If there’s one event at Walt Disney World that makes me wish I could be in two places at once, it’s the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. The smells alone — warm spices drifting through World Showcase, something sizzling from a marketplace halfway around the world — are enough to make you forget every to-do list you’ve ever written.
And friends, we are officially in the home stretch. Disney just dropped a fresh round of festival details, opening day is barely three weeks out, and there is a lot more on the table now than there was when I first wrote this post. New exhibits, new photo ops, and the full concert lineup — which means we can finally plan around it instead of guessing.
Let me break it all down for you!
When Is the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival 2026?
Mark your calendars, people: the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival 2026 runs from August 27 to November 21, 2026. That’s nearly three full months of food, music, and world-class entertainment right inside EPCOT!
This window is one of my favorite times to visit Walt Disney World. Summer’s heat is starting to soften, the crowds shift after Labor Day, and that magical feeling of fall creeping into the parks makes everything feel a little more special. If you’ve been on the fence about a fall Disney trip, the Food & Wine Festival is one of the best reasons to finally book it!
PRO TIP: If you’re planning around the festival, aim for mid-September through mid-October. The temperatures become more comfortable, the holiday season hasn’t kicked off yet, and EPCOT is at its most vibrant.
EPCOT Global Marketplaces: What’s Coming in 2026
The Global Marketplaces are the beating heart of the Food & Wine Festival. Little booths are stationed throughout EPCOT where you can sample dishes and drinks inspired by countries and regions from all over the world. This year there are more than 30 marketplaces throughout the park, including plenty of kid-friendly and plant-based options, which is one of the questions I get most from families!
Disney hasn’t released the full marketplace list just yet, but they did give us a sneak peek at three returning favorites, and honestly? I’m already drooling.
Returning Dishes to Watch For
- Street Corn-style Dumplings: Chicken Dumplings with Tomatillo Salsa Verde, Street Corn Salad, Cotija, Lime Crema, and Cilantro — from the Gyozas of the Galaxy marketplace
- Grilled Bushberry-spiced Shrimp Skewer with Sweet-and-Sour Vegetables and Coconut-Chili Sauce — from the Australia marketplace
- Kirschwasser Torte with Cherry-Brandy Buttercream, Fondant, Sugared Almonds, and Cherry Compote — from The Alps marketplace
I cannot overstate how much I love the creativity that goes into these menus every year. The fact that you can go from dumplings to shrimp skewers to an Alpine cherry torte all in the span of an afternoon is exactly why this festival feels like a gift. It’s seriously the best!
Note that some Global Marketplaces will have phased openings throughout the festival season, so not everything will be open on day one. Disney releases a full Foodie Guide with every menu closer to opening day; I’ll share it here the moment it drops!
Emile’s Fromage Montage Is Back!
Cheese lovers, this one’s for you! Emile’s Fromage Montage returns to the 2026 festival, inviting guests to stroll through EPCOT sampling cheese-inspired dishes at select Global Marketplaces.
The way it works: grab your festival passport, try eligible cheesy dishes, collect a stamp for each one, and when you’ve completed the full montage, you earn a special festival treat as your reward. It’s one of the most fun food strolls in the parks, and honestly, an excellent excuse to try things you might otherwise pass by.
Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt
If you’re bringing little ones (or if you’re just a kid at heart) Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt is an absolute must. Inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Ratatouille, this interactive experience sends you on a mission through World Showcase, searching for Remy as he hides throughout the pavilions collecting ingredients.
You can purchase a themed map and sticker set at the start of the hunt, and, if you track down Remy in every location, a special keepsake is waiting for you! It turns an already magical walk around World Showcase into something with purpose and a little extra pixie dust.
From a planning standpoint, this is one of those activities I love to recommend for families with toddlers and young kids. It keeps little ones engaged, slows the pace down in the best way, and gives you a natural way to explore every pavilion without it feeling like a march.
Eat to the Beat Concert Series: Full 2026 Lineup
The Eat to the Beat Concert Series presented by Enterprise returns to the America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion. It is one of the most underrated experiences at Walt Disney World, full stop!
Live performances happen multiple times each night, and the best part? Concerts are included with your EPCOT theme park admission — no extra ticket, no upcharge, just great music. And the full lineup is finally here.
HEADS UP! THIS ONE MATTERS: Concerts run August 27 through November 16, but the festival itself runs through November 21. If you’re booking that final week of the festival, there will be no Eat to the Beat shows. Almost nobody mentions this, and I’ve seen it disappoint families who planned their trip around a specific act!
The Complete 2026 Eat to the Beat Schedule
New to the festival this year: Lauren Alaina, Fitz and The Tantrums, Grace Potter, The War and Treaty, Couch, Grupo Manía, Rey Ruiz, Allen Stone, and Big Head Todd and The Monsters — covering country, indie pop, blues, R&B, and Latin music.
AUGUST
Aug 27 — Evolution: Motown
Aug 28–31 — Hanson
SEPTEMBER
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–Oct 1 — Smash Mouth
OCTOBER
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–Nov 1 — Southbound
NOVEMBER
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
Concert Series Dining Packages Are On Sale Now!
This is the part I don’t want you to miss. Concert Series Dining Packages went on sale July 16, which means they are bookable right now. The package includes a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant plus a guaranteed seat in a reserved section of the theatre for a concert that same day.
