Award-Winning Picklesburgh Expanding In 2026

PITTSBURGH, PA — Picklesburgh, the four-time winner of USA Today's "Best Specialty Food Festival" contest, will return for its 11th year this weekend.

This year’s festival has the largest footprint yet, spanning two Sister Bridges (Clemente and Warhol), Allegheny Landing, Allegheny Riverfront Park, Fort Duquesne Boulevard (westbound), PPG Plaza, Sixth Street, Market Square, and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s newly opened Arts Landing.

Picklesburgh returns to a four-day schedule, opening at noon daily from Thursday, July 16, through Sunday, July 19. During the ultimate pickle ex-spear-ience, Downtown Pittsburgh will relish in the opportunity to enjoy 55 vendors, 14 Taste of Picklesburgh merchants, exclusive culinary offerings, crowd-rousing Dill-Cathlon contests, a mechanical pickle, live music, KidsPlay activities, pickleball, and the return of the 35- foot-long signature Heinz pickle balloon flying high above the Andy Warhol Bridge.

Last year, Picklesburgh 2025 welcomed more than 200,000 people over the course of three days and, according to VisitPittsburgh, brought in an estimated $19.8M in direct spending to the city, which includes overnight lodging, transportation, retail, and recreation, generating over $970,000 in sales tax revenue.

“This year’s festival is our biggest one yet, with an expanded footprint from the North Shore to PPG Plaza, welcoming the recently completed Arts Landing” said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, which is presenting the festival along with Heinz.

“Picklesburgh is Pittsburgh at its best, creative, welcoming, and a little quirky. For eleven years, this festival has united people from around the region and is special because of the remarkable chefs, makers, musicians, and small businesses that make our city one of a kind. We can't wait to welcome everyone Downtown for our biggest celebration of community yet.”

Click here for a full list of Picklesburgh events and activities.