Orange Wine Festival 2026: The Best Events, Dates & What to Book
Behind every bottle is a story: and the Orange Wine Festival is here to tell it.
Making its return on Friday 16 October to Sunday 25 October 2026, this unforgettable ten day festival brings together over 40 events centred around the beating heart of the Orange region - wine and food.
This year's program stretches from trophy-winning tastings and intimate winemaker dinners to vineyard walks, long lunches, workshops and a $25 hop-on hop-off winery bus for max convenience.
So if you’re planning an Orange wine weekend during festival season and don’t know where to start, here are the Orange Wine Festival 2026 events we'd book first – plus everything you need to plan a weekend around them.
Orange Wine Festival 2026: At a Glance
Before we dive into the Orange Wine Festival 2026 program, here is a quick overview:
When: Friday 16 – Sunday 25 October 2026
Where: Orange Wine Region, NSW
How many events? 40+
Opening event: Orange Wine Festival Night Market
Best for wine lovers: Sip and Savour
Best foodie experience: Vintner's Table Series
Best for exploring wineries: Hop On Hop Off Wine Bus
Best for serious wine nerds: Orange Wine Show Trophy Masterclass
Best romantic event: Golden Hour at Stockman's Ridge
Our pick: Pinnacle Wine Walk
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Jump to: Signature Events | Wine Dinners | Vineyard Walks | Getting Around | Our Picks | Weekend Itinerary | FAQs
The Best Orange Wine Festival Events in 2026
Orange Wine Festival Night Market
Friday 16 October, 5pm to 9pm | Best for: First-time festival visitors
The festival’s opening night and a perfect introduction to the Orange wine region, the Night Market brings together local winemakers, chefs and producers under a large canopy at Robertson Park. The Night Markets will run from 5pm to 9pm, with tickets priced from $10, or $15 including a tasting glass. Children under 16 enter free.
Check out their website for more details.
The Local Compass verdict: If you're only in Orange for the opening weekend, start here.
Sip and Savour: The Ultimate Wine Tasting
Friday 23 October, 6pm to 9pm | Best for: Trying as much Orange wine as possible
This is no ordinary wine tasting…with over 300 wines to try under the one roof, the Sip and Savour Ultimate Wine Tasting highlights not only the 2026 Orange Wine Show winners but the whole smorgasbord of wines produced across the region. The event tailor-made for wine lovers runs from 6pm to 9pm with tickets costing $75.
Check out their website for more details.
Orange Wine Show Trophy Masterclass
Friday 23 October, 5 pm - 6 pm | Best for: Serious wine lovers
Orange wine tasting just reached some serious new heights. This masterclass is the pre-dinner mint to the Sip & Savour event, as from 5 pm - 6 pm at the Agricultural Pavilion guests will be guided through a tasting of the year's trophy-winning wines, exploring the vineyards, varieties and winemaking behind them.
Tickets are $125, however that also includes entry into Sip & Savour, so for all those serious about wine we recommend spending the little extra cash and doing both.
Check out their website for more details.
Read more: The 20 Best Things to Do in Orange NSW
Best Orange Wine Festival Dinners & Long Lunches
After something a little more cosy? The Vintner's Table Series consists of five intimate dining experiences pairing local wines with not only food, but the people behind the bottle. Prepare yourself not only for a beautiful meal paired with an excellent drop, but stories from the winemakers, vignerons, chefs and producers who made it possible.
Here’s our breakdown of the Vintner's Table:
Nashdale Lane x Norma Joan
Saturday 17 October, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM | Best for: Foodies
Bathurst hot spot Norma Joan has partnered with Nashdale Lane Wines for an unforgettable evening. Over four courses, the chefs at Norma Joan will prepare the meal in front of guests at communal long tables, as the winemakers pair wine with each course.
Tickets are $155 and can be booked here.
Printhie Sparkling Vintner's Table Dinner
Saturday 17 October, 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM | Best for: Sparkling lovers
Love nothing more than a glass of bubbles? Then this one’s for you! Join Ed and Dave Swift as they take you through a four-course dinner at Printhie Dining by matching Swift Sparkling wine and then comparing it to selected Champagne. Ed and Dave will share stories, insights and the inspiration behind the Swift sparkling selection.
Tickets are $280 and can be booked here.
Ross Hill Vintner's Table Dinner
Friday 23 October, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Best for: Wine nerds
Ross Hill is pulling back its curtain and inviting you into its heart and soul. Begin the evening with a barrel tasting inside this working winery, led by James Robson and Chief Winemaker Chris Jessop, followed by a three-course dinner paired with Ross Hill wines.
Tickets are $180 and can be booked here.
Tamburlaine Barrel Room Lunch
Saturday 24 October, 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM | Best for: Something different and exclusive
30 guests, inside the rarely opened underground Barrel Hall, with tank and barrel tastings, back vintages and a Mediterranean-style long lunch - simply gorgeous.
Tickets are $160 and can be booked here.
