- From coast to coast to coast, Canada’s largest culinary celebration of food and film invites guests on an ocean-inspired journey.
- British Columbia-based chef and sustainable seafood advocate Ned Bell and Chefs Charlotte Langley, Chris Aerni, Renée Lavallée and Martin Ruiz Salvador will be in attendance.
- New events include: The Neptune Night Market, Seaside Foraging Tours, Panels & Conversations on the future of our oceans
June 18, 2026, Wolfville, NS: Devour! The Food Film Fest, the world’s largest food film festival, invites guests to plunge into a bold new culinary adventure as it celebrates its 16th anniversary with Devour! The Sea on October 19 -25 in Wolfville. This year’s theme will chart a delicious course through Canada’s coastal waters, showcasing Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic traditions, innovations, and global influences through food, film, and culture. New events this year include a Seafood Night Market, Seafood Culinary Workshops, Seaside Foraging Tours, and thought-provoking discussions on the future of our oceans.
From our iconic Atlantic lobster and other Maritime seafood traditions to the global flavours that have shaped coastal cuisines for generations, Devour! The Sea celebrates the ocean’s remarkable ability to connect cultures through food. Drawing inspiration from Pan-Asian, Mediterranean, and Cajun influences, the festival will explore how the sea has brought people, ingredients, and culinary traditions across continents. The program will showcase both the rich bounty of Atlantic Canada and the diverse stories that emerge wherever land meets water.
Early chef confirmations include British Columbia chef Ned Bell, one of Canada’s leading advocates for sustainable seafood and ocean stewardship; Charlotte Langley, PEI-born chef, entrepreneur, and founder of Nice Cans, celebrated for championing coastal food culture and seafood innovation; Chris Aerni, a Bay of Fundy chef known for showcasing Atlantic Canada’s seafood, fisheries, and coastal ingredients; Nova Scotia chef Renée Lavallée, The Canteen on Portland, renowned for her creative approach to Atlantic seafood and her commitment to highlighting the people, places, and stories behind Canada’s coastal foodways; and Nova Scotia’s Martin Ruiz Salvador, Beach Pea Kitchen & Bar; Salt Shaker Deli & Inn, acclaimed for his seafood-focused cuisine and his creative approach to connecting global culinary traditions with the flavours of the sea.
“Every fall, Devour! transforms Wolfville into one of Canada’s most exciting culinary and cultural destinations—and the success of the Festival helped launch Devour! Studios, our year-round creative home that continues to put Nova Scotia on the global culinary map, ”says Michael Howell, Executive Director of Devour! The Food Film Fest + Studios. “This year, we can’t wait to dive into the inky blue depths of the ocean with a boundary-pushing celebration of seafood that will inspire us to think differently about the sea.”
As the world’s largest food film festival, Devour! has welcomed over 100,000 guests to Nova Scotia over the past 16 years through an award-winning blend of film, food, music, storytelling, and immersive culinary experiences. Each year, the festival curates over 70 events, including its signature Taste of Nova Scotia Opening Gala Evening, Chefs & Shorts Gala Dinner, Chowder Smackdown, Lobster Fais do do, Tour De L’Acadie Bike Ride, The Great Community Chicken Supper, which supports regional food banks and more. New events this year will include:
- The Neptune Night Market: A vibrant global seafood experience inspired by Asian, Mediterranean, Cajun, and Atlantic Canadian traditions. Guests will explore flavours ranging from sushi and tuna poke to grilled seafood, lobster rolls, chowders, and contemporary coastal street food.
- Hands-On Culinary Workshops: Interactive workshops led by chefs and culinary experts exploring modern seafood preparation, shellfish techniques, sustainable cooking practices, and more.
- Seaside Foraging Tours: Guided coastal experiences highlighting Nova Scotia’s shoreline ingredients, ecosystems, and culinary traditions alongside Indigenous and local culinary leaders.
- Panels & Post-Screening Conversations: Engaging discussions featuring chefs, fishers, scientists, Indigenous leaders, policymakers, and filmmakers tackling some of the most pressing issues facing our oceans today—from sustainability, aquaculture, and climate change to seafood traceability, Indigenous stewardship, and the future of coastal communities.
“Film has a unique ability to connect us to the people, places and stories that define our relationship with the ocean,” says Lia Rinaldo, Managing Director of Devour! The Food Film Fest. “As we celebrate Devour! The Sea, we look forward to showcasing powerful films that inspire conversation, creativity and a deeper appreciation for the waters that shape our lives.”
While Devour! The Sea serves as the festival’s 2026 spotlight theme, the festival will continue to present its signature mix of food, wine, travel, culture, and hospitality programming, alongside films and guests from Atlantic Canada and around the world.
The Festival program will launch on September 8th with the full lineup of films, celebrity chefs and community events. Limited VIP All Access Passes are now available at devourfest.com. This exclusive pass grants access to all Devour! events, plus VIP perks like a welcome reception, private workshops, chef meet-and-greets, front-of-line access, gift bags, and transportation to select events.
For more information, please visit devourfest.com.
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About: Devour! The Food Film Fest
Devour! The Food Film Fest is the largest food film festival in the world. The annual week-long festival is a transformative food and film experience combining cinematic excellence with 70+ events, celebrated filmmakers, and high-profile chefs from around the globe.
About: Devour! Studios
From its humble origins as an apple warehouse, Devour! Studios is a culinary and cultural innovation hub. Home to Devour! The Food Film Fest, this unique, 24,000-square-foot multipurpose space housing a state-of-the-art teaching kitchen, an event hall, a performance venue, film and recording studios, and a viewing deck, will now be open year-round. As an innovative educational and programming space, it will serve as a vital breeding ground for our next generation of chefs, farmers, artists, musicians, and filmmakers.
Media Contact:
Natasha Compton; BeCurious PR; natasha.compton@becuriouspr.com; 902.499.4095
