EPCOT's 2026 International Food & Wine Festival runs Aug. 27 through Nov. 21. The practical planning question is your date: most marketplaces open on Aug. 27, while Festival Favorites, The Wedge, and several other locations arrive later.
The festival is included with valid EPCOT admission. Food, drinks, activity maps, merchandise, and dining packages cost extra. Some admission types may also need a theme park reservation, so check the ticket terms before your park day.
Build the day around food or the concert
Dates and admission
The 2026 festival starts Thursday, Aug. 27 and runs through Saturday, Nov. 21. Eat to the Beat concerts run nightly through Nov. 16, so the final five festival days are food-and-activity dates without the concert series.
No separate festival ticket is required. Valid EPCOT admission is required, and some ticket types may also need a theme park reservation.
Marketplace opening dates
The current Global Marketplaces list makes the date choice clearer. Most of the loop is available from opening day, but the late booths change what a food-first visit can cover.
| Marketplace | Location | Opening | Plan around it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Global Marketplaces | World Showcase and park paths | Aug. 27 | Use opening day for the main international loop. |
| Festival Favorites | CommuniCore Hall | Sept. 9 | Save this stop for a date after the first week. |
| The Wedge | CommuniCore Hall | Sept. 18-Nov. 8 | Cheese plates, macaroni and cheese, pairings, and a cannoli milk shake. |
| Coastal Eats | Near Creations Shop | Oct. 2 | Add the seafood stop to an October route. |
| Earth Eats | World Nature | Oct. 2 | Pair the later opening with the World Nature section. |
| India and The Alps | World Showcase | Oct. 2 | Both are later-opening choices for a full-country loop. |
Opening dates are the useful part of this table, not a promise that every menu item stays unchanged. Prices, hours, allergy offerings, and individual dishes can change, so check the official marketplace page on the day of the visit.
New and returning dishes
The 2026 Foodie Guide fills in the menu decisions. New or revised dishes are spread across the park, while 30 anniversary dishes return or receive updates.
| Stop | Current menu call | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| The Wedge | Crab-and-corn, three-cheese, and cheesesteak macaroni and cheese, plus a cannoli milk shake. | A strong reason to visit between Sept. 18 and Nov. 8. |
| Brew-Wing Lab | Buffalo-dill pickle, garlic-Parmesan, Korean barbecue, and Carolina Reaper pepper-curry wings. | Easy to split across a group with different heat preferences. |
| Gyozas of the Galaxy | Basil pesto chicken dumplings and other comfort-food-inspired dumplings. | A smaller savory stop for a group saving room for the loop. |
| Hops & Barley | Smoked brisket and cheddar melt, plus a frozen apple blossom. | Useful when the group wants one heavier savory stop. |
| Forest & Field, Australia, South Korea, and Poland | Pumpkin-mascarpone ravioli, grilled bushberry-spiced shrimp, bo ssam pork belly lettuce wraps, and potato pierogi. | Four returning or revised dishes worth marking before the route is set. |
The Aug. 19 menu update and photo gallery has the broader dish catalog. Use this guide's shorter list to choose stops, then open the full gallery when a specific dish is the reason for the visit.
Cheese strolls and family hunts
Emile's Fromage Montage returns with eligible cheese dishes, passport stamps, and a sweet reward. It works best as a flexible loop: choose the cheese stops your group already wants, then let the stamps fill in the gaps.
Cheers to Cheese returns at CommuniCore Hall from Sept. 18 through Nov. 8. The exhibit and The Wedge share the same date window, which makes that stretch especially useful for a cheese-focused visit.
Pluto's Pumpkin Pursuit runs Sept. 25 through Nov. 2 while supplies last. The game board and stickers cost $11.99 plus tax, and each completed board can be redeemed for a keepsake. Remy's Hide & Squeak also returns with its map, stickers, and keepsake, so families can choose the hunt that fits their date.
Eat to the Beat
Eat to the Beat runs nightly from Aug. 27 through Nov. 16 at America Gardens Theatre. Concerts are included with EPCOT admission, and the current official schedule lists shows at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8 p.m.
| Question | Current answer |
|---|---|
| Who opens the series? | Evolution: Motown on Aug. 27, followed by Hanson Aug. 28-31. |
| What happens without a package? | Use the standby queue. Entry and seating depend on remaining capacity. |
| What does a dining package guarantee? | One concert seat per package guest on the same day as the meal, with a separate package queue. |
| Does a guarantee mean a reserved chair? | No. The package guarantees admission to the selected show, not a specific row or seat. |
Choose the artist before choosing the restaurant. The package is most useful when a particular show is the fixed point of the evening. The full date-by-date lineup is on the official schedule page.