THE THING NOBODY TELLS YOU: Even with a dining package, seating inside the reserved section is still first-come, first-served. So the package guarantees you’re in the room; it does not guarantee a good view. Arrive early anyway. If you’ve got your heart set on a specific act, this is the move, and popular nights book up fast!
Where to find the stage: The America Gardens Theatre sits at the front of The American Adventure pavilion, right along World Showcase Lagoon, directly across from Spaceship Earth and between the Japan and Italy pavilions. Easy to find, easy to build a night around.
Cheers to Cheese! Arrives at CommuniCore Hall September 18
Here’s one that snuck up on me, and I love it. If your family did GoofyCore during Cool KIDS’ SUMMER, that space at CommuniCore Hall is getting a whole new chapter for the fall.
Starting September 18, an all-new interactive exhibit called “Cheers to Cheese!” takes over CommuniCore Hall — a full celebration of one of the world’s most beloved foods, complete with fun facts and the surprisingly fascinating history of cheese around every corner. Or wedge. I’ll see myself out.
WHY I LOVE THIS FOR FAMILIES: CommuniCore Hall is indoor and air-conditioned, which makes it a perfect mid-afternoon reset when the kids are melting and you need twenty minutes out of the Florida sun. Pair it with Emile’s Fromage Montage and you’ve got a genuinely themed afternoon that costs you nothing extra!
One planning note: this opens September 18, not opening day. If you’re visiting during those first three weeks of the festival, it won’t be there yet!
Disney PhotoPass Magic Shots at the Festival
Say cheese… truly! Disney PhotoPass photographers will be stationed throughout the park with limited-time festival photo ops, including a handful of Magic Shots that only exist during Food & Wine.
What to look for this year
- NEW: Waiter Mickey Mouse, available throughout World Showcase at the Mexico, China, Italy, Japan, and France pavilions
- Returning: the Giant Empanada
- Returning: the Leaning Tower of Cheeza with Max Goof
- Returning: The Swedish Chef, bringing his unorthodox (and largely unintelligible) culinary science
- Returning: Chef Figment, because the secret ingredient is always imagination!
- Plus a global tasting tour Magic Shot with Mickey Mouse
Waiter Mickey is the standout here. He’s brand new for 2026, and he’s spread across five pavilions, so you can genuinely make a lap of World Showcase and collect him. If you’re the family that likes a built-in mission (and after Remy’s Hide & Squeak, I think you might be), this is a free one!
WORTH THE MONEY? Magic Shots are taken for free, but you need Memory Maker to download them. If you’re already planning a park-heavy trip with multiple character meets, Memory Maker usually pays for itself — and if you’re not sure, ask me. I’ll run the math on your specific trip so you’re not buying something you won’t use!
More to Love at EPCOT During the Festival
The Food & Wine Festival is the headliner, but EPCOT during this season is full of layered experiences. In between marketplace visits and concert stops, you can:
- Ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind for a galactic adventure
- Meet and greet beloved Disney characters throughout the park
- Shop for unique merchandise and festival-exclusive souvenirs
- Catch a spirited singalong with ¡Celebración Encanto! at CommuniCore Plaza
EPCOT has transformed into one of the most exciting parks at Walt Disney World, and the fall festival season is truly when it shines brightest. It’s one of my favorite times and favorite parks to visit! There is something for every age, every interest, and every level of Disney enthusiasm.
How to Plan Your EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Trip
Here’s where having a travel agent in your corner makes all the difference. The Food & Wine Festival runs almost three months, but every week of the festival brings something a little different. Marketplaces open in phases. Cheers to Cheese doesn’t start until September 18. Concerts stop five days before the festival does. A different artist is on stage every two or three nights. That’s a lot of moving pieces for one vacation.
That’s the whole reason I do this: I filter through the noise so you don’t have to!
A few things I always walk my clients through:
- Which week to visit based on your family’s priorities (crowds, weather, specific concerts, etc.)
- Whether a Concert Series Dining Package makes sense for your group and budget (and which restaurant to pick)
- How to combine a full day at EPCOT with the rest of your Walt Disney World itinerary
- How to pace the Global Marketplace experience so you actually enjoy it instead of rushing through 30+ booths
- Whether Memory Maker is worth it for the way your family actually takes photos
Planning a Disney vacation is my favorite thing to do, and the fall season is especially magical. If you’re feeling inspired and you’re ready to start putting dates on the calendar, I’d love to help you put together a trip that’s everything you’re imagining.
Contact me here to start planning your EPCOT Food & Wine Festival 2026 trip. My planning services are completely complimentary — I’m paid by Disney and my agency, never by you — and I’m here to make this as easy and joyful as possible!
Stay Tuned for More 2026 Festival Details
Disney still has more coming: the full Global Marketplace lineup and the complete Foodie Guide with every single menu item. I’ll be updating this post as it drops, so bookmark it and come back often.
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival has been one of Walt Disney World’s most beloved traditions since 1996. Thirty years in, it still manages to surprise and delight. 2026 is going to be no different! I’ll be right here, cheering you on and helping you plan every glorious bite of it.
Aaaand since Disney reminded us we’re officially past halfway to Halloween, it’s worth saying out loud: Food & Wine overlaps with the entire fall season at Walt Disney World. If you’re already looking at those dates, you can stack it with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in September and October, or roll right into the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays when Food & Wine wraps in November. One trip, three festivals… if you time it right!
ACTIONABLE STEPS: Have questions about the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival 2026 or Walt Disney World vacation planning? I’d love to hear from you. Contact me here — my services are always complimentary!
