Taste Fresh Truffle
Fresh British truffle paired with simple, delicious ingredients. Taste it in its best form — and understand why it commands such devotion.
Super Early Bird Tickets Open In -- Days > Over 55% Off!
Sat 14th Nov 2026 · Hickstead
The UK Truffle Festival
A day of connection, discovery and celebration. Rooted in nature, guided by dogs and flavoured with truffle.
-- days to go
As featured in and supported by
Est. 2022
Sold out every year
0
Visitor capacity
Truffles. Dogs. Great food. Great people.
The UK Truffle Festival is a one-of-a-kind celebration of Britain's most elusive ingredient — and the extraordinary dogs trained to find it.
Whether you're a foodie, a dog lover, a curious forager, or simply after an unforgettable day out in the Sussex countryside, there's nothing else quite like this in the UK.
What's On
A day of live cooking, expert talks, truffle hunting and so much more.
Have a Go Truffle Hunting
Bring your dog and give truffle scent detection a try. Open to all breeds — no experience needed, just a curious nose and a willing handler.
Free with general admission
Expert Talks
Hear from leading voices in foraging, mycology, dog training and sustainable food.
Live Cooking Demos
Top chefs cook live with fresh British truffles. Watch, taste, and be inspired.
Live Fire Cooking
See our chefs work over open flame with seasonal ingredients and fresh British truffle. Raw, dramatic, and utterly delicious.
Truffle Canapés
Delicious, freshly prepared truffle canapés served to VIPs and pre-orders on arrival. The perfect introduction to Britain's finest ingredient.
Pre-order only
Separate Event · Friday 13th November 2026
The UK Truffle Dog Championships
The national competition for truffle dogs — a separate event, the day before the festival
Each year, truffle dog teams from across the UK compete in live, timed truffle hunts for the national title. It's skilful, nail-biting, and genuinely unlike anything else on the British events calendar.
In 2026, the Championships moves to its own woodland stage — giving competitors the natural setting this competition truly deserves. It takes place on Friday 13th November, the day before the festival, at a separate venue.
The Championships is a dedicated competition event with its own entry process and ticketing — entirely separate from the festival. Competitor places are limited. Each competing team may also add up to two spectator tickets, so you can bring a partner or a guest — but spectator access is exclusively available alongside a competitor entry, not open to the general public.
Find Out More →
See What Happened in 2025
Dogs, truffles, great food and even better people. Here's what a day at the festival looks like.
Tickets for 2026
We sell out every year. Here's how to make sure you don't miss out.
For 2026, we're introducing a tiered release to reward people who commit early. The earlier you get in, the better the price.
Free
Under 16s
Free
Age 16 and under
- Full day festival access
- All talks, demos & activities
- Children's games & activities
Free Entry
General Admission
£35
Standard ticket price
- Full day festival access
- All talks, demos & activities
- Free on-site parking included
Save over 55% — Super Early Bird
VIP
VIP Experience
£95
Everything in General, plus:
- Plumpton Brut Classic sparkling English wine
- Curated truffle canapés on arrival
- Exclusive VIP goodie bag
- Free on-site parking included
Save over 35% — Super Early Bird
Waitlist
Join our waitlist now and be first to know when tickets drop.
Super Early Bird
Save over 55%. Waitlist members only, available for two weeks end of May.
Early Bird
Save up to 35%. Available June to October or until sold out.
Standard Tickets
Available after Early Bird ends, until sold out.
What Our Guests Say
★★★★★
“Such a wonderful day out. Light hearted, so inclusive, and absolutely heavenly free tasters of some of the best cooked truffle dishes ever plated up.”
★★★★★
“A bit of everything — you can have a go at truffle scent work with your dog, learn, sample the food, and it’s not too overcrowded as it has a limit on entry.”
★★★★★
“The nuggets he was giving out, well we’ve paid good money for that from other educators — and it was included in the entrance fee.”
★★★★★
“Great value for money and a fun day for all ages — I’d highly recommend going.”
★★★★★
“I’ve attended the UK Truffle Festival several times and always had a great experience. The food and produce are excellent, the presentations are engaging.”
★★★★★
“Best day out — we’ve now joined the club and are making it a new outdoor hobby for me and Sid.”
★★★★★
“Such a lovely atmosphere. The dogs were incredible and the truffle dishes were out of this world. Can’t wait for next year.”
★★★★★
“Brilliant event, really well put together. The talks were fascinating and the food stalls were top notch. Highly recommend.”
★★★★★
“We came not knowing much about truffles and left feeling like proper enthusiasts. The whole day was so well organised. Already planning to come back.”
★★★★★
“My spaniel absolutely loved it. The have-a-go truffle hunting was the highlight — she found three! A brilliant day from start to finish.”
★★★★★
“Genuinely one of the best days out we’ve had in Sussex. Wonderful mix of food, dogs, nature and community. Exactly what a British festival should be.”
★★★★★
“The chefs were incredible — watching them work with fresh truffles and getting to taste the results was something really special. Sold out for good reason.”
How It All Began
The story behind the festival
The UK’s original Truffle Dog Championships were founded in 2008 by the late Marion Dean, a true pioneer of British truffle hunting. Working with her Lagotto Romagnolo, Mufti, Marion created an event that brought together dogs and handlers from across the country to celebrate the unique partnership behind truffle detection.
