Gluten-Free Tastings, Kids’ Cooking And Expert Talks Come To Melbourne This October
Gluten-free tastings, children’s cooking sessions and expert talks will fill the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on 17th and 18th October 2026.
Coeliac Australia’s two-day Gluten-Free Expo is open to people with coeliac disease, gluten intolerance and anyone exploring gluten-free food. Products available to sample will include pasta, dumplings, brownies, beer and pantry staples.
Coeliac Australia members can enter for free. General admission costs $31.90 plus an online booking fee, or $35.50 at the door.
Online concession and full-time student tickets cost $23.10 plus a booking fee. Door concession tickets are $28.40.
Visitors can also collect one of 5,000 free showbags across the weekend. There will be 2,500 available each day, handed out on a first-come, first-served basis.
Children’s Cooking Sessions Join The Programme
A new hands-on cooking space, The Taste Lab, will make its Melbourne debut with sessions hosted by local restaurant Shop 225.
Children under six will ice and decorate biscuits and cupcakes, while those aged seven to 12 will make bliss balls. Teenagers will learn to make gluten-free potato gnocchi from scratch.
Alex and the Jack the Silly Yak puppet will appear at an interactive stand throughout the weekend, with a stage performance at noon each day.
The OMG Donut Eating Competition will also return, with a children-only competition at 12.30 pm each day. Each winner will receive a voucher for 12 six-packs of OMG Donuts.
Label Reading, Bone Health And Cooking Demonstrations
Saturday’s talks will include Dr Niyati Sharma, who will discuss skin and autoimmune conditions, including dermatitis herpetiformis and alopecia areata. An expert panel will also address common myths about coeliac disease.
Coeliac Australia’s Lead Dietitian and Health Advocacy Officer, Dr Kim Faulkner-Hogg, will explain label reading and precautionary gluten statements.
On Sunday, dietitian Kim Canale will examine the link between coeliac disease and bone health. Further sessions will cover practical management, with contributions from Faulkner-Hogg and a multidisciplinary panel.
MasterChef Australia alumna and author Melanie Persson will give live cooking demonstrations on both days.
Confirmed exhibitors include Arnott’s Biscuits, Ayam, Simply Wize, Two Bays Brewing Co, Venerdi, YESYOUCAN, OMG! Decadent Donuts and Wun Hung Lo Dumpling Co.
2026 Gluten Free Expo Melbourne Details:
Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 October 2026
Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
Enter via Concourse Door 4.
Tickets:
Coeliac Australia Members – FREE
General Admission online – $31.90 + booking fee
Concession / Full-Time Student online – $23.10 + booking fee
General Admission at the door – $35.50
Concession at the door – $28.40
Tickets are available through the Coeliac Australia website.
