Fresh from winning Silver at the NSW Regional Tourism Awards, Lismore’s flagship food and cultural festival, Norco Eat the Street, has unveiled its first major program announcement for 2026.
All 59 food and drink vendors have now been confirmed, alongside the first entertainment acts, giving visitors the chance to start planning for the event, which will transform the Lismore CBD into a bustling outdoor dining and entertainment precinct on Saturday, 22 August.
Running from 12pm to 7pm, the festival will take over Keen Street and The Quad, bringing together 47 food stalls, 12 regional beverage producers and participating CBD cafés, bakeries and restaurants in a celebration of the Northern Rivers’ thriving hospitality scene.
Visitors can expect an impressive mix of cuisines, from authentic Italian and Peruvian street food to slow-cooked meats, Asian flavours, artisan sourdough and handcrafted desserts. The Quad Bar will showcase craft beer, regional wines, small-batch spirits and boutique non-alcoholic beverages from leading Lismore and Northern Rivers producers.
Lismore City Council Events and Facilities Lead Jeremy Sheaffe said confirming the food and beverage lineup marked an exciting milestone in the lead-up to the event.
“The response from our local hospitality sector and regional producers was exceptional, making the final selection both challenging and incredibly rewarding,” Sheaffe said.
“The event gives people a fantastic chance to support familiar Lismore favourites while discovering new regional food creators, showcasing the true depth of culinary talent we have right here in our region.”
Local businesses are already preparing for one of the city’s biggest annual events.
Taco Love Bros owner Dylan Morris said Norco Eat the Street was a standout event for local hospitality operators.
“There’s something pretty special about seeing the Lismore CBD come alive with thousands of people enjoying great food, music and local businesses” Morris said.
“Events like this are what make the Northern Rivers such a great place to live, bringing the community together while celebrating the incredible talent, creativity and passion of our local hospitality industry. We’d love to see as many local businesses involved as possible; it’s a fantastic chance to showcase what makes our region’s food scene so unique”
A packed entertainment program will complement the food and beverage offering. Pinc Zinc will headline the Quad Stage, supported by Groovin the Moo Hometown Heroes winners Sunwilde and Black Moon Society.
The Planet Music Shop Show returns at 1.30pm with performances by Moebius, Human Dinosaur Machine and Project Planet Music. Planet Music will also host the Last Shred Standing guitar competition, with guitarists of all ages invited to submit a 15 to 30-second video by 7 August for the chance to perform live on the day and compete for gift voucher prizes worth up to $200.
The popular Pie Eating Competition will return, while BEBEY Cafe on Magellan Street will host a latte art competition. The full entertainment program will be released closer to the event via Lismore City Council’s social media channels.
For the full stallholder lineup, visit Visit Lismore.
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