A global travel site has named the Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival the best food festival in Europe.

Big 7 ranked the Connacht festival first in its list of The 25 Best Autumn Food Festivals in Europe for 2026, ahead of Munich’s Oktoberfest, Paris’ Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre and the Alba White Truffle Fair in Piedmont, Italy, among others.

It’s the world’s longest-running oyster festival, having its 72nd edition this year.

Galway
Pic: @galwayoysterfest/Instagram

Posting on its site, Big 7 said: ‘Taking the top spot is the world’s longest-running oyster festival: Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival.

‘Every year, over 25,000 people flock to the western Irish coastal city to sample some of the best oysters in the world. Now in its 72nd iteration, the festival grows year-on-year and encompasses live music performances, cookery demonstrations and a range of other seafood aside from oysters to suit anyone’s taste.

‘The festival also hosts the World Oyster Opening Championship, where expert oyster shuckers come to prove themselves and see if they can win the coveted title of fastest and most skilled shucker in the world.

Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival
Pic: Courtesy of Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival

‘Set in one of Ireland’s most vibrant cities, this festival is the perfect combination of great food, excellent atmosphere and local culture, making it the number one autumn food festival in Europe.’

The festival is currently underway and will remain so until Sunday, September 27. So, if you can, you should definitely make your way out west for the highly rated festival.

Here’s the complete list from Big 7:

Top 10 Best Autumn Food Festivals in Europe 2026:

  1. Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival – Galway, Ireland
  2.  Oktoberfest – Munich, Germany
  3. Csabai Sausage Festival – Békéscsaba, Hungary
  4. Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre – Paris, France
  5. Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival – Ludwigsburg, Germany
  6. Veganské Hody Bratislava – Bratislava, Slovakia
  7. Alba White Truffle Fair – Piedmont, Italy
  8. York Food & Drink Festival – York, England
  9. Stranraer Oyster Festival – Stranraer, Scotland
  10. Epicurialpes – Grimentz, Switzerland