food.
Northern Ireland’s own Paula McIntyre is this year’s Head Judge, following in the footsteps of acclaimed previous head judges including Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Angela Hartnett, Tom Kerridge, Andi Oliver and Thomasina Miers. Paula and the expert panel selected three finalists in each category.
With coverage across Countryfile, The Archers, The Food Programme, Farming Today and a host of special programmes, the spotlight will reach far beyond Belfast.
Previous winners show where recognition can lead. Hang Fire’s Sam Evans and Shauna Guinn went on to publish a cookbook and front their own BBC series; Al Crisci established The Clink, creating opportunities through prison hospitality training; and Hodmedod’s, the 2017 Best Food Producer, helped pioneer Britain’s first commercial chickpea harvest.
The BBC Radio Ulster Food Hero Award will be jointly presented by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir and radio host Eve Blair. This special category celebrates the people here who strive to make high-quality, home-grown, seasonal produce available – food that speaks to Northern Ireland’s unique identity. Finalists will feature on Radio Ulster’s Your Place And Mine over the coming weeks.
For FoodNI, this is Northern Ireland’s invitation to the UK: discover our food, meet our people and share our ambition for a better food future.
The awards will air on BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme, presented by Sheila Dillon, on Friday 23 October Countryfile on BBC One.
