We finally have our first real taste of what’s coming to this year’s EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, and I say “taste” very literally!
Disney just confirmed a few menu items, and I already have a mental list forming.
This year marks the festival’s 31st go-round, running August 27 through November 21, 2026 — one day earlier on both ends than last year, which is close enough to the historical norm that I won’t read too much into it. Everything’s included with regular EPCOT admission, though obviously you’ll still be pulling out your wallet at every single marketplace kiosk, because that’s the whole point.
As for actual food, three confirmed returning dishes have me planning my festival strategy already: the Street Corn-style Dumplings from Gyozas of the Galaxy (chicken dumplings with tomatillo salsa verde, street corn salad, cotija, lime crema, and cilantro — basically street corn wearing a dumpling costume, and I mean that as the highest compliment), the Grilled Bushberry-spiced Shrimp Skewer from Australia with sweet-and-sour vegetables and coconut-chili sauce, and the Kirschwasser Torte from The Alps, layered with cherry-brandy buttercream, fondant, sugared almonds, and cherry compote. I’ve had all three before. I will be having all three again. This is not up for debate.
Beyond these confirmed returns, Disney says full menus and the complete marketplace lineup are still being finalized, with some Global Marketplaces opening on a phased schedule again this year rather than all launching day one. So consider this the appetizer of the announcement, not the entrée.
The Eat to the Beat Concert Series is also confirmed to return at America Gardens Theatre, running nightly from August 27 through November 16 with three showtimes a day (5:30, 6:45, and 8 PM). Eight new acts are joining the lineup this year, including Grammy-nominated The War and Treaty, indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums, and American Idol runner-up Lauren Alaina — a genuinely solid mix if you like your food festival with a side of live music, which, honestly, who doesn’t.
And the headline new addition this year lives outside the food booths entirely: Cheers to Cheese, a brand-new interactive exhibit opening at CommuniCore Hall on September 18th, digging into the history, culture, and fun facts behind cheese. An entire exhibit dedicated to cheese lore is exactly the kind of gloriously random programming that makes this festival worth the calories, and I already know I’m spending way too long in there.
More menu reveals are expected as we get closer to the festival’s August 27th kickoff, so consider this just the beginning of what’s shaping up to be a pretty solid year.
Which returning Food & Wine dish are you most excited to have again: the dumplings, the shrimp skewer, or the torte? Let me know your festival game plan!
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