Golden Hour at Stockman's Ridge
Saturday 24 October, 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM | Best for: Couples
Long-table dinner overlooking the vineyard and Mount Canobolas as the sun sets - could it be any more romantic? Join a small number of guests and enjoy a seasonal multi-course dinner crafted by hatted chef Michael Manners, and paired with award-winning Stockman’s Ridge wines.
Tickets are $120 and can be booked here.
Read more: Blueberry Picking on The South Coast
Best Outdoor Wine Experiences
Pinnacle Wine Walk
Saturday 17 October, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM | Our pick
This might just be one of our favourite events of the whole festival!
Start at Ross Hill Winery and before heading along Pinnacle Road to Brangayne and Colmar Estate where along the way you’ll stop for tastings matched with food and producer’s stories.
Crucially, tickets also include return bus transfers from Orange, which makes the logistics incredibly easy.
Tickets are $145 and can be booked here.
Boree Lane Ramble
Sunday 18 October, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Best for: A slow Sunday
A day-long ramble connecting wineries along the Boree Lane Wine Trail with premium wine and regional food. This is less a structures event and more a meander through wine country.
Tickets are $185 and can be booked here.
Best Way to Visit Multiple Wineries
Famously, one cannot not (nor should ever) drink and drive: so how do you visit Orange wineries without driving during the festival? Luckily the organisers have an answer: the Orange Hop On Hop Off Wine Bus.
For $25, visitors can travel along the Cargo Road Wine Trail, jump off at participating wineries, taste or have lunch and rejoin the bus when they're ready.
For more information, including securing yourself a ticket, click here.
Planning your own cellar-door day? → Read our Best Wineries in Orange NSW guide.
So - which Orange Wine Festival Events Should You Book?
Let’s break it down!
One essential event: Pinnacle Wine Walk
Opening-night atmosphere: Night Market
To taste lots of wine: Sip & Savour
To learn about wine: Trophy Masterclass
A romantic dinner: Golden Hour at Stockman's Ridge
A serious foodie experience: Nashdale Lane x Norma Joan
Something unusual: Tamburlaine Barrel Room Lunch
Behind the scenes: Ross Hill Vintner's Table
A relaxed Sunday: Boree Lane Ramble
Maximum wineries, minimum logistics: Hop On Hop Off Bus
More Orange Wine Festival Events Worth Knowing About
Good news: the Orange Wine festival extends beyond the central Orange area and into Nashdale, Borenore, Cargo and Millthorpe, with plenty more, smaller events, to go an enjoy. Here are some of our favourites:
Summer St Takeovers
Across eight festival evenings, a different Orange winemaker will take over the wine list at Summer St Wine Room, with complimentary tastings for dining guests from 6pm–8pm. Featured producers include RIKARD, Swinging Bridge, De Salis, ChaLou and Canobolas Wines.
Millthorpe Mouthful
Make the trip to Millthorpe for this festival food-and-wine event – a good excuse to venture beyond Orange itself and add the historic village to your weekend itinerary.
Shine in the Vines
One of the festival's more community-focused events, Shine in the Vines takes place at Anson Street School on Sunday 18 October, bringing together wine, food and local connection. Entry is just a gold coin donation.
Wine Blending Workshops
Swap drinking for creating at one of the festival's wine blending workshops, where you can get a little more hands-on with the winemaking process.
Live Music
For something more relaxed, look out for live music events throughout the festival – an easy addition if you'd rather spend an afternoon lingering over a glass of wine than attending another structured tasting.
For the full program, click here.
Which Weekend Should You Visit?
Still unsure when you should head to the Central West and hit those Orange cellar doors? Here’s what we suggest:
Weekend One: 16–18 October
Best for: Atmosphere + exploring the vineyards
Highlights:
Friday: Night Market
Saturday: Pinnacle Wine Walk / Nashdale Lane / Printhie
Sunday: Boree Lane Ramble
Our pick for first-time visitors.
Weekend Two: 23–25 October
Best for: Serious wine + long lunches
Highlights:
Friday: Trophy Masterclass → Sip & Savour
Saturday: Tamburlaine Barrel Room Lunch / Stockman's Ridge Golden Hour
Sunday: slow cellar-door day
Our pick for wine lovers.
Please check the Orange 360 website for ticket availability. Article last updated: 15th September, 2026.
FAQs About Visiting Orange NSW
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The Orange Wine Festival 2026 runs from Friday 16 October to Sunday 25 October 2026, with ten days of wine, food and events held across Orange and the surrounding wine region. More than 40 events are included in the 2026 program, spanning two weekends and locations including Orange, Nashdale, Borenore, Cargo and Millthorpe.
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The Orange Wine Festival runs for ten days, from Friday 16 to Sunday 25 October 2026. Events take place across two weekends, making it possible to visit for a single weekend or plan a longer stay exploring Orange's wineries, restaurants and surrounding wine country.
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There are more than 40 events in the 2026 Orange Wine Festival program, including wine tastings, winemaker dinners, long lunches, vineyard walks, masterclasses, workshops, live music, winery tours and special food-and-wine collaborations. Events are spread throughout Orange and its surrounding wine region.
