If you have been dreaming of sipping your way around World Showcase while live music drifts through the warm Florida evening air, the time to start planning is now. Walt Disney World has officially announced the 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, and we have all the early details to help you get ahead of the crowd.

First things first, EPCOT Food & Wine Festival is returning August 27 – November 21, 2026. That is 87 days of global flavors, live entertainment, and unforgettable experiences. The late-summer-to-pre-holiday run is the event’s signature format and is nearly identical to last year’s festival window. And best yet, the entire festival is included with your standard EPCOT park ticket.

What Is the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival?

First celebrated in 1996 as a modest 30-day event, the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival has grown into one of Walt Disney World’s most beloved annual traditions. Today it transforms EPCOT into a globe-trotting culinary adventure, with Global Marketplace booths scattered throughout the park offering dishes and drinks inspired by cultures across six continents.

Whether this is your first visit or your 100th, there is always something new to discover alongside the fan-favorite dishes guests plan entire trips around. The magic here is not rides or characters. It is the cumulative experience of great food, great music, and World Showcase at its absolute best.

Mark Your Calendars

The festival runs from August 27 through November 21, 2026, giving you a 87-day window to plan around. The best part? No separate ticket is required. Access to every booth, every concert, all of it is covered by your standard EPCOT park admission.

Global Marketplaces: A World of Flavor Awaits

Disney is still finalizing the full menu lineup, but several returning dishes have already been confirmed. These are among the most talked-about items from recent festival years:

Expect 30+ Global Marketplaces when the festival is fully underway, with some booths opening on a phased schedule throughout the season. The full Foodie Guide, complete with every booth and every menu item, will be released closer to opening day. We will have complete coverage here the moment it drops.

Live Music: The Eat to the Beat Concert Series Returns

The beloved Eat to the Beat Concert Series is confirmed to return for 2026 at the America Gardens Theatre inside the American Adventure Pavilion. This fan-favorite series brings popular artists from the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s to the EPCOT stage for multiple nightly performances, typically at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:00 PM.

Past performers have included Hanson, Boyz II Men, Sheila E., The Fray, MercyMe, Tiffany, and Smash Mouth. The full 2026 artist lineup has not yet been announced, but Disney typically releases it closer to the festival, and it is consistently one of the most anticipated announcements of the season.

For a complete breakdown of the concert series, showtimes, participating restaurants, and Dining Package strategy, see our full guide: Your Complete Guide to the 2026 Eat to the Beat Concert Series.

Family Fun: Remy’s Hide & Squeak and Emile’s Fromage Montage

The festival is not just for grown-up foodies, and Disney makes sure of it. Two beloved family activities are confirmed returning for 2026.

Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak

The festival’s signature scavenger hunt invites guests to track down hidden Remy figurines placed throughout World Showcase. Pick up a map, find them all, and turn in your completed map for a special prize. It is one of the best ways to keep younger guests engaged while the rest of the group explores the booths at a comfortable pace.

Emile’s Fromage Montage

For the cheese lovers in the group, this activity challenges guests to purchase five select cheese dishes from participating Global Marketplaces, collect a stamp in their Festival Passport for each one, and redeem the completed passport for a specialty prize. It adds a fun, structured element to booth-hopping and is highly recommended for anyone who takes their fromage seriously.

Photo credit: Disney Parks Blog

Tips for Planning Your 2026 Food & Wine Visit

With 87 days on the calendar, you have real flexibility. But a little planning goes a long way. Here is what we tell every guest who asks how to get the most out of it:

• Book dining reservations early. EPCOT’s table-service restaurants fill up fast during the festival, especially if you are eyeing an Eat to the Beat Dining Package. Disney’s reservation window opens 60 days before your arrival date. Be ready.
• Visit on weekdays when possible. Crowds run lighter Tuesday through Thursday, and local entertainment takes the America Gardens Theatre stage on those nights for a relaxed, low-key evening.
• Pace yourself across multiple visits. With 30+ booths, trying to cover everything in one day is not realistic and takes the enjoyment out of the experience. Spread your visits and actually savor each stop.
• Download My Disney Experience before you arrive. Showtimes, booth locations, dining reservations, and park hours are all in one place. It is essential for navigating the festival.
• Arrive early for popular concerts. Without a Dining Package, general seating is first-come, first-served. For headliners that draw large crowds, plan to be in place 30 to 40 minutes before showtime.

Stay Tuned — More Details Are Coming

Disney is still finalizing the complete Global Marketplace booth and menu list, the full Eat to the Beat artist lineup, all Dining Package details, and the official Foodie Guide. We will update our coverage as each announcement is made, so bookmark this page and check back often.

The 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival opens on August 27, 2026. Start planning your trip now, and when you are ready to lock in dining, visit MouseDining.com to set alerts and secure the reservations that make your festival truly exceptional.