Food & Drink Victoria just released the line-up for next year’s Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, which takes place across the city from Friday March 15 to Sunday March 24.

Industry powerhouse Andrew McConnell (Gimlet, Cutler & Co) is designing a menu for the festival’s flagship opening-night event, the World’s Longest Lunch, with tickets starting at $295.

Sibling event the World’s Longest Brunch takes place the following day, with a menu by a trio of Indian chefs: Harry Mangat (Biji Dining), Helly Raichura (Enter via Laundry) and Mischa Tropp (Toddy Shop). Both events, which were held at Treasury Gardens last year, will be in Kings Domain when they return in 2024.

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The following weekend the festival takes over Fed Square for a series of events including Celebrity Sausage, which sees local talent create their ideal sausage, and the Baker’s Dozen bake sale, whose 13 featured bakeries include Kudo and Holy Sugar.

The festival is known for bringing out culinary talent from overseas, and pairing international and local chefs for one-time-only collabs. This year, Melbourne restaurants will welcome Garima Arora from Gaa in Bangkok, Sarah Cicolini from Santo Palato in Rome, and Kanji Kobayashi from Villa Aida in Japan. And Dan Keeling, Mark Andrew and chef Stephen Harris of London’s Noble Rot will collaborate with Marion on a “board of wine treasures”.

Aussie talent including Dan Hong (Mr Wong), Palisa Anderson (Chat Thai) and Adam Liston (Shobosho) will also be in town cooking for the festival.

In the words of festival creative director Pat Nourse, “Woo!”

Tickets for the 2024 Melbourne Food & Wine Festival go on sale on Thursday February 1, 2024, via melbournefoodandwine.com.au.