Ballarat’s hospitality sector will take centre stage this winter with the return of the Hot Choc Showdown, a key feature of the 2026 Ballarat Winter Festival, running from 27 June to 19 July.
Bringing together 34 local venues, the activation highlights the depth and diversity of Ballarat’s food and beverage offering—inviting visitors to follow a self-guided hot chocolate trail that extends well beyond the CBD.
A showcase of business creativity
Following a standout debut in 2025, Ballarat’s Hot Choc Showdown proved to be a major boost for the city’s hospitality sector, with some participating cafés reporting an average 30 per cent increase in sales and an estimated 16,000 hot chocolates sold across the festival period.
More than 30 venues took part in last year’s trail, drawing strong community engagement with over 1,700 public votes cast to crown Ballarat’s best hot chocolate.
This year’s lineup demonstrates strong innovation, from cafés and patisseries to pubs, distilleries and attractions, participating operators have developed bespoke hot chocolate creations designed to stand out in a competitive, highly visible festival environment.
The 2026 offerings include:
- An Espresso Martini Hot Chocolate at Market Hotel
- A Matcha Hot Chocolate at The Red Lion Hotel
- Dessert-style creations such as the Honeycomb Hot Chocolate at La Miette Patisserie
- Butter Me Up! A chocolatey spin on a hot buttered rum at Kilderkin Distillery
- Globally inspired flavours like Saigon Cocoa and Siam Tsokolate
- Indulgent takes like praline, pistachio and caramel “bomb” hot chocolates
The mix of traditional, experimental and internationally influenced flavours provides operators with a platform to showcase signature styles, trial new concepts and attract new audiences.
A trail encouraging visitor dispersal
A key strength of the Hot Choc Showdown is its role in encouraging visitation across the broader Ballarat region, with participating venues located throughout the city and into surrounding suburbs—not just within the central precinct.
By incentivising visitors to “complete” the trail, the program supports dispersal into areas outside the CBD, driving foot traffic to suburban cafés, local bakeries and emerging hospitality pockets.
This approach helps to:
- Spread economic benefit across a wider range of businesses
- Increase discovery of lesser-known venues
- Extend visitor dwell time as participants travel between locations
Participation from a broad mix of venues—including unique attractions like the Ballarat Wildlife Park alongside established and boutique operators—highlights a diverse destination-wide approach to festival programming.
Building engagement and competition
Visitors are encouraged to vote in a People’s Choice competition, helping to crown Ballarat’s best hot chocolate while going into the draw to win a winter prize pack valued at $1,500, generously provided by local business Grounded Pleasures.
This interactive element drives repeat visitation and strengthens engagement, while fostering friendly competition among local businesses.
As part of the broader Ballarat Winter Festival, the Hot Choc Showdown continues to demonstrate how collaborative, experience-led activations can amplify local business exposure while encouraging visitors to explore deeper into the destination—one cup at a time.
Discover more about the Hot Choc Showdown trail and creations on offer.
Ballarat’s Hot Choc Showdown is proudly presented by the City of Ballarat Events Team.