Food and drink trends 2026

Our latest 2026 food trends content is now live – developed in partnership with CGA by Nielsen IQ, and based on insights from over 2,000 out-of-home consumers surveyed in the UK.

The eating-out market remains resilient, despite facing pressures from rising operational costs, food inflation, and wider economic uncertainty. These challenges have dented confidence among both businesses and consumers.

Yet, the desire to socialise and mark special occasions through eating out remains strong, and that presents a major opportunity for operators. By tapping into the latest food and drink trends, operators can stay ahead of the curve and effectively attract and retain customers.

While market leaders may double down on value, loyalty schemes, and digital strategies, putting food back at the heart of the experience remains the most powerful way to stand out – even in a cost-conscious climate.

 

 

46% want to try the latest food trends*.
54% of consumers would describe themselves as a ‘foodie’*.
54% frequently explore new and unique cuisines and dishes when out, rising to 63% for students and 76% for foodies*.

See the 2026 trends on the street!

Food & Drink Trends 2026 - London

We’re back on the trail of trends that will shape menus in 2026, hitting the streets of London, one of the most diverse and exciting cities when it comes to innovation in the out of home sector. Join us as we try out some of the key cuisines from around the world, discover innovative fusion drinks and discuss the positive power of healthy wholefoods.

Food & Drink Trends 2026 – Birmingham

Birmingham is a lively city known for its diverse culinary scene, from fine dining to vibrant street food. Join us on a flavour-packed journey from home-cooked style Malaysian recipes to the sweet and spicy kick of Korean cuisine, and irresistable global desserts.

Our top food and drink trends in 2026

Our flavours less travelled food and drink trends in 2026

The global cuisines and dishes that consumers are keen to explore most and discover more about when they eat out.

Four key consumer behaviours shaping food and drink culture in 2026

Discover the essential consumer behaviours driving the most influential food and drink trends for 2026.

 

  • Community and sharing

    Community and sharing experiences are influencing food and drink culture. This is because connecting with friends, marking special occasions, and making memories are leading motivations for eating out. *****

    Our survey revealed that consumers are very likely or somewhat likely to try new cuisines/dishes in the format of:

    • a small plate (73%) *
    • a sharing platter (68%) *
    • a group sharing dish (60%) *
    • a bottomless brunch (59%) *

    These high numbers suggest that smaller portions and sharing dishes are a great entry point to trying new dishes and tastes in a relaxed format.

    Image of people sharing food from 2 plates

  • Zebra striping

    Younger consumers are driving the no/low alcohol trend, with CGA by Nielsen IQ noting more consumers choosing these options than last year.

    However, interest is growing in zebra striping – a term used to describe alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Consumers say this keeps them in control of their alcohol consumption (55%) and helps them avoid getting drunk (44%). While the term may be unfamiliar to some, 41% are drawn to low and no alcohol options for their health benefits, 38% for their refreshing qualities, and 34% because they still feel like a treat. We’re seeing these factors similarly reflected in the Tea Tonic trend. Of those who practice zebra striping, 15% do so every time and 49% most times in out of home occasions.*

    Image of 2 drink glasses

  • Social media

    Social media is a major driver of food and drink culture, with consumers visiting venues inspired by trending viral foods. While word of mouth remains an important form of recommendation, nearly half of consumers actively follow food-focused social media, and 41% regularly visit venues based on trends they’ve seen online.* In our survey this year, TV and social media were cited by 32% of consumers as a key factor influencing their interest in Korean cuisine, demonstrating the power of visual and digital media in shaping consumer behaviour when it comes to eating out.

    Person taking photo of food plate

  • Health-conscious choices

    Health remains a key priority for consumers, with 43% describing themselves as very health-conscious** and over two-thirds aiming to eat healthily all or most of the time.*****

    In recent years, there has been a lot of noise around ultra-processed foods (UPF) and their impact on our health, due to the prominence of these foods in our daily diet. However, our survey still shows strong consumer interest in reducing fat, sugar and salt, while increasing fibre and nutrient-dense foods. These are simple and practical steps that operators can take to help consumers follow a healthy, balanced diet.

