The biggest street food competition in the world is turning ten. And the pressure has never been higher.
Europe’s best traders have battled their way through 13 national Street Food Awards – cooking for more than 100,000 people – to earn their place in the 2026 European Street Food Awards final at Burgerpark in Saarbrücken, 18–20 September.
Now the winners of Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice awards are coming together for one almighty cook-off. They’re travelling by truck, plane and ferry — across mountains and over water — bringing the food that got them here.
Jamaican goat curry, Welsh lamb biryani, low-and-slow American barbecue, carrot cake with bacon, walnut and maple syrup, pani puri with fresh mint, Icelandic flat iron steak, Norwegian smash burgers, organic sourdough langos with Swedish nettles, Japanese egg roll with Scottish langoustine and Polish paczek.
And that’s just the start.
For ten years, the European Street Food Awards has been the Oscars of the street food world — but with more smoke, more seasoning and considerably more chance of someone crying.
Now the winners have to cook for YOU – the public. And for an extraordinary jury of chefs, critics and food obsessives. The prize? The title of European Street Food Champion 2026.
But this is how we got here..
Scotland May 1-3
Germany May 1-3
Italy May 8-10
Italy May 22-24
Slovakia May 28-31
Switzerland May 29-31
Wales June 27-28
Iceland July 17-19
Norway July 22-25
Sweden July 31-August 2
Latvia August 1-2
UK September 4-6
Poland September 4-6
France September 14
European Street Food Awards finals in Saarbrucken September 18-20
Fancy getting involved next year? A Street Food Award genuinely changes lives. Wingmans, big winners at the BSFA and the ESFA in 2017, recently opened up their second ‘proper’ restaurant. MEATliquor, who won at the Awards back in 2009 – had nine of the things before they went into receivership. Bao have five. An Award opens doors.
Head straight over to our new application form. Our Awards have been drawing attention to the great works being done in the world of really casual eating since 2009. And, since 2017, things have been going crazy at our events in Europe and the USA. Now’s your chance to get involved – come and join us.
