Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards 2026 Winners Announced at The Royal Exchange, London
The winners of the prestigious Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards 2026 were revealed at a star-studded ceremony held at The Royal Exchange in London. Hosted by celebrated chefs Andi Oliver and Angela Hartnett OBE, the 14th annual awards honoured excellence in food and drink writing, broadcasting, and content creation across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Recognising the diversity of culinary storytelling, from cultural pieces to investigative journalism, the Awards continue to spotlight the voices that shape how we experience food today.
Major Winners: Food Books, Cookery and Drink Writing
In the Food Book category, Ruby Tandoh took top honours for All Consuming: Why We Eat the Way We Eat Now, a compelling exploration of how modern life influences eating habits through social, economic, and technological lenses.
The Debut Food Book award went to Katie Goh for Foreign Fruit: A Personal History of the Orange, a thought-provoking work using the global history of the orange to explore identity, migration, and colonialism.
For Cookery Book, Rupa Gulati won with Indian Kitchens, a rich blend of travel writing and authentic recipes gathered from home cooks across India.
Meanwhile, Omer Al Tijani secured Debut Cookery Book for The Sudanese Kitchen, a landmark publication documenting Sudan’s culinary heritage through recipes, history, and personal storytelling.
In the drinks categories, Tristan Stephenson was awarded Drink Book for The Curious Bartender’s Agave Safari, while Millie Milliken won Debut Drink Book for Tequila: A Tasting Course, offering an in-depth guide to tequila’s history and cultural significance.
Celebrating Outstanding Food and Drink Writers
This year’s awards also recognised exceptional journalistic talent:
- Food Writer: Yemisí Aríbisálà
- Cookery Writer: Nick Bramham
- Drink Writer: Joel Harrison
- Restaurant Writer: Joanna Taylor
Each winner was celebrated for their distinctive voice, insight, and contribution to contemporary food and drink scene.
Broadcasting and Photography Winners
The Programme Award went to Hebridean Baker: Nordic Islands, following Coinneach MacLeod’s journey through the Nordic Isles, exploring connections between food, culture, and island life.
In Audio, The Food Chain: A Place at the Table: Fostering and Adoption (BBC World Service) was recognised for its powerful and sensitive storytelling.
The Photographer Award was awarded to Kim Lightbody for visually striking work capturing food with precision and atmosphere.
Special Recognition and Impact Awards
The Fortnum’s Impact Award was presented to Food Behind Bars, a charity making a transformative difference within prisons across England and Wales through food education and wellbeing initiatives.
The Fortnum’s Special Award honoured Sheila Dillon for her outstanding contribution to food journalism. Through her work on The Food Programme, she has investigated major issues such as food poverty, the horsemeat scandal, and agricultural change, while consistently championing British producers and shaping public understanding of food systems.
Public Vote Winners: Content Creators Leading the Conversation
Two categories were decided by public vote, reflecting the growing influence of digital creators in the food and drink space:
- Content Creator of the Year: Ash Baber (@ash_baber), known for indulgent and creative dessert content
- Rising Star Content Creator of the Year: Luke Flunder (@luke_flunders_wine_world), recognised for his fresh and engaging approach to wine education
A Celebration of Food Culture and Storytelling
The Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards 2026 once again highlighted the power of storytelling in shaping food culture, from books and journalism to broadcasting and digital platforms.
As the industry continues to evolve, this year’s winners reflect a growing appetite for deeper narratives, cultural exploration, and meaningful engagement with the food we eat and the stories behind it.
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