The 30th event runs November 22 at the Central Texas Food Bank
Austin Empty Bowl Project publishes its 30th annual main event for Sunday, November 22, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Central Texas Food Bank, 6500 Metropolis Drive. The Food Bank's own current event calendar independently lists the project there on November 22 and identifies the beneficiaries as the Food Bank and Meals on Wheels Central Texas.
The organizer's event page says the main event includes handmade bowls, soup, bread and live music. It lists a $30 per-person contribution, says each guest keeps a bowl and says no advance ticket is needed for the Sunday event. Those terms were reviewed October 16 and may change, so check the official event page before traveling.
A separate preview party is scheduled for Saturday, November 21, but its page still contains unfinished ticket language. This guide does not publish a preview-party price or imply tickets are on sale; the verified public plan here is the Sunday main event.
- Use the organizer's live event page before leaving home.
- The Sunday main event is listed for 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Budget for the organizer's current $30-per-person contribution.
- Do not rely on the unfinished preview-party ticket text.
Sources: Austin Empty Bowl Project 2026 event and 2025 results ↗ · Austin Empty Bowl Project 2026 event details ↗ · Central Texas Food Bank 2026 event calendar ↗
Proceeds support two children's food programs
Austin Empty Bowl Project says all event proceeds go to Kids Cafe, a Central Texas Food Bank program, and Meals for Kids, a Meals on Wheels Central Texas program. The organizer describes the project as an effort by Austin-area potters to fight hunger, with guests taking a bowl home as a reminder that other bowls are empty.
The official pages do not publish a 2026 fundraising target, a projected number of meals or a percentage split between the two beneficiaries. Help Austin is therefore not converting attendance, bowl counts or ticket contributions into an unsupported impact estimate.
The project's homepage labels its impact figures as 2025 results: $156,000 donated to fight hunger, 3,500 bowls made, 300 volunteers and 206 gallons of soup served. Those are organizer-reported results from the prior event, not promises for 2026.
Sources: Austin Empty Bowl Project 2026 event and 2025 results ↗ · Austin Empty Bowl Project volunteer, bowl and in-kind guidance ↗ · Central Texas Food Bank 2026 event calendar ↗
Volunteer interest is welcome, but 2026 signup is not yet open
The organizer says it needs more than 250 volunteers across the Saturday preview party and Sunday event. It publishes three baseline conditions: volunteers must be at least 18, commit at least three hours and wear closed-toe shoes.
However, the same current page says 2026 volunteer signup is not yet open even though another line anticipated availability in early October. No working public signup route was available when Help Austin reviewed the page on October 16. Treat this as advance notice, not an open shift or confirmed placement.
Prospective volunteers should monitor the official get-involved page and wait for the organizer's live form. Do not arrive expecting an assignment, and do not use an old event form or third-party listing as proof of registration.
- Check the official page for a live 2026 form.
- Do not report to the venue without a confirmed assignment.
- Plan for a minimum three-hour commitment if signup opens.
- The current minimum age is 18, and closed-toe shoes are required.
Sources: Austin Empty Bowl Project volunteer, bowl and in-kind guidance ↗
Potters and businesses have other current ways to help
The project invites Central Texas potters and studios to donate ceramic, food-safe glazed bowls that hold two cups. The inside must be fully glazed and free of pinholes or crevices, and bowls should have no rough or sharp areas. Donors are asked to wrap and box bowls, label the box with contact details and a bowl count, and use one of the organizer's named drop-off routes through the Friday before the event.
The organizer also requests soup, bread and other in-kind support such as tables, chairs, shirts and paper products. Businesses should use the current get-involved page for the sponsorship route and organizer contact rather than assuming an unsolicited delivery will be accepted.
A general donation control is live on the organizer's site. Donors should confirm the recipient and amount on the official checkout page; Help Austin does not collect funds or process registration for this event.
Sources: Austin Empty Bowl Project volunteer, bowl and in-kind guidance ↗
Austin Empty Bowl Project 2026: quick answers
When is the 2026 Austin Empty Bowl Project?
The main event is Sunday, November 22, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Central Texas Food Bank.
How much is the Sunday event?
The organizer currently lists $30 per person and says guests keep a handmade bowl. It says no advance ticket is needed for the Sunday main event.
Where do the proceeds go?
The organizer says event proceeds support Central Texas Food Bank's Kids Cafe and Meals on Wheels Central Texas' Meals for Kids.
Is volunteer signup open?
Not yet. The organizer says it needs more than 250 volunteers but also says the 2026 signup is not open. Monitor the official get-involved page for a live form.
What are the volunteer requirements?
The current page says volunteers must be at least 18, commit at least three hours and wear closed-toe shoes. Those conditions do not guarantee a place.
Can potters donate bowls now?
Yes. The organizer publishes food-safety, glazing, labeling and drop-off requirements on its current get-involved page; read those instructions before making a delivery.
About this story
Program spotlight based on the linked official sources, reviewed 2026-10-16. Open places and schedules can change. Confirm directly before attending. Help Austin is an independent directory.
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