By Kate Cohen
July 2, 2026
Foodies and flavor enthusiasts, it’s almost your time to shine!
Walt Disney World’s EPCOT theme park, known for its world-famous annual festivals, is about to host one of its most popular events.
Every fall, the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival takes over the park with a smorgasbord of dishes and drinks from around the globe.
With so much to explore, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the offerings and activities.
To make the most of the event, we’ve put together these helpful tips and planning advice for EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival.
Key Takeaways
- An EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Overview
- Plan Your Visit Strategically
- Start with a Must-Try List
- Beat the Lines
- Stay Hydrated and Pace Yourself
- Catch the Entertainment
- Family-Friendly Food and Wine Festival Tips
- Savor the Experience with a Stay at Rosen Shingle Creek
An EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Overview
This year, the Food & Wine Festival runs Aug. 27 through Nov. 21, 2026.
Admission to the festival is included in your EPCOT admission for the day, whether you have a single-day park ticket or a park-hopper ticket.
Throughout the theme park, you’ll find an array of Global Marketplace booths, each with a different regional theme.
There are approximately 35 Global Marketplaces throughout EPCOT, each offering menus representing traditional flavors and ingredients from the region.
Food and beverages from Global Marketplaces can be purchased a la carte, like any other food throughout EPCOT.
There are a variety of family-friendly activities to enjoy with kids throughout the festival (which we’ll get to soon), as well as a huge concert lineup featuring artists from a variety of music genres.
However, there are some important things to keep in mind throughout your visit to the Food & Wine Festival.
While the event takes place in traditional “fall” months, it’s critical to remember that August, September, October, and even November are still hot and humid in Central Florida.
Orlando’s rainy season typically lasts through mid-October, too, so it never hurts to anticipate daily thunderstorms during much of the festival.
Stay comfortable by packing lightweight clothing, plenty of sunscreen, and staying hydrated, especially if you plan on enjoying any of EPCOT’s delicious alcoholic beverages.
Plan Your Visit Strategically
EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival draws big crowds every year, which can impact how you navigate the event.
The Food & Wine Global Marketplaces typically don’t open until the World Showcase opens, which is 11 a.m.
So, while you can absolutely rope drop and get to EPCOT as soon as it opens at 9 a.m., you won’t be able to enjoy the festival until an hour before noon.
However, you can prioritize EPCOT’s non-World Showcase attractions like the aquarium, Soarin’, Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth, and Test Track.
Two of the park’s most popular rides, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (in France) and Frozen Ever After (in Norway) open at 9 a.m.
Crossing those non-festival-related attractions off your list early will give you more time to spend touring and tasting throughout the rest of the day.
Be sure to pick up a festival passport upon entering the theme park to prioritize and map out the booths you’d like to visit.
Start With a Must‑Try List
There’s no way to try everything the festival has to offer in a single trip.
Just before the event begins, Disney will release a full listing of Food & Wine Festival menu items you can look forward to this year.
When you peruse the Festival Passport ahead of time, you’ll be able to designate an efficient route throughout the theme park and take note of where your must-try items are located.
Fan-favorite booths in the past have included France, Japan, India, and The Alps.
Most items sold at each Global Marketplace are single servings but can be split up if you’re looking to sample something special. Dishes generally range between $4.50 and $10 per item.
Stay tuned for the release of the 2026 Festival Passport and menu.
Beat the Lines
Like any day at the theme parks, you can expect to encounter lines during your Food & Wine Festival visit.
There are, however, a few things you can do to spend less time waiting and more time enjoying your visit.
Visit popular booths early in the day. The biggest crowds arrive around lunchtime (noon to 2 p.m.) and 6 to 8 p.m. for dinner time.
Pick up your must-try treats either when the festival opens at 11 a.m. or hold off until after the lunch rush to spend less time in line.
Stay Hydrated and Pace Yourself
Staying hydrated is exceptionally important in the Florida heat, especially when you’re spending all day on your feet, eating rich food and drinking alcohol.
There are free water stations throughout the theme park, or you can bring your own water bottle and refill it during the day.
Pace yourself by finding indoor attractions to give your body a break from the heat and humidity outdoors.
And yes, there are plenty of indoor rides, shows, and activities throughout the World Showcase for your party to enjoy.
If you are indulging in a few adult beverages, be sure you’re alternating alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones to stay hydrated, too.
Catch the Entertainment
The Food & Wine Festival isn’t just about eating and drinking.
The Eat to the Beat Concert Series is another recurring facet of the festival that draws big crowds every year.
Every night throughout The Food & Wine Festival, you can catch a live concert onstage at the outdoor America Gardens Theatre.
There are three showtimes every day: 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8 p.m.
Artists in 2026 include Hanson, The War and Treaty, Yellowcard, Fitz and the Tantrums, The Fray, Ben Rector, and Grace Potter, among many others.
To grab a seat at the theatre, you can wait in a standby line. Or guarantee yourself a spot with the Concert Series Dining Package, which includes dinner and the show.
More information regarding this year’s dining packages will be available in mid-July.
In addition to the concerts, there will also be entertainment like culinary demos and cultural performances throughout the festival.
Family‑Friendly Food & Wine Festival Tips
If you’re visiting with kids, there’s plenty of festival fun for them to enjoy, too.
The Food & Wine Festival offers plenty of kid-approved dishes and non-alcoholic drinks for young festivalgoers to try.
Emile’s Fromage Montage is a guided tasting tour featuring cheesy dishes that kids and grownups will love.
Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak is a Ratatouille-inspired scavenger hunt that sends participants on a quest looking for hidden Remys throughout the park.
A similar scavenger hunt called Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit is also making an appearance in 2026; find all the hidden pumpkins and get a spooky keepsake to take home.
If you are traveling with a baby or toddler and they need a break from the heat, be sure to check out the EPCOT Baby Care Center.
This air-conditioned haven is the perfect place for parents to change, feed, and recharge with their little ones away from the crowds.
You’ll find it in the Odyssey building, situated near the World Showcase entrance along the walkway toward the Mexico Pavilion.
Savor the Experience with a Stay at Rosen Shingle Creek
There is so much to enjoy every year at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. We hope these EPCOT Food & Wine Festival tips are helpful as you experience the event for yourself.
When you’re done touring and tasting, head back to your welcoming and comfortable hotel room at Rosen Shingle Creek.
Our resort has everything you need for a relaxing stay with convenience to Orlando’s top attractions and plenty of vacation-worthy amenities.
Still hungry? Check out Rosen Shingle Creek’s onsite dining for everything from poolside burgers to prime steaks and produce grown in our onsite garden.
We look forward to hosting you as you explore EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival and everything else Orlando has waiting for you.