Fourteen years later, the spark was reignited during an episode of the Truffle Forager podcast, when host Ben Sweet spoke with James Feaver of the English Truffle Company — winner of that very first contest with his black Labrador, Bramble. The conversation ignited renewed interest, and by 2022 the Championships had been brought back to life.
But it didn’t stop there. Inspired by the revival, the vision expanded into something more — a celebration not just of truffle dogs, but of the entire truffle culture in the UK. The result was the UK Truffle Festival: dogs, truffles, food and education, woven into a vibrant one-day countryside event.
Supported by a growing network of dog lovers, foragers, scientists, growers, chefs and enthusiasts, the Championships and the Festival continue to evolve — bringing people together to share knowledge, raise standards and honour the roots of truffling in the UK.
Join the 2026 Waitlist
Get Involved
There's more than one way to be part of the festival.
Exhibit with Us
Showcase your products to 500 food lovers, dog enthusiasts and nature seekers.
Apply to Exhibit →Volunteer
Be part of the crew. Give a few hours, gain a full festival day plus a stack of perks.
Apply to Volunteer →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UK Truffle Festival?
The UK Truffle Festival is an annual celebration of British truffles, truffle dogs, great food, and the
community that brings it all together. It's held each November in West Sussex.
When and where is the 2026 festival?
Saturday 14th November 2026 at Hickstead, West Sussex. Gates open in the morning — full timings will
be announced closer to the event.
Is the festival suitable for families?
Absolutely. The festival is a family-friendly event with something for everyone — food, live
cooking,
truffle dogs, market stalls, and a relaxed outdoor atmosphere. Children are very welcome and under 16s go
free.
Is the festival accessible?
Yes. We're committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming experience for all guests.
If you have specific accessibility needs, please get in
touch via our contact page and we'll do our best to help.
Does my festival ticket include the UK Truffle Dog Championships?
No — the UK Truffle Dog Championships is a completely separate event, held on Friday 13th
November at a different venue. It has its own entry process and ticketing, independent of the festival.
When do 2026 tickets go on sale?
We're releasing tickets in tiers — starting with Super Early Bird (the lowest price), followed by
Early Bird, then Standard tickets. Join the waitlist
to be first in line and get the best price.
Can I show up and buy tickets on the day?
The festival sells out every year — we strongly recommend booking in advance. We cannot guarantee
tickets will be available on the day.
Can I get a refund if I can't attend?
Please refer to our Terms & Booking Policy for full details on refunds and transfers.
We aim to be as fair and flexible as possible.
What's included in a festival ticket?
Your ticket includes entry to the full festival — live cooking demos, expert talks, market stalls,
live music, and more. Food and drink purchases are separate.
Is there a group discount?
We don't currently offer group discounts, but joining the waitlist gives you access to the
lowest prices during the Super Early Bird release.
Can I bring my dog?
Absolutely — well-behaved dogs are very welcome throughout the festival. We love seeing dogs of
all breeds and sizes.
Does my dog need to be a truffle dog?
Not at all! Any well-behaved dog is welcome. You don't need any truffle training experience
to enjoy the festival with your four-legged friend.
Can my dog try truffle hunting at the festival?
Yes! The truffle dog have-a-go arena is a fun, informal competition open to all festival-goers and their
dogs.
No prior training needed — it's a great introduction to truffle scent work to see if your dog has
what it takes.
Is there water available for dogs?
Yes, we'll have water stations around the festival site. We recommend bringing your own portable
bowl too, just in case.
Can I buy fresh truffles at the festival?
Yes — fresh British truffles will be available to purchase from our market stalls throughout the
day.
Is there parking available?
Yes, parking is available on site at Hickstead for free this year. More details will be shared closer to
the event.
Will there be toilets on site?
Yes, toilet facilities will be available on site.
Can I leave and re-enter the festival on the day?
Yes, re-entry is permitted. Please retain your ticket or wristband.
Is food included in the ticket price?
Your ticket covers entry to all festival activities. Food and drink are available to purchase from
the various stalls and vendors on site. You may also have the opportunity to snag a free taster or two if
you're in the right place at the right time.
What should I wear?
The festival is outdoors, so dress for the weather. Comfortable shoes are recommended — think
country casual rather than city smart. Wellies are never a bad idea in November!
Getting Here
Hickstead, West Sussex — Saturday 14th November 2026
Venue Address
Hickstead All England Jumping Course
Jobs Lane, Hickstead
Haywards Heath, West Sussex
RH17 5NJ
South Gate (main entrance): ///blockage.fiction.ounce
Festival Venue: ///appeal.neatly.honest
By Car
Hickstead is located just off the A23 London to Brighton road, approximately 10 miles north of Brighton and 4 miles south of Haywards Heath. Turn off the A23 at the Hickstead Junction (signposted) and follow festival signage on the day.
Postcode for satnav: RH17 5NJ
By Train
The nearest train stations are Haywards Heath (4 miles) and Burgess Hill (3.5 miles). Taxis are available from both stations. Pre-booking a cab for the return journey is strongly recommended.
Parking
On-site parking is available and included in your ticket. Please allow extra time to find a space and follow the directions from our parking marshals on arrival. The car park can fill up — arriving before midday is recommended.
Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times in the car park.
Accessibility
Disabled parking spaces are available close to the festival entrance. Please get in touch via our contact page in advance if you have any specific requirements and we will do our best to assist.
Don't Miss Out on 2026
The festival sells out every year. Join the waitlist and be first to know when tickets go live.
Get early access and festival news.
Super Early Bird Tickets Open In -- Days