Last updated: April 30, 2026
Fellow Disney foodie fans, it’s time to start planning! The 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival dates have officially been released, and this year’s festival will run from August 27 through November 21, 2026.
That means nearly three full months of global bites, festival sips, live music, scavenger hunts, and all the grown-up EPCOT fun that makes this one of our favorite times to visit Walt Disney World.
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If you’ve ever planned an adult Disney World trip, you already know EPCOT is usually the park that wins for food, drinks, atmosphere, and wandering at your own pace. Add Food & Wine Festival booths into the mix, and it becomes even more tempting for couples, friends, empty nesters, solo travelers, and anyone who loves a good snack-and-stroll day.
Disney says the 2026 festival will include Global Marketplaces inspired by cuisines from around the world, returning festival activities, and the popular Eat to the Beat Concert Series. Full menus and the complete concert lineup are still coming later, but we already have enough details to start getting excited. We’ll update you as soon as we know more.
- What Are the 2026 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Dates?
- What Is Returning for the 2026 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival?
- Why This Festival Is Perfect for an Adult Disney Trip
- Planning Tips for EPCOT Food & Wine Festival 2026
- How to Build an Orlando Trip Around the Festival
- Bottom Line on Epcot's Food and Wine Festival
- FAQS About the 2026 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival
- Author’s Note
What Are the 2026 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Dates?
The 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs from August 27 through November 21, 2026.
That timing makes it a great option for late-summer Disney trips, fall getaways, Halloween season visits, and even early holiday-season Orlando vacations. It also gives you a pretty wide window to plan around school schedules, flight prices, work calendars, or a long weekend getaway.
The festival is included with valid EPCOT admission, although Disney notes that a theme park reservation may be required depending on your ticket or admission type.
What Is Returning for the 2026 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival?
Disney has confirmed several returning festival favorites for 2026, including Global Marketplaces, Emile’s Fromage Montage, Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak, and the Eat to the Beat Concert Series.
Global Marketplaces Will Be Back
The Global Marketplaces are the heart of EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. These festival food booths are set up throughout the park and usually feature small plates, desserts, wine, beer, cocktails, and other sips inspired by different countries and regions. We love sampling our way around the world in Epcot during this amazing fest.
Disney has not released the full 2026 menus yet, but a few returning items have already been teased, including:
- Street corn-style chicken dumplings from Gyozas of the Galaxy
- Grilled bushberry-spiced shrimp from Australia
- Kirschwasser torte from The Alps
That’s just an early peek, though. Disney says the full Foodie Guide and marketplace opening details will be released closer to the festival. Some marketplaces may also open in phases rather than all on opening day.
For us, this is the part of the festival that makes EPCOT feel like the perfect adult Disney day. You can share a few dishes, try a cocktail or wine flight, catch a show, and keep moving instead of committing to one big sit-down meal.
If you love planning trips around food like we do, you may also want to pair your Disney visit with a few local favorites from our guide to the best Orlando restaurants for foodies.
Emile’s Fromage Montage Is Returning
Cheese lovers, this one is for you. Emile’s Fromage Montage is returning for the 2026 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival.
This is a cheese-focused food walkl where guests purchase select cheese dishes from participating Global Marketplaces and collect stamps in their festival passport. After completing the required items, guests can redeem their completed stroll for a festival treat.
It’s a fun way to add a little mission to your festival day, especially if you are already planning to snack around the park. I also love that it gives you a reason to try booths you might otherwise walk past.
Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Is Back Too
Disney also confirmed that Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak will return for the 2026 festival.
This scavenger hunt is inspired by Ratatouille and sends guests around EPCOT looking for Remy and the ingredients he has hidden throughout the festival. Guests purchase a map and stickers, then track their finds as they explore.
Even though this is great for families, it can also be a cute add-on for adults who like a little extra Disney whimsy with their park day. Sometimes it’s nice to have a low-stress activity between food booths, especially when you’re wandering around World Showcase.
Eat to the Beat Concert Series Returns
The Eat to the Beat Concert Series is also returning to the America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion.
The full 2026 artist lineup has not been announced yet, but Disney says the concert series will bring live music to the festival, with multiple shows typically scheduled throughout the day. Concerts are included with EPCOT admission, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Disney also noted that more details about concert dining packages will be shared closer to the festival.
