NEW ORLEANS – Beignet Fest welcomed more than 10,000 attendees this past Saturday to its one-day festival in New Orleans City Park, marking the largest crowds since COVID-19. The annual celebration of one of New Orleans’ most iconic dishes in an array of forms also raised nearly $500,000 to support autism awareness and local programs serving children with autism and related developmental differences.
The festival celebrated the creativity and culinary talent of participating restaurants and vendors through its annual Best Beignets contest. Attendees voted on their favorite beignet dishes in three different categories, and a panel of media personalities tasted five different savory beignets for the annual Judge’s Choice award. The winners of the 2026 Best Beignet contest are:
- Best Traditional: Cafe Beignet
- Best Sweet: The Vintage – Oreo Cheesecake Beignet
- Best Savory: Southern’s – Hot Honey Chicken
- Judges’ Choice: Ruby Slipper – Nashville Hot Chicken
From traditional powdered-sugar favorites to inventive sweet and savory creations, the contest highlights the culinary talent and creativity that make New Orleans’ food culture so special.
“This year’s Beignet Fest was a tremendous success, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who came out to celebrate with us,” said Sherwood Collins, Beignet Fest founder and producer. “Seeing the community come together and raising nearly a half-million dollars toward our mission is meaningful beyond words. What started as a celebration of beignets has grown into something much bigger. We are proud that this community continues to show up for neurodiverse children and their families.”
Founded in 2016 by Amy and Sherwood Collins, Beignet Fest was created to increase awareness and funding for programs serving children with autism and related developmental differences. Proceeds from the festival support the Beignet Fest Foundation’s work funding advocacy, education and enrichment programs for the autism community. Over the last decade now, the Beignet Fest has raised a total of $3.5 million toward its mission.
The success of Beignet Fest is made possible through the generosity of attendees, sponsors, participating restaurants, vendors and community partners who share a commitment to this mission.
For more information about Beignet Fest and the Beignet Fest Foundation, visit www.beignetfest.com.
About Beignet Fest:
Named one of the Top 10 Specialty Food Festivals in the nation in 2026 by USA TODAY’s Readers Poll, Beignet Fest is a premier food festival in Louisiana that celebrates one of New Orleans’s most iconic dishes all in one place on one day. Proceeds benefit the Beignet Fest Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization established to raise awareness and support for programs in Greater New Orleans that serve autistic youth and their families.
Other honors for the Beignet Fest include:
Garden & Gun – Top Southern Fall Food Festival List 2024 and 2023
New Orleans Magazine – Tops of the Town Voter Poll Honoree 2023
Southern Living – Best Food Festivals in the South 2023
Tasting Table – 21 Bucket List Food Festivals 2023