Bergen Food Festival & Norwegian Cider Festival 2026: A Taste of Western Norway

Sep 3

5 min read

If you’re in Bergen this week, you’re in for a real treat.

From 3–5 September 2026, Bergen comes alive with two of the city’s biggest food and drink events: Bergen Food Festival and the Norwegian Cider Festival.

Taking place around Festplassen, Byparken and venues throughout the city centre, the festivals bring together local producers, chefs, restaurants and cider makers for three days celebrating the flavours of Western Norway.

And the best part? You don’t have to choose between them. The two festivals take place alongside each other, making this one of the best weekends of the year to explore Bergen through food and drink.

Bergen Food Festival – Western Norway on a Plate

The Bergen Food Festival is all about showcasing the incredible produce found across Western Norway.

At Festplassen, you’ll find a large local food market where producers bring everything from cheese, meat and seafood to vegetables, berries, fruit and sweet treats.

There will also be plenty of opportunities to taste food prepared by the exhibitors, with barbecue activities, demonstrations and festival dishes taking place throughout the weekend.

More than 100 producers from Western Norway are expected to take part, giving visitors the chance to discover some of the region's best local products in one place.

For visitors to Bergen, this is a great opportunity to try Norwegian food without having to travel outside the city.

Norwegian Cider Festival

Running alongside the food festival is the Norwegian Cider Festival, also at Festplassen.

Norway has developed a fantastic cider culture in recent years, particularly around the fjords and fruit-growing areas of Western Norway. The festival brings together 26 cider producers from across the country, allowing visitors to discover just how varied Norwegian cider can be.

The cider area is organised with producers grouped by region, making it possible to taste your way around different parts of Norway without leaving Bergen.

There are also cider courses, masterclasses and opportunities to meet the people behind the products.

One of the highlights is the chance to learn more about Norwegian cider from producers and experienced food and drink presenters, including sommelier Liora Levi.

When is everything happening?

The festivals have different opening times depending on the day.

Thursday 3 September

The Norwegian Cider Festival gets things started.

Norwegian Cider Festival: 16:00–20:00

There will also be some food exhibitors offering food during Thursday's opening.

Friday 4 September

Bergen Food Festival: 11:00–19:00

Norwegian Cider Festival: 13:00–21:00

Friday is a great day if you want to experience both festivals, with the cider festival continuing into the evening.

Saturday 5 September

Bergen Food Festival: 10:00–18:00

Norwegian Cider Festival: 11:00–20:00

Saturday gives you the longest opportunity to explore both events and is likely to be the busiest day.

It's not just about eating and drinking

One of the things that makes these festivals interesting is the number of activities taking place alongside the food stalls.

There are food courses, demonstrations, talks and masterclasses throughout the weekend.

You can learn about everything from seafood and oysters to sauces, sourdough, fermentation and traditional Norwegian ingredients.

There are also special events combining food and cider, including sessions focusing on cider from areas such as Hardanger, Sogn and Ryfylke.

Some of these events require tickets and can sell out, so if there is a particular course or masterclass you want to attend, it's worth checking the programme in advance.

Something for families too

The festival isn't just aimed at adults.

Young Food Fest takes place in Byparken and gives children and teenagers aged 6–16 the opportunity to discover local ingredients, cooking and new flavours.

It's a nice addition for families visiting Bergen, particularly if you're looking for something beyond the usual tourist attractions.

Don't forget the festival restaurants

The festival also extends beyond Festplassen.

More than 20 Bergen restaurants are taking part with special festival events and menus showcasing local ingredients and Western Norwegian flavours. Some restaurants are also offering festival menus throughout the week.

This means you can easily make a whole day of it.

Start at Festplassen with the food market, explore the cider festival, wander around central Bergen and then finish the day with a meal at one of the participating restaurants.

My Bergen by Billy tip

If you're visiting Bergen for just a few days, I'd definitely put these festivals on your list.

Festplassen is right in the centre of Bergen, so it's incredibly easy to combine the festival with other attractions.

You could start your day around Bryggen and the Fish Market, walk through the city centre towards Festplassen and spend a few hours exploring the food festival.

Then, depending on your interests, you can continue into the cider festival or head off to explore more of Bergen before returning for an evening meal.

And if you're staying overnight, Saturday is particularly good because the cider festival continues until 20:00.

What should you try?

This is your chance to look beyond the usual Norwegian tourist food.

Keep an eye out for:

Local Norwegian cheeses
Cured and smoked meats
Fresh seafood
Local berries and fruit
Norwegian bakery products
Regional specialities
Local cider
Festival dishes prepared by participating producers
Seasonal ingredients from Western Norway

The whole idea behind the festival is to showcase the region's produce, so don't be afraid to try something you've never had before.

Getting there

The festivals are centred around Festplassen and Byparken, making them very easy to reach on foot if you're staying in central Bergen.

If you're already visiting attractions such as Bryggen, the Fish Market, Bergenhus Fortress or Fløibanen, Festplassen is only a short walk away.

There is also no need to hire a car just to visit the festival.

Is Bergen Food Festival worth visiting?

Absolutely.

For visitors, it's one of those events that gives you something you can't really get from simply ticking off Bergen's tourist attractions.

You get to see what Western Norway actually tastes like.

And with the Norwegian Cider Festival happening alongside it, there's even more reason to spend some time around Festplassen this weekend.

Whether you're a serious foodie, interested in Norwegian produce, travelling with your family or simply looking for something different to do in Bergen, Bergen Food Festival and Norwegian Cider Festival are well worth checking out.

So if you're in Bergen between 3 and 5 September 2026, head towards Festplassen and follow your nose.

You never know what you'll discover.