June 27-28, 2026 | Marina Market Cork | FREE ENTRY (Donations Accepted to Help Cover Costs)
We’re counting down the days until Ireland’s first major chili festival takes over Cork, and let us tell you – it’s going to be absolutely legendary.
Whether you’re a seasoned chili champion, a curious foodie, or someone who just likes good vibes and fantastic food, the Irish Chili Festival has something for everyone. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of the weekend.
What’s Happening?
Imagine 60+ artisan hot sauce vendors from across Europe, 30 incredible food stalls, live music, professional competitions, and thousands of people ready to celebrate spicy food culture. That’s your weekend!
We’re expecting 6,000+ festival-goers plus Marina Market’s regular 6,000+ weekend footfall – so there’ll be buzzing energy from open to close.
Stage Times & Schedule
SATURDAY, JUNE 27 10:00am – 8:00pm Festival Open 2:00pm Chili Eating Competition Sign-Up Opens (At Stage) 3:00pm First Chili Eating Competition (Live Hosted by Clifton Chili Club) 6:00pm – 8:00pm Live Music with The Red Hot Cheeky Peppers
SUNDAY, JUNE 28 10:00am – 8:00pm Festival Open 2:00pm Chili Eating Competition Sign-Up Opens (At Stage) 3:00pm Second Chili Eating Competition (Live Hosted by Clifton Chili Club)
Pro Tip: Arrive early for the best vendor selection and to grab a spot in the competition queue!
Want to Compete? Here’s How 🏆
The Chili Eating Competition is OPEN TO EVERYONE!
Sign-up: At the main stage Time: Before 1:00pm each day (first-come, first-served) What to Expect: Carolina Reaper challenge filmed professionally by Clifton Chili Club for their YouTube channel (300M+ views!) Your Prize: Legend status, potential viral fame, and bragging rights for life
Yes, you could literally be in a video watched by millions. No pressure though! 😏
Special Thanks to Westland Peppers 🌱
We’re thrilled to have Westland Peppers sponsoring the fresh chilis for our competitions! Their Irish-grown Carolina Reapers are going to make this weekend absolutely spicy. These are quality peppers from quality Irish farmers – exactly the vibe we’re going for.
Vendor Spots Still Available! 📦
If you’re an artisan maker, small business, or hot sauce producer – we still have vendor space available!
Spots are going fast, but if you’ve got products you want to showcase to 12,000+ people over one weekend, now’s the time.
Available Space: 1 Meter Shared Table 2 Meter Tables 4 Meter Tables 6 Meter Tables 3m x 3m Tent Spaces
Everything Included: Fully indoor venue (no weather worries!) Back wall for banners and signage Basic power for POS systems and lighting Access to 12,000+ potential customers Professional atmosphere
Ready to Vendor? https://chilifest.eu/chili-fest-ireland/
The Venue: Marina Market Cork
Marina Market is the perfect home for this festival. It’s spacious, established, and ready for thousands of visitors. Plus, you’ve got everything from hot sauce vendors to food stalls to entertainment all in one indoor space – perfect if Irish weather decides to be Irish weather! ☔
Location: Marina Market, Centre Park Road, Cork Parking: Available on-site Accessibility: Fully accessible venue
What to Bring & What to Expect
Bring: Water bottle (trust us), sense of humor, appetite, phone for videos, friends!
Expect: Heat, laughter, amazing food, people cheering at the competition stage, Instagrammable moments everywhere, and possibly some tears of spicy joy.
Don’t Expect: Boring. This is pure celebration of spicy food culture, Irish talent, and good times.
The Global Spotlight 📹
Here’s the cool part: Everything on the main stage is being professionally filmed by Clifton Chili Club – the world’s biggest chili YouTube channel with over 300 million views and featured on Netflix’s “We are the Champions.”
Your competition moment could reach millions of people globally. Your vendor space could be in worldwide YouTube content. Your festival moment could be legendary.
Why This Matters
Ireland’s chili culture has absolutely exploded. Irish producers are winning international awards. Commercial chili farming is now viable. RTÉ has called Irish people “chilli fiends.”
The Irish Chili Festival isn’t creating this trend – it’s celebrating what Irish people have already built. This is about recognizing the incredible artisan makers, the adventurous eaters, and the food culture that’s evolving right here.
Your Irish Chili Festival Awaits
June 27-28, 2026 | Marina Market Cork | 10am – 8pm Both Days | FREE ENTRY Donations Accepted to Help Cover the Costs of the Event
Whether you’re coming to compete, vend, eat your weight in spicy food, or just experience something totally different – we’ll see you there.
This is going to be absolutely brilliant.
See you in Cork! 🌶️🔥
Questions? Get in touch! Email: info@chilifest.eu Phone: +49 176 82204595 Website: chilifest.eu
Ready to Vendor? https://chilifest.eu/chili-fest-ireland/
Follow us: Instagram & Facebook @IrishChiliCo for updates and vendor spotlights
Leave a Reply