The people of Ballarat have spoken, and have crowned Emma’s Bakery’s Meredith Dairy goat deluxe pie as the People’s Choice Pie for 2026.

The pie was crowned following a heated competition that saw thousands of public votes cast. In second place was Mrs Browne Bakes with its banana and honey miso caramel gold fever hand pie, while in third place was Victoria’s historic icon Sovereign Hill with its slow-cooked blade steak pepper pie that was inspired by the goldfields of the 1850s. It was also the recipient of the Best Bakery Pie award in the overall competition.

Running across August, the 2026 edition of Ballarat’s Best Pie has been a major success. Thirty restaurants, bakeries, breweries and artisans across Ballarat lended their talents to the competition, resulting in over 23,000 pies sold and enjoyed throughout the month.

Blending regional produce with creativity and craft, this year’s line-up spanned everything from nostalgic comfort food to brilliantly unexpected interpretations, with several new entrants bringing fresh flavours to the trail. Many venues recorded sell-out days and worked hard to keep up with the demand from locals and visitors alike.

The announcement comes after The Shared Table’s Sher Wagyu Reuben Pie was named as the judge’s choice on August 1, 2026.

While celebrating the won The Shared Table shared on Facebook, “We would like to congratulate all the entrants, and the winners… and wish you all good luck for the month ahead.”

“We’ll see you at the restaurant for pie and all the good things that go so well with it.”