    Assortment of healthy foods

What are the top 4 macro drivers of choice?

The top factors driving consumer choices of where and what to eat out of home haven’t changed. We explain how important they are and how they influence those choices.

 

  • Value

    Value remains a central consumer driver when eating out, with 75% of consumers describing themselves as ‘very value-led’** (a percentage point less than in 2024). Our survey found that value is also the dominant consumer attitude when deciding which venue to visit, and ‘affordable’ is the top factor for foodies when eating out on the go.

    However, what is considered value for money has shifted from price alone to meaningful value. This means operators must consider the entire experience, delivering on quality, experience, nutritional value, and better-for-you options, not just a cheap price point.

    Piggy bank image

  • Quality

    Quality continues to grow in importance as 75% of consumers define themselves as ‘very quality-led’** (an increase of three percentage points from 2024).

    Our survey shows that high-quality ingredients (46%) and the quality of service (53%) are key factors when choosing where to dine out. Whether it’s freshness, authenticity or the premium nature of ingredients, high quality signals good value to consumers.

    42% of consumers would even opt for a higher price over quality reduction in non-grocery foods***. Therefore, consumers expect a premium experience reflected in the quality of both menus and service offered.

    Desert image

  • Experience

    Consumers are actively seeking new and immersive experiences when dining out, and as a result, hospitality has moved away from relying on traditional environments and formats. Recent data reveals that 74% of consumers say they would visit a venue that provides an elevated experience**** and our survey shows that unique experiences are particularly important to foodies and 18-34s*. Whether it’s a cookery class, a tasting menu, games or a bottomless brunch, there is a growing demand for venues that provide an elevated food and drink offer.

  • Brand

    64% of consumers recognise themselves as brand-led** as they can indulge in new and exciting concepts from brands they know and trust. To keep consumers engaged, many brands have had recent brand refreshes and re-launches to stay relevant in a changing market – offering experience, value, and innovation. In addition, brand collaborations have been a key strategy to attract new audiences and meet consumer demand.

What are the emotions that influence consumer choice?

Eating is not just a physical, but also an emotional and a social experience, so our choices are also influenced by our feelings when it comes to eating out. These are the key ones to tap into to meet your customers’ social and emotional needs:

 

  • Adventure

    Consumers are adventurous with their food choices, as 54% of consumers frequently explore new and unique cuisines and dishes when eating out*, up 3% for foodies vs last year. Adventure is a very appealing factor driving venue and menu choices, especially when it comes to our Flavours Less Travelled trend: 40% associate the South American trend with ‘a bit of adventure’ and 43% associate it with Malaysian cuisine.*

    Food and drink trends 2025

  • Comfort

    Comfort is an important emotional driver when choosing dishes out of home, and our survey suggests that this is a key factor influencing the appeal of cuisines from around the world.

    Brazilian dishes are perceived as hearty and comforting by 65% of respondents, followed by Venezuelan (41%), Peruvian (38%), Korean (35%), and Malaysian (30%) cuisines. These cuisines hold most appeal during evening day parts, though interest is steadily growing for lunch and afternoon occasions.

  • Tradition

    Consumers are interested in the culinary traditions and authenticity of the cuisines they try. In fact, half of consumers strongly agree (17%) and agree (34%) that they visit venues that they consider to be authentic more frequently*****.

    Tradition plays a significant role in driving consumer interest in several 2026 food trends, including Brazilian (67%), Venezuelan (40%), Peruvian (38%), as well as Korean (42%) and Malaysian cuisines (38%)*****.

    Research also indicates that chef/staff knowledge about the cuisine or dishes they are recommending is an important signal of authenticity to 51% consumers*****. Therefore, having an in-depth understanding of each trend is ideal.

What will the drink trends be in 2026?

Tea Tonic is a key drinks trend in 2026, reflecting the innovation within the cold drinks category, for example bubble teas, flavoured teas, functional teas and matcha teas.

 

Which types of drinks will be most popular?

Some of the cold drinks that will be trending in 2026 include ice teas, bubble teas and flavoured teas.

