The 2026 Hastings Meatball Festival saw 30,000 meatballs rolled, cooked and served as locals and visitors packed the city streets. Photo / Hastings District Council
The 2026 Hastings Meatball Festival saw 30,000 meatballs rolled, cooked and served as locals and visitors packed the city streets. Photo / Hastings District Council
About 30,000 meatballs were rolled, cooked and served as locals and visitors packed city streets for the second Hastings Meatball Festival.
More than 5500 tickets were snapped up in event presales, a 10% increase on its debut.
Hastings mayor Wendy Schollum said the event was now a highlight onher calendar and the atmosphere on Friday night was “electric”.
“It’s brilliant to see that this year’s ticket holders came from not just Hastings and across Hawke’s Bay, but from around New Zealand and as far afield as Belgium, France, Canada, the UK, the United States and Australia.”
Schollum said it was a fantastic turnout and showcased all the flavour the city has to offer.
The “victorious meatballer” will also earn a coveted place on the newly installed Hastings Ball of Fame.
In 2025, Peter Gordon and EIT’s First Light wagyu meatball, labneh, pickled red onions, kawakawa salsa verde, crispy shallots and curry leaves proved to be a winning combination and took out the People’s Choice Award.
The Ball of Fame occupies a suitable spot in Albert Square, alongside an original Dick Frizzell interpretation of the Hastings meatball.
Schollum said that although it was hard to pick who the winner would be, popular stops on the night included visiting Glen File at Onslow and Michael Dearth at Baduzzi’s stall.
“The meatball is so authentically Hastings, and it’s really special to see chefs of such huge repute taking time out of their schedules to showcase their talents right here in our city.
“It’s a massive buzz for our local vendors too – where else in New Zealand do you see award-winning restaurateurs shoulder to shoulder with bakeries, local bistros and food trucks?”
Ben Bayly and his team serving up his Matangi Meatball at the Hastings Meatball Festival, which was the first option to sell out. Photo / Hastings District Council. 06 March 2026
Ben Bayly’s (Ahi) collaboration with Matangi Meat was the first offering to sell out, closely followed by Craggy Range.
The Hastings Meatball Festival was also an opportunity for the wild and the wonderful.
Cedric’s bar in Opera Lane created a meatball martini especially for the festival, and in the TW Group’s Social Square, whānau could help build a giant Lego meatball or take part in the Tremains “Balls to the Wall” challenge.