If your family has a few Star Wars fans, check out this vacation rental on VRBO with a Galactic room! It’s close to the park too!
Why This Festival Is Perfect for an Adult Disney Trip
We love Disney with family, but there’s something extra fun about doing EPCOT as adults. You can slow down, share small plates, spend more time in World Showcase, stop for live music, and build the day around what sounds fun instead of trying to fit in every ride.
Food & Wine Festival makes that even better.
It’s also a great match for those of us who enjoy cocktails, lounges, and dinner-style experiences without having to plan a formal dining reservation for every meal. EPCOT already has some of the best drinks at Walt Disney World, and the festival adds even more seasonal options.
If cocktails are part of your Orlando trip planning, don’t miss our guide to the best craft cocktails in Orlando for more Disney-area and citywide ideas.
Planning Tips for EPCOT Food & Wine Festival 2026
If you’re thinking about going, a little strategy can make the day much more enjoyable.
Go earlier in the festival if you want that “new festival” excitement, but expect August and September to be hot. If you prefer better weather, late October and early November can be a sweet spot, especially for adult trips and long weekends.
Weekdays are usually more relaxed than weekends, especially in the evenings when locals and weekend vacation groups may be more likely to visit. If you’re mainly going for food booths, try to arrive hungry but not starving. Sharing a few dishes is part of the fun, and it helps you try more without getting full too fast.
Also, keep an eye out for the official Disney Foodie Guide on Disney World’s official site, when it drops (we’ll update you). That’s when the real planning begins.
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How to Build an Orlando Trip Around the Festival
A Food & Wine Festival trip does not have to be only about EPCOT. You can make it part of a bigger Orlando getaway with Disney Springs, resort hopping, local restaurants, live music, and a few budget-friendly activities.
For a low-cost add-on day, check out our guide to free things to do in Orlando. It’s a helpful way to balance out the cost of Disney tickets, festival snacks, and dining reservations.
You could easily plan a 3-day adult Orlando trip like this:
- Day 1: Disney Springs, cocktails, dinner, and live music
- Day 2: EPCOT Food & Wine Festival
- Day 3: Pool time, local Orlando restaurants, or free activities nearby
That kind of trip gives you the Disney magic without feeling like you have to be in a theme park from rope drop to fireworks every single day.
If you have enough time Disney pairs well with some nearby destinations. See our St. Augustine weekend trip guide and Daytona Beach vacation guide to help plan an amazing extended trip.
Don’t forget to protect your trip with a great travel insurance! We love using Travelex insurance to cover our trips. We also have a guide on how to choose the best travel insurance too!
Bottom Line on Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival
The 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is officially on the calendar for August 27 through November 21, 2026, and we’ve already got our plans started. It really is one of the best fall Disney events for food lovers, music fans, and adult travelers.
While we’re still waiting for the full menus, concert lineup, and marketplace details, Disney has confirmed the return of festival staples like Global Marketplaces, Emile’s Fromage Montage, Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak, and Eat to the Beat.
If you’ve been looking for a reason to plan a grown-up Disney getaway, this might be it. 🍷
FAQS About the 2026 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival
The 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs from August 27 through November 21, 2026.
Yes, the festival is included with valid EPCOT admission. Food, drinks, merchandise, scavenger hunt maps, and some special experiences cost extra. Disney also notes that a theme park reservation may be required depending on admission type.
Not yet. Disney has shared a few returning menu items, but the full 2026 Foodie Guide and marketplace details will be released closer to the festival.
Yes! EPCOT Food & Wine Festival is one of the best Disney events for adults because it combines global food booths, cocktails, wine, live music, and a more flexible park day. We think it’s especially fun for couples, friends, empty nesters, and foodie-focused Orlando trips.
Author’s Note
Our first Disney trip without the kids was an anniversary trip, and EPCOT quickly became one of our favorite parks to enjoy at a slower adult pace. Food, drinks, World Showcase, live music, and the freedom to do exactly what we want make it feel completely different from the busy family trips we took when the kids were younger. That’s why Food & Wine Festival is such a fun fit for couples, friends, empty nesters, and anyone who wants a Disney trip with a little more flavor and a little less rushing.