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The Orange Wine Festival isn't held at a single venue. Events take place throughout the Orange Wine Region in NSW, including central Orange and wine-producing areas such as Nashdale, Borenore, Cargo and Millthorpe. The program includes events at local wineries, vineyards, restaurants and venues around the region.
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Some of the standout Orange Wine Festival 2026 events include the Orange Wine Festival Night Market, Pinnacle Wine Walk, Boree Lane Ramble, Orange Wine Show Trophy Masterclass, Sip and Savour and the intimate Vintner's Table dinner series.
For first-time visitors, we'd prioritise the Night Market and Pinnacle Wine Walk on the opening weekend. Serious wine lovers should consider the Trophy Masterclass and Sip and Savour on Friday 23 October, while the Vintner's Table events are our pick for visitors who want a more intimate food-and-wine experience.
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Many Orange Wine Festival events require tickets, particularly wine dinners, tastings, masterclasses, vineyard walks and special experiences. Some events are inexpensive or free to enter: the 2026 Night Market costs from $10, with children under 16 entering free, while Shine in the Vines has entry by gold coin donation. Because some events have very limited capacity – including the 30-person Tamburlaine Barrel Room Lunch – booking ahead is recommended.
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Yes, there are family-friendly events at the Orange Wine Festival, although many experiences are naturally aimed at adult wine drinkers. The Orange Wine Festival Night Market is one of the easiest options for families, with children under 16 receiving free entry in 2026. Families can also combine festival events with Orange's parks, walks, attractions and child-friendly cellar doors for a broader weekend in the region.
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One of the easiest ways to visit Orange wineries without driving during the 2026 Wine Festival is the Orange Hop On Hop Off Wine Bus. Operating on Saturday 17 and Saturday 24 October, the $25 service travels along the Cargo Road Wine Trail. Visitors can hop off to taste or dine at participating cellar doors and rejoin the bus when they're ready to continue.
The Pinnacle Wine Walk is another excellent car-free option, with return bus transfers from the Orange Visitor Information Centre included in the ticket price.
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For first-time visitors, staying in or close to central Orange is generally the most convenient option, particularly if you're attending events in town or want easy access to restaurants and festival transport.
Alternatively, staying among the vineyards can turn the Orange Wine Festival into a more immersive wine-country weekend. The Orange region has a growing collection of vineyard accommodation alongside close to 40 cellar doors, so there are options for visitors who would prefer to stay outside the city centre.
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There are close to 40 cellar doors in the Orange Wine Region, ranging from small family-owned producers to larger estates offering restaurants, premium tastings and vineyard experiences.
During the 2026 festival, wineries involved in special events include Ross Hill Wines, Brangayne, Colmar Estate, Nashdale Lane, Printhie, Tamburlaine and Stockman's Ridge, among others. Rather than trying to visit as many wineries as possible, we'd choose two or three cellar doors that suit the type of wine experience you're looking for.
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The Orange Wine Festival Night Market is the opening Signature Event of the 2026 festival, held at Robertson Park on Friday 16 October from 5pm to 9pm. Local winemakers, chefs and producers come together for an evening of Orange wine and regional food beneath the park's spring canopy.
Tickets start at $10, or $15 including a tasting glass, and children under 16 enter free. It's our pick for one of the best Orange Wine Festival events for first-time visitors and groups.
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Both weekends offer very different experiences.
The opening weekend, 16–18 October, is our pick for first-time visitors, with the Night Market on Friday, Pinnacle Wine Walk and Vintner's Table dinners on Saturday, and the Boree Lane Ramble on Sunday.
The second weekend, 23–25 October, is particularly good for serious wine lovers. Friday combines the Orange Wine Show Trophy Masterclass with Sip and Savour, while Saturday includes intimate Vintner's Table experiences at Tamburlaine and Stockman's Ridge.
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Yes. Orange Wine Festival is one of the best times for wine lovers to visit Orange NSW, with special access to winemakers, vineyard experiences, tastings, dinners and events that aren't necessarily available during a regular weekend.
Orange is also one of Australia's highest-altitude wine regions, known for cool-climate varieties including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and sparkling wine. The wider region has more than 80 vineyards and close to 40 cellar doors, so there's plenty to do outside the official festival program.
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The Orange Wine Region is particularly known for premium cool-climate wines, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and sparkling wine.
Orange's wine region is unusual because it is defined principally by elevation: grapes must be grown at least 600 metres above sea level within the designated region to qualify for the Orange Geographic Indication. The region's varying elevations, volcanic soils and microclimates allow producers to make a particularly diverse range of wine styles.
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Orange is approximately three-and-a-half hours west of Sydney by car, making the Orange Wine Festival particularly well suited to a two- or three-night weekend away.
If you're travelling specifically for the festival, we'd stay at least two nights rather than attempting a day trip. That gives you time to attend festival events while still exploring Orange's cellar doors, restaurants and other attractions.
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