EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival: The Complete 2026 Guide
If there is one event at Walt Disney World that I have been dying to experience as a self-proclaimed Disney foodie, it is the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival. I have been to EPCOT during other festivals and absolutely loved the atmosphere, the food booths, the live music, and the energy of it all. But Food and Wine is the one that every Disney fan talks about, and after years of visiting at other times of year, I finally have a trip booked during the festival this fall. I cannot wait.
If you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World this fall, or even just starting to think about it, this guide covers everything you need to know about the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival in 2026, including dates, what to expect, the activities and entertainment, and tips for making the most of your visit.
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Planning a Walt Disney World vacation? Be sure to check out my guides to Walt Disney World in 2026 and Walt Disney World in 2027!
What Is the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival?
The EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is Walt Disney World’s signature fall celebration of global cuisine, culture, and live music. It has been a beloved EPCOT tradition for three decades, and it has only grown in size and popularity over the years. In 2026, Disney is celebrating the festival’s 30th anniversary, with 30 dishes returning or reimagined from festivals past. What started as a 30-day event has expanded into a nearly three-month celebration that draws Disney fans and food lovers from all over the world.
The centerpiece of the festival is the Global Marketplaces, a collection of food and beverage booths spread throughout World Showcase and beyond. Each booth is themed to a different country or concept and serves exclusive menu items you will not find anywhere else in the park at any other time of year. Think lamb chops, dumplings, raclette, bratwurst, crab cakes, creative cocktails, wine flights, and so much more. The full menus change from year to year, which is part of what keeps longtime fans coming back.
Beyond the food, the festival features live concerts, family-friendly scavenger hunts, a cheesy food stroll, and exclusive merchandise. And the best part? The festival is included with regular EPCOT park admission. There is no separate ticket required to access the booths, the concerts, or most of the activities.
2026 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival Dates
The 2026 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival runs from August 27 through November 21, 2026, giving you an 87-day window to plan your visit. That is a lot of fall, which means whether you are a back-to-school family sneaking in a September trip or a couple looking for a November getaway, there is likely a window that works for you.
As with all EPCOT festivals, some Global Marketplace booths opened on a phased schedule rather than all at once on opening day. Festival Favorites in CommuniCore Hall opened September 9, and Coastal Eats, Earth Eats, India, and The Alps opened October 2, so every booth is now up and running. One exception to note: The Wedge in CommuniCore Hall only runs September 18 through November 8, so if you are visiting during the final two weeks of the festival, you will miss it.
What to Expect at the Global Marketplaces
The Global Marketplaces are the heart of the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival. This year there are more than 35 food and beverage locations scattered throughout the park, each offering a small but carefully curated menu of bites and sips. The portions are intentionally small and priced individually, so you can graze your way around the world without committing to a full sit-down meal at every stop.
Disney has released the full 2026 Foodie Guide, and there is a great mix of returning favorites and brand-new bites. A few highlights:
- Returning favorites: The Street Corn-style Dumplings at Gyozas of the Galaxy, the Grilled Bushberry-spiced Shrimp Skewer at Australia, the Kirschwasser Torte at The Alps, and the Pumpkin-Mascarpone Ravioli at Forest & Field are all back.
- New this year: Look for the Basil Pesto Chicken Dumplings at Gyozas of the Galaxy, the Smoked Brisket and Cheddar Melt at Hops & Barley, and the Pistachio-Chocolate Mochi Doughnut at Connections Café.
- For cheese lovers: CommuniCore Hall hosts “Cheers to Cheese!”, an interactive exhibit celebrating the history of cheese, along with The Wedge, which serves three different macaroni and cheese dishes, a cheese selection, and a Cannoli Milk Shake (September 18 through November 8).
For the full menu at every booth, check the official Foodie Guide on the Disney Parks Blog or in the My Disney Experience app.
A few tips for navigating the booths: bring a Disney gift card to make purchasing quick and easy as you hop from booth to booth. This year Disney is also offering exclusive Disney Gift Card wristlets featuring Mickey and Donald, available at merchandise locations throughout EPCOT with a minimum $15 activation. The digital Festival Passport is also available in the My Disney Experience app, so you can track your progress and plan your route without carrying around a paper map.
Eat to the Beat Concert Series
One of the most beloved parts of the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is the Eat to the Beat Concert Series. Concerts take place nightly at the America Gardens Theatre, the outdoor amphitheater located at the front of the American Adventure Pavilion along World Showcase Lagoon, directly across from Spaceship Earth and tucked between the Japan and Italy pavilions. Shows run three times each evening at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:00 PM.
