The Results Are In: Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards 2026

An evening celebrating the very best of Britain and Ireland’s food and drink writing, broadcasting and storytelling took place on Thursday night at The Royal Exchange, where the winners of the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards 2026 were announced.

Tom Athron, Chief Executive of Fortnum & Mason, said, ‘What really stood out this year was the confidence and clarity of voice across the shortlist. There’s a real sense that food and drink storytelling in Britain is thriving, with creators and writers unafraid to bring personal perspective, cultural depth and originality to their work.’ He added, ‘The range of entries was also striking, spanning deeply researched writing to highly creative digital content, all united by a genuine passion for food and drink.’

Long a highlight of the food and drink calendar, the awards continue to recognise excellence across the industry, and Athron describes them as ‘a central part of Fortnum’s cultural calendar.’ 

Below is the full list of this year’s winners.

The Winners: Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards 2026

FOOD BOOK: All Consuming: Why We Eat the Way We Eat Now by Ruby Tandoh (Serpent’s Tail, Profile)

Ruby Tandoh received the Food Book award for All Consuming, a thoughtful and wide-ranging exploration of how modern life forms our appetites, looking at the social, economic and technological forces that influence what and how we eat today.

DEBUT FOOD BOOK: Foreign Fruit: A Personal History of the Orange by Katie Goh (Canongate)

Katie Goh was recognised for Foreign Fruit, which traces the global history of the orange as a way into questions of migration and identity, mixing her personal narrative with cultural history.

COOKERY BOOK: Indian Kitchens by Roopa Gulati (Bloomsbury)

Roopa Gulati’s Indian Kitchens won Cookery Book for its portrait of regional cooking across India, with a host of recipes from home cooks and travel writing for good measure.

DEBUT COOKERY BOOK: The Sudanese Kitchen by Omer Al Tijani (Almas Art Foundation)

Debut Cookery Book went to Omer Al Tijani for The Sudanese Kitchen, a landmark work highlighting the breadth of Sudan’s culinary traditions through recipes, history, and personal storytelling.

DRINK BOOK: The Curious Bartender’s Agave Safari by Tristan Stephenson (Ryland Peters & Small)

Tristan Stephenson received the Drink Book award for The Curious Bartender’s Agave Safari, combining travel, history and cultural insight with stories of agave producers.

DEBUT DRINK BOOK: Tequila: A Tasting Course by Millie Milliken (DK)

Millie Milliken was recognised with the Debut Drink Book award for Tequila: A Tasting Course, an accessible and detailed guide exploring the spirit’s history along with its cultural impact.

FOOD WRITER: Yemisí Aríbisálà for work in Vittles and Scribehound Food

Yemisí Aríbisálà was awarded Food Writer for work that incorporates culture, identity and food.

COOKERY WRITER: Nick Bramham for work in Vittles

Nick Bramham received the Cookery Writer award for his thoughtful approach to recipe writing.

DRINK WRITER: Joel Harrison for work in Club Oenologique

Joel Harrison was recognised as Drink Writer for his expertise across drinks journalism.

RESTAURANT WRITER: Joanna Taylor for work in Foodism and The Telegraph

Joanna Taylor received the Restaurant Writer award for her insightful feature writing.

PROGRAMME: Hebridean Baker: Nordic Islands

Programme of the Year went to Hebridean Baker: Nordic Islands, which follows Coinneach MacLeod across the Nordic Isles exploring the connections between landscape, culture and island cooking.

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

The Audio category was awarded to The Food Chain: A Place at the Table: Fostering and Adoption, recognised for its sensitive and compelling storytelling.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Kim Lightbody

Kim Lightbody took home the Photographer award for work that captures food to the backdrop of atmosphere. 

FORTNUM’S IMPACT AWARD: Food Behind Bars

The Fortnum’s Impact Award went to Food Behind Bars for its work bringing food education and wellbeing initiatives into prisons across England and Wales.

FORTNUM’S SPECIAL AWARD: Sheila Dillon

Sheila Dillon received this year’s Fortnum’s Special Award in recognition of her contribution to British food journalism through The Food Programme. Her reporting has ranged from investigations into major food scandals to championing producers and examining food poverty, uncovering how Britain eats.

CONTENT CREATOR OF THE YEAR: Ash Baber (@ash_baber)

Ash Baber was named Content Creator of the Year following thousands of public votes, recognised for his inventive dessert-focused videos.

RISING STAR CONTENT CREATOR OF THE YEAR: Luke Flunder (@luke_flunders_wine_world)

Luke Flunder received the Rising Star Content Creator award for his engaging approach to wine storytelling online.

See more at fortnumandmason.com