For the fourth year running Ballarat will transform into a pie-lovers paradise when Ballarat’s Best Pie takes place again this August.

In 2026, 30 participating venues have signed up for the event, with the very best of the region’s produce, craftsmanship and culinary imagination being showcased.

Last year more than 20,000 pies were sold across the city.

Ballarat’s Best Pie will kick off on August 1, with the 2026 Ballarat’s Best Pie Awards ceremony being held at Itinerant Spirits. Here the expert panel of MasterChef Australia alum Tim Bone, Herald Sun food and wine editor Kara Monssen, Melbourne chef Alejandro Saravia, food writer Richard Cornish and Ballarat mayor Tracey Hargreaves will crown the 2026 winner.

The panel will award winners across five categories:

• Ballarat’s Best Pie (1st, 2nd and 3rd places)
• Ballarat’s Best Sweet Pie
• Ballarat’s Best Savoury Pie
• Ballarat’s Best Bakery Pie
• Brilliantly Unexpected Pie

Then, the full line up will be available throughout August for the public to eat, enjoy and then cast their vote – as the search for the region’s favourite pie doesn’t end with the official judges.

The public will have the ultimate say in deciding the People’s Choice Pie, with the winner set to be announced in early September.

Some of the highlights for 2026 will include:

Savoury Pies:

• Kilderkin Distillery: Highland Bramble Lamb Pie with blackberries, Scottish herbs and spices served with mint pea mash.
• Craig’s Royal Hotel: Korean Galbi-jjim Pie (Korean braised short rib) with root vegetables and savoury gravy.
• The Shared Table: Sher Wagyu Reuben Pie with braised wagyu, pastrami flavours, sauerkraut, cheese and pickles.
• Tuki Trout Farm: Rainbow Trout Escabeche Pie with sweet and sour escabeche sauce topped with creamy mashed potatoes.
• Aunty Jacks: Chicken parmigiana wrapped in buttery pastry with mozzarella velouté.

Sweet Pies:

• Mrs Browne Bakes (Ballarat’s Best Pie Winner 2025): Banana and Honey Caramel Miso Gold Fever Hand Pie finished with a feuilletine crunch.
• Flying Chillies: Pandan flower pie with salted palm sugar caramel, pandan cheesecake, ube whipped white chocolate ganache and finished with a coconut mochi.
• Mondegreen Cafe: Off The Wagon Ice Cream Pie with a biscuit crust, chocolate ice cream, raspberry jam and marshmallow.