 

What will the food trends be in 2026?

In 2026, our research has pointed to six key food and drink trends that will shape out of home menus in the UK:

  • Flavours less travelled: with Malaysian, Korean and South American (i.e. Brazilian, Venezuelan, Peruvian, Columbian) becoming popular.
  • Topped and Loaded: which focuses on the growing appeal of generous loaded dishes.
  • FastForward Flavours: which captures the emerging ingredients set to trend on menus in the next one to two years.
  • Tea Tonic: which is all about innovative, flavour-led, refreshing tea drinks for example, iced teas and bubble teas.
  • Sweet Adventures: which highlights the desire to try global and novel desserts.

 

Which types of foods will be most popular?

Some of the key dishes that feature in the food trends we have highlighted this year include:

  • South American cuisine: Brazilian Feijoada and Moqueca dishes, Columbian and Venezuelan Arepas and Tequeños dishes, and Peruvian Ceviche.
  • Malaysian cuisine: Nasi Lemak, Laksa and Rendang dishes. Also, ingredients like red chilli, coconut, coriander, and tamarind.
  • Korean cuisine: Bibimbap, Korean BBQ, Korean Fried Chicken and Gyoza dishes, as well as ingredients like kimchi, carrot, sesame seeds and eggs.
  • Topped and loaded: Loaded fries, loaded jacket potatoes, loaded hash browns, loaded dumplings and loaded porridge.
  • Whole lotta goodness: High fibre dishes and nutrient dense food toppings e.g. avocado, oily fish, berries, nuts and seeds.
  • FastForward flavours: Ingredients including miso and salted caramel, hot honey, coconut sugar, pistachio as a cream or crunchy topping, and wild mushrooms to be used for centre plate dishes or as a side.
  • Tea Tonic: Popular ingredients to add into bubble teas and fruit teas include yuzu, mango, coconut, passionfruit and matcha.
  • Sweet Adventures: Dubai chocolate, Korean croffle, Japanese cloud cake and Bingsu dishes.

 

Which food trends should you include on your menu?

First and foremost, the trends you reflect on your menu need to be relevant and appealing to your customer base.

The trends we have highlighted for 2026 are influenced by key consumer choice drivers, for example, value, health and consumers’ desire for adventure and an immersive experience when they eat out. However the dishes, formats and cuisines that work best in one venue will be quite different from those that work in another- it’s a matter of understanding what your customers are looking for, how their interests are changing and adapting your offer to reflect this. Our research has pointed to six emerging food and drink trends that will shape consumer choices in the UK in 2026 which you may want to consider, including:

  • Flavours less travelled: with Malaysian, Korean and South American (i.e. Brazilian, Venezuelan, Peruvian, Columbian) becoming popular.
  • Topped and Loaded: which focuses on the growing appeal of generous loaded dishes.
  • FastForward Flavours: which captures the emerging ingredients set to trend on menus in the next one to two years.
  • Whole Lotta Goodness: which is about the positive movement towards adding more wholefoods into our diets.
  • Tea Tonic: which is all about innovative, flavour-led, refreshing tea drinks for example, iced teas and bubble teas.
  • Sweet Adventures: which highlights the desire to try global and novel desserts.

 

What are the current food trends in the UK?

Current food trends in the UK include 3 major cuisine trends, health trends, value-led trends, ingredient-led trends, global dessert trends and ice-tea trends. To see these trends in action, watch our food safari videos with Bidfood’s chef and insights manager.

 

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Source:

*CGA by NielsenIQ and Bidfood 2026 Food and Drink Trends consumer survey, sample size 2,000 (UK adults); data collected May 2025.

**Lumina Intelligence UK-Eating-Out-Market-Report-2025

*** Mintel, British Consumer Confidence and its Impact on Consumer Behaviour, June 2025

**** GO Technology report, Zonal and CGA by NIQ 2025

*****CGA by NIQ, State of Nation 2025, Food Insights Report 2025, Sample Size: 1999

******Mintel, Attitudes towards Healthy Eating, UK, 2025

 

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