Seafood Festivals

If you're looking for a food experience with a difference this year, try heading to a seafood festival championing the local catch and flavours of the sea.

Whether on the windswept coast of Galway in Ireland on the Kentish coast in the UK or in spectacular New South Wales in Australia there are plenty of fishy events to be found around the world, from oyster shucking to fresh lobsters, crabs and prawns.

Here's our pick of the best seafood festivals on around the world this year.

Seafood Festivals Worldwide

The Dublin Bay Prawn Festival
17 to 19 March 2019

The annual Dublin Bay Prawn Festival takes place in the idyllic fishing village of Howth where a whole host of events spill onto the streets in celebration of the prawn. Craft beer, wine tastings, cooking demos, street entertainment, demonstrations by local fishermen all add to the prawn party.

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Narooma Oyster Festival, Australia
3 and 4 May

On the other side of the world, Australia celebrates oysters on the South Coast of New South Wales. Now in its eleventh year, the festival is widely recognised as one of the best gourmet events.

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Slow Fish, Genova, Italy
9 to 12 May

For a fish festival with a difference try visiting Slow Fish in the Porto Antico in Genova. The international event with an emphasis on fish and sea resources with laboratories and meetings for all those who want to know more about fish consumption, its effects on health and the impact of fishing on marine ecosystems.

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Girotonno, Sardinia, Italy
30 May to 2 June

Celebrate everything tuna at the 17th edition of Girotonno in Carloforte, on the small island of San Pietro in South-Eastern Sardinia, from May 30 until June 2, 2019. Four days of events, live music, live cooking, meetings and shows in celebration of red tuna, traditionally caught on the Island. The Tuna Cuisine Competition is a highlight attracting international chefs and media attention from around the world.

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Whitstable Oyster Festival, UK
27 to 29 July

The Landing of the Oysters, crabbing, an Oyster Eating Competition and competitive Mud Tug; are just a few of the favourites on the agenda at this historical fair with the backdrop of the beach at the historical family-friendly weekend. 

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Dalkey Lobster Festival
24 to 27 August

In the chilled out village of Dalkey discover a fusion of local seafood with the best of current global jazz musicians and lots of fun events for all the family to enjoy. Crab, lobster and all that jazz are all on the menu.

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Maine Lobster Festival, US
31 July to 4 August

Five days of fun and feasting are on offer at the famous Maine Lobster Festival which attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Rockland, Maine, each year. Fresh, local lobster dinners, nationally renowned entertainers, cooking contests, carnival rides, Maine craftsmen and artists make the annual event go with a swing.

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Tyne Valley Oyster Festival, Canada
1 to 5 August

Home of the Canadian Oyster Shucking Championship and Rock The Boat MusicFest, the Tyne Valley Oyster Festival is a five-day celebration of a small town with big spirit! This year marks its 54th anniversary.

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Galway Oyster & Seafood Festival 2019, Ireland
27 to 29 September 

Galway City celebrates the world’s longest running Oyster Festival with a huge range of fun and family-friendly events from seafood trails and oyster opening (shucking) championships to foodie talks & tasting events in some of Galway’s best restaurants. It all comes with a big side serving of live music and entertainment.

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Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival, US
11 to 13 October

Located on the Port Angeles waterfront, CrabFest is the annual celebration of the region's famed crustacean, the Dungeness crab!  There's a whole host of events planned from grab a crab to cooking demonstration and a chowder cook-off.

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Japan Fisherman's Festival, Japan
Late November

Celebrating all things fish, this is the 4th Fisherman’s festival to be held in Tokyo and will have 86 stalls to choose from. Run by the Sakana and Japan Festival it was attended by over 140,000 people last year and is filled with the best seafood from across the country.