Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards 2026 Winners Announced

The winners of the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards 2026 were announced at a ceremony hosted by Andi Oliver and Angela Hartnett OBE, held at The Royal Exchange, London.

The 14th annual Awards honour the richness and diversity in food and drink writing and broadcasting in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Recognised for their varied cultural influences, culinary traditions, and storytelling, these talented individuals inspire us to deepen our appreciation of food and drink through their impactful work.

In the drinks categories, Tristan Stephenson won Drink Book for The Curious Bartender's Agave Safari, blending travel, history and cultural insight with the stories of producers and their craft. Debut Drink Book went to Millie Milliken for Tequila: A Tasting Course, a detailed guide exploring its history, production and cultural significance. Joel Harrison was named Drink Writer for his expertise and clarity across drinks journalism.

Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards 2026 – Full Winners List

Food Book

Winner: All Consuming: Why We Eat the Way We Eat Now by Ruby Tandoh (Serpent's Tail, Profile)

Shortlisted: Food Fight: From Plunder and Profit to People and Planet by Stuart Gillespie (Canongate); The Heart-Shaped Tin by Bee Wilson (Fourth Estate)

Debut Food Book

Winner: Foreign Fruit: A Personal History of the Orange by Katie Goh (Canongate)

Shortlisted: Bread & War by Felicity Spector (Duckworth Books); An A-Z of Chinese Food (Recipes Not Included) by Jenny Lau (Renegade Books)

Cookery Book

Winner: Indian Kitchens by Roopa Gulati (Bloomsbury)

Shortlisted: Lugma by Noor Murad (Quadrille); The Irish Kitchen by Cherie Denham and Andrew Montgomery (Montgomery Press); The Japanese Pantry by Emiko Davies (Smith Street Books)

Debut Cookery Book

Winner: The Sudanese Kitchen by Omer Al Tijani (Almas Art Foundation)

Shortlisted: FERMENT: A Cookbook by Kenji Morimoto (One Boat, Pan Macmillan); Silk Roads by Anna Ansari (DK)

Drink Book

Winner: The Curious Bartender's Agave Safari by Tristan Stephenson (Ryland Peters & Small)

Shortlisted: Filthy Queens: A History of Beer in Ireland by Dr Christina Wade (Nine Bean Rows); The Madrusan Cocktail Companion by Michael and Zara Madrusan (Murdoch Books)

Debut Drink Book

Winner: Tequila: A Tasting Course by Millie Milliken (DK)

Shortlisted: The Cynic's Guide to Wine by Sunny Hodge (Académie du Vin Library); Thirsty by Tom Gilbey (Square Peg)

Food Writer

Winner: Yemisí Aríbisálà for work in Vittles and Scribehound Food

Shortlisted: James Morton for work in Scribehound Food; Safiya Robinson for work in Chicken + Bread Zine and Sisterwoman

Cookery Writer

Winner: Nick Bramham for work in Vittles

Shortlisted: Jay Rayner for work in FT Weekend Magazine; Olivia Potts for work in The Spectator

Drink Writer

Winner: Joel Harrison for work in Club Oenologique

Shortlisted: Imran Rahman-Jones for work in Eaten Magazine and Pellicle Magazine; Kristiane Westray for work in Whisky Magazine and Club Oenologique

Restaurant Writer

Winner: Joanna Taylor for work in Foodism and The Telegraph

Shortlisted: David Ellis for work in The London Standard; Tim Hayward for work in FT Weekend Magazine

Programme

Winner: Hebridean Baker: Nordic Islands

Shortlisted: Jeremy Pang's Hong Kong Kitchen; Mr Lyan's Taste Trips: Japan

Audio

Winner: The Food Chain: A Place at the Table: Fostering and Adoption, BBC World Service

Shortlisted: The Food Foundation Podcast: 10th Anniversary; The Kitchen Cabinet, Sony Music Podcasts

Photographer

Winner: Kim Lightbody

Shortlisted: Robert Billington; Ruth Calder-Potts

Fortnum's Impact Award

Winner: Food Behind Bars

Fortnum's Special Award

Winner: Sheila Dillon

Content Creator of the Year

Winner: Ash Baber @ash_baber

Rising Star Content Creator of the Year

Winner: Luke Flunder @luke_flunders_wine_world

For more information:

Media enquiries: Fiona Smith – fiona@fabcommunications.com | Tel: 07831 193250

Awards enquiries: Lindsay – Lindsay@fabcommunications.com | Tel: 07730 565320

Further information: www.fortnumandmason.com/awards/foodanddrink

Third-party news items are published as received for informational purposes. Publication does not imply endorsement by the Guild. Please use the contact details within the post for any enquiries.