EPCOT Food and Wine Festival 2026: What’s New, Insider Tips & Our Team Picks

The 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs August 27 through November 21, celebrating 30 years of one of Disney’s most popular festivals. Admission to the festival itself is included with regular EPCOT admission, with more than 30 Global Marketplaces offering food and drinks inspired by cuisines from around the world.

For Horizon West residents, our advice is simple: don’t try to do it all. Pick a few favorites, make a meal out of small bites, catch some live music, and come back another day for whatever you missed.

Here’s our local guide to making the most of Food & Wine without treating it like an endurance sport.

New for 2026

This year’s festival is extra special because it marks the 30th anniversary of EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival.

To celebrate, Disney is bringing back or reimagining 30 dishes from previous festivals, giving longtime Disney fans a fun excuse to revisit some classic bites. The official foodie guide also includes plenty of brand-new creations alongside returning favorites.

Some of the standout returning dishes include:

• Pumpkin-Mascarpone Ravioli at Forest & Field
• Grilled Bushberry-Spiced Shrimp Skewer at Australia
• Kirschwasser Torte at The Alps

New this year, look for creations like Basil Pesto Chicken Dumplings at Gyozas of the Galaxy and the Smoked Brisket and Cheddar Melt at Hops & Barley.

And because apparently EPCOT decided we needed even more cheese in our lives, Emile’s Fromage Montage is back for another year.

Do the Fromage Montage

If you’ve never done it, this is one of our favorite ways to experience Food & Wine, especially with kids.

Look for the cheese icon next to eligible dishes in your Festival Passport. Purchase five of the designated cheese creations, collect your stamps, and you can redeem your completed passport for a festival treat at Shimmering Sips.

It turns eating your way around World Showcase into a little scavenger hunt, which is particularly helpful if you’re visiting with kids who might otherwise ask, “Are we done yet?”

A 2026 bonus for cheese lovers

The new The Wedge, located in CommuniCore Hall, will be available September 18 through November 8. The menu includes a selection of cheeses, crab and corn macaroni and cheese, wine and cheese pairings, and a cannoli milkshake. There’s also a special cheese-focused interactive exhibit in CommuniCore Hall during the same period.

Our Team Food Picks

With dozens of booths and hundreds of food and drink options, deciding what to eat can be overwhelming. So we’re narrowing it down.

Pumpkin-Mascarpone Ravioli — Forest & Field

This is one of the dishes we’re most excited to see return.

The combination of pumpkin, mascarpone and pasta feels like the perfect bridge between late summer and fall. If you’re someone who looks forward to those cozy fall flavors, put this one near the top of your list.

Grilled Bushberry-Spiced Shrimp Skewer — Australia

A great choice if you want something savory without feeling like you’ve just eaten your way through half of EPCOT.

The grilled shrimp is paired with sweet-and-sour vegetables and a coconut-chile sauce, giving it a combination of sweet, savory and spicy flavors. It’s also one of the returning dishes Disney specifically highlighted for 2026.

Street Corn-Style Dumplings — Gyozas of the Galaxy

This might be one of the most fun new-ish combinations on the festival menu.

Chicken dumplings meet tomatillo salsa verde, street corn salad, cotija, lime crema and cilantro. Basically, take everything you love about street corn and put it on a dumpling.

Basil Pesto Chicken Dumplings — Gyozas of the Galaxy

Another one for the dumpling fans.

The basil pesto, fonduta, tomato confit and balsamic combination sounds especially good for anyone who prefers Italian-inspired flavors over spicy food.

Smoked Brisket & Cheddar Melt — Hops & Barley

If you’re traveling with someone who isn’t particularly interested in “tiny international foods,” this is the booth to send them toward.

The smoked brisket and cheddar combination is hearty enough to feel like an actual meal while still fitting the festival’s snack-around-the-world format. Disney lists it among the new offerings for 2026.

Kirschwasser Torte — The Alps

This returning favorite features cherry-brandy buttercream, fondant, sugared almonds and cherry compote. It’s also one of the dishes Disney is bringing back as part of the 30th-anniversary celebration.

TIP: Not every marketplace opens on the first day. Several 2026 locations are scheduled to debut later in the festival, so if a particular booth is high on your list, check its opening date before making the trip.

The Cannoli Milkshake

We feel like this deserves its own mention. The new cannoli milkshake at The Wedge is topped with chocolate shavings, a cannoli shell and a maraschino cherry, and it’s non-alcoholic, making it an easy family-friendly choice. This is exactly the kind of festival item we recommend splitting. You’re going to want room for other things.

Don’t Forget the Music

The Eat to the Beat Concert Series returns to the America Gardens Theatre with performances included with your EPCOT admission. The 2026 lineup includes returning favorites like Boyz II Men, Yellowcard and The Beach Boys, along with new festival performers including Fitz and the Tantrums, Lauren Alaina and Grace Potter.

And here’s where being a local really pays off. You don’t have to build your entire vacation around seeing your favorite artist.

Concerts are included with park admission and seating is first-come, first-served. Dining packages are available for guests who want a meal and guaranteed seating in the reserved section.

2026 Eat to the Beat Lineup

Try This Fun Strategy for Locals

The best part about being a Disney local, is not having to take in the entire Food and Wine Festival in one day. Try this strategy to spread out the fun.

Make one visit a date night: Leave the kids with a sitter, arrive later in the afternoon and share several dishes while wandering World Showcase.

Make another visit a family night: Give each person a small food budget and let everyone choose something they want to try.

Make another visit about music: Pick a night with a favorite Eat to the Beat performer and build your evening around the concert.

Make another visit a “just dessert” night: Because sometimes you don’t need a plan. You just need a cannoli milkshake.

For the complete official menu, visit the 2026 Disney Eats Foodie Guide, and for festival details and planning information, check the official Walt Disney World festival page.

Food & Wine Is Not Just for Adults

Despite the name, you absolutely don’t need to be a wine drinker to enjoy the festival. There are plenty of non-alcoholic options, desserts, kid-friendly dishes and activities throughout the park.

Don’t forget Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt. Guests can purchase a map and stickers and search World Showcase for hidden Remy figures. Complete the hunt and you’ll receive a keepsake. For families, it can be the perfect excuse to slow down and actually explore the pavilions instead of racing from attraction to attraction.