Fortnum & Mason Food & Drink Awards 2026 Shortlist Announced

The Fortnum & Mason Food & Drink Awards shortlist is one of the most eagerly awaited dates in the food writing & broadcasting calendar.  The shortlist for 2026 was recently announced recognising excellence in food and drink writing, broadcasting and photography. For fourteen years, the awards have championed those who help others to enjoy, explore, experiment, and discover more about food and drink, through their writing, photography, and commentary.  It’s an area that women do very well in and this year is no exception.

This year’s shortlist includes ground breaking investigative journalism, mouth-watering cookery writing and captivating food and drink storytelling across all mediums. The exciting list of finalists covers subjects such as  the Ukrainians’ determination to provide good food for a besieged people, a history of beer in Ireland, Middle Eastern food culture, tequila and a podcast on food in the care system.

The shortlist is selected by an expert panel of independent judges, across 13 categories, from work published or broadcast during 2025. The elements considered include fresh and original content, authenticity, visual flair, engaging style, and unique perspectives.

The awards shortlist people, books, or programmes in each category. There is a woman shortlisted in every category and  women make up the majority of most categories particularly in the cookery book listings.

Food Books

For the Food Book Category the shortlist includes The Heart-Shaped Tin by Bee Wilson and All Consuming: Why We Eat the Way We Eat Now by Ruby Tandoh

Debut Food Book

A very strong category and shortlisted in debut books are:  Bread & War by Felicity Spector, Foreign Fruit: A Personal History of the Orange by Katie Goh and An A-Z of Chinese Food (Recipes Not Included) by Jenny Lau

Cookery  books

New cookery books saw the following shortlisted:  Indian Kitchens by Roopa Gulati, Lugma by Noor Murad, The Irish Kitchen by Cherie Denham and Andrew Montgomery and The Japanese Pantry by Emiko Davies

Cherie Denham said “Andrew and I are absolutely delighted to be selected. A special thank you to Diana Henry for the foreword and Kitty Corrigan for the essays“.

LUGMA, meaning ‘a bite’ in Arabic, is from Bahraini-British chef and author Noor Murad.  Our Ambassador of Women In the Food Industry and Writer, Antonia Lloyd, reviewed Noor’s book which she said is “filled with evocative recipes that transport you to a haven of dried limes, spice, chilli heat, steaming rice, and the aromatic scent of incense.”

Debut Cookery Book

In the debut cookery book category we were very pleased to see Silk Roads by Anna Ansari

Anna (pictured above at the launch of Silk Roads with our co-founder Mex Ibrahim) said “It really is an honour to be shortlisted, and alongside such talents as Kenji Morimoto and Omer Al Tijani. Wowee zowee!! Now: to find a party dress!”

Drink Books

The Drink Book of the year shortlist included: Filthy Queens: A History of Beer in Ireland by Dr Christina Wade and The Madrusan Cocktail Companion by Michael and Zara Madrusan

Debut Drinks Book

The shortlist for Debut Drink Book included Tequila: A Tasting Course by Millie Milliken

Food Writing Categories

Congratulations to the following included in the shortlist of the Food Writer category:  Safiya Robinson (pictured on the left) for work in Chicken + Bread Zine and Sisterwoman and Yemisí Aríbisálà for work in Vittles and Scribehound Food.

The Best Cookery Writer shortlist included Olivia Potts for work in The Spectator .

Kristiane Westray was shortlisted in the Drinks Writer category for work in Whisky Magazine and Club Oenologique and said “I am genuinely blown away by this development. Thrilled, shocked and somewhat astonished to be on the shortlist for the Fortnum & Mason 2026 Drinks Writer of the Year Award!!!

Sharing not just whisky but the stories, people, community and *fun* behind the spirit truly lights me up. Even more so when you get to fully dig into culture, question things, shout about the stuff that matters. I feel so lucky to do what I do. It sounds trite but being recognised on the shortlist for an award of this calibre really does feel like winning in its own right. It’s magical.”

Restaurant Writer of the Year

Joanna Taylor was shortlisted in this category for work in Foodism and The Telegraph. She said “I am delighted to have been shortlisted for the Fortnum & Mason Restaurant Writer of the Year award once again, alongside David Ellis and Tim Hayward. Many thanks to the judges, my extremely patient editors and the bottomless pit better known as my stomach.”

Photography & Broadcasting Categories

Kim Lightbody and Ruth Calder-Potts are both shortlisted in the photography category.

Best Audio

Finally in the Best Audio category we were really delighted to see the following shortlisted:

The Food Foundation Podcast: 10th Anniversary, Presenter: Anna Taylor, Producer: Gilly Smith.  Gilly said “I am THRILLED to announce that The Food Foundation Podcast has been shortlisted for the Fortnum and Mason Best Audio Award with two of the best of the BBC’s food shows, The Food Chain and The Kitchen Cabinet.

I’ve been producing The Food Foundation Podcast for six years now, with panel discussions on everything from the state on the nation’s health based on its annual Broken Plate flagship report to the postcode inequalities of the food system in Britain. Weekly Pod Bites feature analysis and summaries on just about everything that affects the resilience of the food system from budgets to climate change and war.

It’s also a chance to give a voice to many of the amazing people and organisations doing extraordinary work to transform the way we eat and buy.

The 10th anniversary episode is the nominee for the F&Ms and features the Food Foundation’s Exec Director, Anna Taylor, its founder Laura Sandys, Henry Dimbleby, FF trustee Rosie Boycott and food ambassador Dev Sharma who has been campaigning with the charity since he was 13, and a key voice of the podcast since it was launched. Click on the link in here or go to Apple Pods, Spotify etc for their chat about the challenges and fantastic wins over the last decade of campaigning for a fairer food system. It’s a fabulously uplifting listen.”

and BBC World Service’s The Food Chain:  A Place At The Table: Fostering and Adoption, Presenter: Ruth Alexander, Producer: Beatrice Pickup, Editor: Sara Wadeson

You can see the full shortlist of the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards for 2026 here.  All the category winners will be announced at a glittering awards reception at Fortnum & Mason on 30th April 2026. Look out for the results and photos from the night on our Instagram stories.

See photos and a post of last year winners, shortlist & guests  at the Fortnum & Mason Food & Drink Awards 2025 here.