Good to know: while the festival itself runs through November 21, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series wraps up a few days earlier on November 16. If catching a concert is high on your priority list, keep that in mind when picking your travel dates.
New Artists Making Their EPCOT Debut in 2026
I am genuinely excited about this year’s lineup. Nine acts are making their Eat to the Beat debut this year, headlined by Lauren Alaina, Fitz and The Tantrums, and Grace Potter, bringing country, indie pop, and blues into the mix. Plenty of returning favorites are back too, including Boyz II Men, Yellowcard, Hanson, and The Beach Boys, alongside a rotating cast of local Central Florida talent throughout the week.
Full 2026 Eat to the Beat Concert Schedule
Here is the complete schedule for the 2026 season, organized by month. Artists marked (NEW) are performing at Eat to the Beat for the very first time. As always, all entertainment and artist appearances are subject to change, so check the My Disney Experience app before your visit.
August
| Dates | Artist |
|---|---|
| Aug 27 | Evolution: Motown |
| Aug 28–31 | Hanson |
September
| Dates | Artist |
|---|---|
| Sep 1–3 | Evolution: Motown |
| Sep 4–5 | The War and Treaty (NEW) |
| Sep 6–7 | Yellowcard |
| Sep 8–10 | Fly Guys |
| Sep 11–12 | Couch (NEW) |
| Sep 13–14 | Fitz and The Tantrums (NEW) |
| Sep 15–17 | Latin Ambition |
| Sep 18–19 | MercyMe |
| Sep 20–21 | Grupo Manía (NEW) |
| Sep 22–24 | Metro Latino Band |
| Sep 25–27 | Element |
| Sep 28–29 | New Found Glory |
| Sep 30 | Smash Mouth |
October
| Dates | Artist |
|---|---|
| Oct 1 | Smash Mouth |
| Oct 2–4 | Champagne Orchestra |
| Oct 5–6 | Rey Ruiz (NEW) |
| Oct 7–8 | Tiffany |
| Oct 9–11 | Viva Latina |
| Oct 12–13 | The Fray |
| Oct 14–15 | STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas |
| Oct 16–18 | Jaclyn Hayden |
| Oct 19–20 | Ben Rector |
| Oct 21–22 | Allen Stone (NEW) |
| Oct 23–25 | SoundUp |
| Oct 26–27 | Lauren Alaina (NEW) |
| Oct 28–29 | Bowling For Soup |
| Oct 30–31 | Southbound |
November
| Dates | Artist |
|---|---|
| Nov 1 | Southbound |
| Nov 2–3 | Boyz II Men |
| Nov 4–5 | Big Head Todd and The Monsters (NEW) |
| Nov 6–8 | M-80’s |
| Nov 9–10 | Grace Potter (NEW) |
| Nov 11–12 | The Beach Boys |
| Nov 13–16 | The Hooligans |
Eat to the Beat Dining Packages
Concerts are included with EPCOT park admission, and general seating is first-come, first-served. If you want a guaranteed seat, you can reserve a Concert Series Dining Package, which is available to book now. The package includes a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant and a guaranteed seat at that day’s Eat to the Beat concert, in a reserved section of the theatre.
Fifteen EPCOT restaurants participate in 2026, with adult prices ranging from $56 at Spice Road Table to $99 at Le Cellier Steakhouse (before tax and gratuity). Child prices range from $21 to $49. There is also a same-day-only option at Regal Eagle Smokehouse for $36 per adult. Most packages count as one table-service credit on the Disney Dining Plan, while Le Cellier counts as two.
One important note even with the dining package in hand: seating within the reserved section is still first-come, first-served, so I would still recommend arriving early to grab a good view rather than assuming your spot is locked in.
A tip for concert-goers without a dining package: arrive at the theatre 30 to 40 minutes before showtime for popular performers, especially on weekend nights. The concerts fill up quickly, and the atmosphere of watching live music in World Showcase on a warm Florida evening with a drink from a nearby booth is genuinely one of the best experiences at Walt Disney World. I am already looking forward to this part of my trip the most.
Festival Activities and Entertainment
The food booths and concerts get most of the attention, but the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival has plenty of other activities to keep the whole family entertained throughout the day.
Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak
This Ratatouille-inspired scavenger hunt runs for the entire festival (August 27 through November 21) and sends guests around World Showcase in search of hidden Remy statuettes. To participate, purchase a map and sticker set for $11.99 plus tax at Disney Traders, Creations Shop, festival markets, and other select shops (Annual Passholder discounts apply). As you find each hidden Remy around the park, place the corresponding sticker on your map. When you are done, bring your map to Disney Traders, Creations Shop, or World Traveler to claim your prize. Good news for families with little ones: you do not have to complete the map to receive the prize. In 2025, the prize was a character bento box.
Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit
From September 25 through November 2, a second scavenger hunt joins the fun. Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit is a Halloween-themed adventure where guests search for hidden decorative pumpkins themed to Disney characters throughout the park. Like the Remy hunt, you purchase a map and stickers for $11.99 plus tax at select merchandise locations, then match the pumpkins you find to the corresponding spots on your map. Even if you do not complete the hunt, you can still turn in your map for a prize. This one is especially fun for kids and a great way to slow down and explore corners of the park you might otherwise walk right past. The 2025 prizes were adorable mini Disney character Halloween cornhole games.
Emile’s Fromage Montage
Calling all cheese lovers. Emile’s Fromage Montage is a food stroll built specifically around cheese-inspired dishes available at select Global Marketplaces. Using the Festival Passport, purchase five eligible cheese dishes from the listed booths (look for the cheese icon in the Foodie Guide) and collect a stamp for each one. Once you have all five stamps, bring your passport to Shimmering Sips to claim a specialty souvenir. It is a fun way to try dishes you might not have considered otherwise, and the prize at the end makes it feel like a little bonus reward for being adventurous with your food choices.
Exclusive Festival Merchandise
Each year the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival brings a fresh collection of exclusive merchandise, from apparel and accessories to kitchen items and collectibles. The 2026 collection has a playful retro kitchen look, with highlights including ears topped with a chef’s hat, a Loungefly bag with a churro-shaped case, a festival wine glass, and a coordinated food tray. Merchandise is available at various locations throughout EPCOT, including shops along the World Showcase Promenade.
Tips for Visiting the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival
Visit on a weekday. The festival is enormously popular with local Florida residents, which means evenings and weekends get crowded, especially around the food booths in World Showcase. Monday through Wednesday are your best bets for lighter crowds. Avoid the final weekend of the festival if you can, as it tends to draw extra attention.
Pace yourself. This is genuinely good advice and something every veteran festival-goer will tell you. The booths are designed for grazing, but it is easy to overdo it early in the day and run out of steam before you have made it halfway around World Showcase. Eat a light breakfast, take breaks, and drink plenty of water between booths.
Plan your booth route ahead of time. The full Foodie Guide lists every booth, every menu item, and which items are part of Emile’s Fromage Montage. Reading through it before your visit helps you prioritize the booths you most want to hit and build a logical walking route rather than backtracking.
Be mindful when traveling with young children. The festival is absolutely family-friendly, and the scavenger hunts are a wonderful activity for kids. That said, many of the food booths lean heavily toward adult beverages, and alcohol consumption is a visible part of the atmosphere, particularly in the evenings. It is not a problem by any means, just something to be aware of as you plan your day.
Stay for the evening. EPCOT at night during Food and Wine is genuinely magical. The World Showcase lights up, the concert is in full swing at the America Gardens Theatre, and the energy of the crowd is festive and relaxed all at once. If your schedule allows, do not leave right after dinner. Stick around, catch a concert set, and soak it in.
For the most up-to-date information on menus, entertainment, and dining packages, be sure to visit the official Walt Disney World website.
Planning your first Walt Disney World vacation? Be sure to visit my step-by-step planning guide to get started!
Ready to Keep Planning?
Here are some resources to help!
- Guide to Walt Disney World in 2026
- Guide to Walt Disney World in 2027
- EPCOT Festival of the Arts
- EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival
- EPCOT Festival of the Holidays
Walt Disney World Resort Guides:
- Disney Value Resort Hotels
- Disney Moderate Resort Hotels
- Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels
- Disney Deluxe Villas
Walt Disney World Dining Guides:
- Dining in Magic Kingdom
- Dining in Epcot
- Dining in Hollywood Studios
- Dining in Animal Kingdom
- Disney World Dining Reservations Guide
Walt Disney World Attraction Guides:
- Attraction Guide for Magic Kingdom
- Attraction Guide for Epcot
- Attraction Guide for Hollywood Studios
- Attraction Guide for Animal Kingdom
