International chef Diana Chan announced as Mandurah Crab Fest culinary ambassador

International chef Diana Chan has been announced as the culinary ambassador for this year’s Channel 7  Mandurah Crab Fest on March 14 and 15.

After moving to Australia to pursue a career in finance, Diana was inspired by the country’s fresh, local produce and farmer’s markets.

With a love of cooking inspired by her parents, Diana developed her own cooking style, which combined some of the hallmarks of her parents’ styles - her mother’s fresh, herb-driven approach and her father’s love of seafood.  

An accountant by profession, Diana decided to pursue her passion for cooking and has made a name for herself as a menu designer, product and content creator, and restauranteur with numerous brand collaborations, and television appearances with her recipes.   

Diana Chan is the 2026 Mandurah Crab Fest culinary ambassador. PIC: Supplied

Chef Brendan Pang will also bring his love of Chinese-Mauritian flavours to Crab Fest, celebrating the food he grew up cooking and eating.

The chef, author, and content creator shares recipes, stories, and travelinspired food through his cookbooks, cooking classes, and online platforms, encouraging home cooks to feel confident cooking delicious dishes at home.  

Brendan has authored four cookbooks about noodles, rice, dumplings, and street food.   

Chef Brendan Pang. PIC: Supplied

Chan and Pang will appear on the Spudshed Cooking Stage throughout Crab Fest weekend, as well as live cooking demonstrations from a range of personalities including Home and Away stars James Stewart and Ada Nicodemou, 7NEWS Perth hosts Tim McMillan, Angela Tsun, Susannah Carr, and Rick Ardon, Blake and Amanda Proud from My Kitchen Rules, Spudshed’s Tony Galati, and Mandurah Mayor Amber Kearns. 

Blake and Amanda Proud from My Kitchen Rules. PIC: Supplied

The free two-day festival celebrates Mandurah’s iconic blue swimmer crab, with delicious crab-inspired dishes and seafood being created across the weekend.

But it’s not all about seafood. Crab Fest caters to diverse tastes with a range of food vendors and local businesses providing savory dishes, sweet treats, and drinks. 

Mandurah Crab Fest is one of WA’s biggest free regional events, attracting more than 100,000 people to the city centre and waterfront spaces each year.

The 2026 event footprint will stretch from Mandurah’s city centre and along the Eastern and Western Foreshores, through to Mandjar Square and over to the Mandurah Ocean Marina.   

Highlights of the 2026 Crab Fest include the Seaside Estate Music Stage with headline acts Havana Brown and Thelma Plum, the Spudshed Cooking Stage, free family entertainment and activities, ticketed events, a dedicated Alcoa Children’s Stage, water activations, fireworks (presented by The Lane Group) plus pop-up food stalls and licensed bars.   

For more information, go to www.crabfest.com.au