Eat to the Beat dining package prices
Dining package booking is open at 15 participating restaurants, with Garden Grill offering separate breakfast and lunch-or-dinner prices, plus a same-day option at Regal Eagle Smokehouse. Prices exclude tax and gratuity. Valid EPCOT admission is required and is not included.
| Restaurant | Adult | Child | Dining Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biergarten Restaurant | $66 | $35 | 1 table-service meal |
| Chefs de France | $85 | $35 | 1 table-service meal |
| Coral Reef Restaurant | $73 | $29 | 1 table-service meal |
| Garden Grill breakfast | $66 | $40 | 1 table-service meal |
| Garden Grill lunch or dinner | $79 | $49 | 1 table-service meal |
| La Crêperie de Paris | $59 | $31 | 1 table-service meal |
| La Hacienda de San Angel | $82 | $37 | 1 table-service meal |
| Le Cellier Steakhouse | $99 | $39 | 2 table-service meals |
| Nine Dragons Restaurant | $62 | $25 | 1 table-service meal |
| Regal Eagle Smokehouse, same day only | $36 | $21 | Not eligible |
| Rose & Crown Dining Room | $61 | $26 | 1 table-service meal |
| Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya | $89 | $45 | 1 table-service meal |
| Spice Road Table | $56 | $21 | 1 table-service meal |
| Teppan Edo | $89 | $45 | 1 table-service meal |
| Tutto Italia Ristorante | $81 | $33 | 1 table-service meal |
| Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria | $69 | $31 | 1 table-service meal |
Most packages include an entrée and dessert or a full buffet, plus a beverage. Spice Road Table includes two small plates and a shared dessert platter. Adults 21 and older may choose an alcoholic beverage, with valid identification and Disney's posted alcohol limits.
Regal Eagle is the cheapest route at $36 for adults and $21 for children, but it is sold only at the restaurant on the day of the concert and depends on availability. La Crêperie de Paris is the least expensive advance reservation at $59 for adults. Le Cellier costs the most and uses two Dining Plan table-service meals.
The restaurant gives each guest a badge for a specific concert. Package guests enter a separate queue and choose among the available seats when that queue loads, so guaranteed admission does not mean a reserved row or chair.
Parisian Breakfast at Chefs de France
Parisian Breakfast at Chefs de France starts Aug. 28 and runs on Fridays and Saturdays for a limited time during the festival. The prepaid buffet includes French pastries, baguettes, cheeses, charcuterie, smoked salmon, fruit, mini Croque Monsieur sandwiches, and a beverage.
Advance reservations are recommended. Same-day reservations may be available, tables can be shared with other parties, Dining Plan meals are not accepted, and cancellations inside two hours carry a $10-per-person fee. It is a separate breakfast plan, not an Eat to the Beat package.
How to use the festival day
Pick the date before you map the loop. The late-opening booths and seasonal activities divide the festival into useful planning windows:
- Aug. 27-Sept. 8: Most marketplaces are available, but Festival Favorites has not opened yet.
- Sept. 18-Nov. 2: The Wedge, Cheers to Cheese, and Pluto's Pumpkin Pursuit can all fit into the right date window. Pluto's game ends Nov. 2, while The Wedge and Cheers to Cheese continue through Nov. 8.
- Oct. 2-Nov. 8: Coastal Eats, Earth Eats, India, and The Alps have joined the later-opening list, so this is the strongest window for a broad marketplace route.
- Nov. 17-21: The festival continues, but Eat to the Beat has ended. Choose these dates for food and activities rather than a concert.
Start with the dishes that matter most, then keep the route moving in one direction around World Showcase. Use Remy's Hide & Squeak or Pluto's Pumpkin Pursuit as the family anchor, and buy a dining package when a specific artist is the evening's priority over a flexible booth-first plan.
Guests with allergies should speak with a Special Diets-trained Cast Member at the location. Allergy-friendly menus, prices, hours, and offerings can change.
Hero image credit: Disney Parks Blog. Body images: 2026 Foodie Guide.