Here's the lineup of all the new over-the-top foods coming to Edmonton's KDays
KDays always has an interesting lineup of food that accompanies the festival each year, and this one is no different.
The New Food Competition is one of KDays’ most exciting events, with vendors coming in and showing off flavour combos and crazy eats you might not have gotten the chance to experience. This competition has local judges vote and award the best dish in each category: sweet, savoury, and beverage.
This year, there are 26 dishes competing in the Savoury category, 18 in the Sweet category, and nine in the Beverage category. You can view them all on the KDays website, but we’re going to be highlighting our winner picks in anticipation of the festival’s start.
Of course, opinions may change depending on how they actually taste, but these are the ones that stand out in each category.
Savoury
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With 26 dishes, we’ve picked out three that we would absolutely have to try.
The Wagyu Okonomiyaki Giant Senbai immediately caught our eye when looking through the list of dishes. Like the popular street food, this griant crispy rice cracker is loaded with premium wagyu beef and savory okonomiyaki‑style sauces for a bold, crunchy, saucy experience.
Make your way over to Kachi Kachi World; you’ll definitely wanna take a bite.
Although it’s toeing the line of sweet and savoury, the Maple Bacon Fried Cheese Curds from Curly’s Curds look nothing short of delectable. There’s also the Korean Curd Crunch from The Meltdown, which ties for which one we want to try first.
Last but not least, there always has to be a pickle feature on the menu. This time, it’s Twisted Pickles’ Garlic Parm Twisted Pickle. With this deep-fried pickle covered in parmesan for a bold, garlicky, salty crunch, you won’t be able to get enough.
Sweet
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Candied Grapes and Candied Pickles are some cute treats that you can stumble upon at Candy Fusion, but there are some other extravagant desserts that have really caught our eye.
For one? The Ube Cheese Spring Rolls are definitely going to be on our plate. These crispy lumpia wrappers are filled with sweetube jam and melted cheddar cheese for a rich, sweet‑savory center. Then, they’re finished with powdered milk and condensed milk drizzle for a creamy, indulgent Filipino dessert bite.
Our other pick definitely has to be the Filled Churro Bites. Cocina Sabrosa To Go brings these delights to us. Nobody can resist a churro, especially one that is filled with the perfect amount of dulce de leche.
Beverage
Out of the nine new beverages, it’s obvious that dirty sodas have gotten popular within the past year. From the Cotton Candy Dirty Soda to the Cotton Candy Cowgirl, there’s more than enough flavour to go around.
However, our choice pick has to be the Dragon Dream Smoothie. This bright pink tropical blend of dragon fruit, pineapple, banana, coconut and milk is whipped together to create an ice-cold treat that will have you circling back for more.
Again, if you’re looking for the full list of all the new foods competing this year, you can find one on the KDays website. Otherwise, we’ll leave you to explore on July 17, and your taste buds will definitely be thanking you for the journey.
KDays 2026
When: Friday, July 17, to Sunday, July 26, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Where: Edmonton Expo Centre and Exhibition Grounds — 515 118th Ave. NW, Edmonton, Alta.
Admission: $15.45+
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