Edited by Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com
From a star-studded father-son chef lineup at Pigs & Pinot in Healdsburg, California to a Juneteenth-inspired soul food celebration in Lexington, Kentucky, citywide BBQ festivals in Fort Worth, and island-driven cuisine in St. Kitts, 2026 is shaping up to be a standout year for culinary travel.
Here is a curated list of some of the most compelling chef-driven food and wine events happening across the U.S. and abroad in 2026. Each offers travelers a reason to plan a trip around unforgettable dining experiences, cultural storytelling, and destination-specific flavors.
WEST COAST (CALIFORNIA + WASHINGTON)
Pigs & Pinot at Appellation Healdsburg (March 20–21, 2026): For the first time, Pigs & Pinot, the signature food and wine event founded by Chef Charlie Palmer, will be hosted at Appellation Healdsburg. The 19th‑annual weekend brings together acclaimed chefs, winemakers and sommeliers for a curated celebration of heritage pork and Pinot Noir. Highlights include father-and-son chef duos (Charlie + Reed Palmer; Emeril + E.J. Lagasse, Wolfgang + Byron Lazaroff-Puck and Jean-Georges + Cedric Vongerichten, the event’s first-ever all-female Gala winemaker lineup, and programming that pairs culinary excellence with mentorship and philanthropy for the next generation.
American Fare at Appellation Lodi – Wine & Roses Resort and Spa (May 2, 2026): American Fare is a chef-driven, immersive culinary experience hosted by Chef Charlie Palmer, celebrating the growers, winemakers, artisans, and chefs who shape Lodi’s vibrant food culture. Set across the resort’s manicured grounds, the event invites guests to explore a market-style walkaround featuring curated pairings between local chefs, farmers, and wineries, alongside artisan vendors, a garden bar showcasing botanical cocktails, a bloom bar, and Maison Lodi’s boulangerie. The day culminates with an exclusive VIP luncheon featuring a multi-course, al fresco menu crafted by guest chefs alongside Appellation Lodi’s culinary team.
MOHI Food & Wine Festival at MOHI by Appellation (October 4, 2026): MOHI Food & Wine Festival, presented by Léal Hospitality, Appellation, and Chef Charlie Palmer, is a chef-driven, community-focused celebration of Morgan Hill’s evolving food and wine scene. Hosted throughout downtown Morgan Hill, the festival brings together celebrity and local chefs, regional wineries, and artisanal producers for a day of tastings, discovery, and live culinary programming, with chef-led experiences and curated wine pours that spotlight the region’s agricultural roots and emerging culinary talent. In 2025, the festival welcomed more than 600 attendees and raised $72,000 in support of culinary and hospitality programs within the Morgan Hill Unified School District.
Pacific Northwest Food & Wine Festival at Davenport Hotels’ (September 26-29, 2026): Returning for the second year, the Pacific Northwest Food & Wine Festival (October 9-11, 2026) turns Spokane into a playground for food and wine lovers, celebrating the region’s most exciting culinary talent. Hosted across Davenport Hotels’ iconic downtown properties and in partnership with the James Beard Foundation, the festival features chef-driven tasting events, hands-on culinary demonstrations, and curated multi-course dinners highlighting local ingredients perfectly paired with Pacific Northwest wines. Guests can stay steps from the action at one of five Davenport Hotels including the historic Davenport Hotel and the collection’s newest boutique hotel, The Louie, a Davenport Hotel. With sweeping river views, walkable downtown charm, and a lineup designed to immerse attendees in the best of the region’s flavors, the festival cements Spokane as one of 2026’s must-visit destinations for food and wine experiences.
SOUTH (FLORIDA, TEXAS AND KENTUCKY)
The South Beach Wine & Food Festival at W South Beach (February 19-22,2026): Each year during the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, W South Beach plays a central role in Miami’s most anticipated culinary week, hosting some of the hottest celebrity chefs, Food Network stars, and epicurean tastemakers. The oceanfront property has become a go-to destination for exclusive chef-led programming, offering hotel guests and VIPs insider access to live cooking demonstrations, book signings, tasting sessions, and intimate conversations with culinary icons such as Alex Guarnaschelli and Geoffrey Zakarian. Whether watching a Michelin-lauded chef break down a signature dish or joining a hands-on cocktail demo at sunset, guests experience W South Beach’s unique ability to merge culture, cuisine, and creativity during SBWFF—and throughout the year via its rotating schedule of culinary pop-ups and seasonal chef residencies. The South Beach Wine and Food Festival will be held from February 19 to 22 in 2026.
Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival in Fort Worth, TX (April 9-12, 2026) is North Texas’ most celebrated cuisine and beverage festival, showcasing the thriving culinary community with over 1,000 festival participants annually. The beloved event invites talented chefs, distillers, and culinary artisans to share their magic with guests through curated dinners and events. In addition to The Main Event, where visitors get an all-access pass to eat and drink as much as they want from a variety of local Fort Worth chefs, guests can enjoy additional ticketed experiences that have a specific lineup of culinary favorites, such as Fork and Fire, Taco + Tequila, and more! Each event has tickets to purchase starting at $75. Proceeds will go directly to the Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds for local grant programs and culinary scholarships.
SoulFeast Week in Lexington, Kentucky (June 19-22, 2026): Coinciding with Juneteenth, SoulFeast Week is Kentucky’s largest Juneteenth food festival, celebrating Black-owned restaurants, farmers, and chefs through a week of chef-driven culinary programming in Lexington. Events typically include live chef demonstrations, farm-to-table dinners featuring chefs like Isaiah Screetch, and signature experiences such as a gospel brunch with Chef Danielle Conner and Chef Antoinette Johnson, accompanied by live gospel from the YMBBA Choir led by Grammy-nominated Nemo Achida. The week offers hands-on access to Black chefs and makers while spotlighting food, culture, and community.
CARIBBEAN
The Caribbean Food and Wine Festival at Grace Bay Resorts (November 4-9, 2025): The Caribbean Food and Wine Festival is held each fall in the Turks and Caicos Islands, celebrating both local and internationally acclaimed chefs. Grace Bay Resorts hosts many of the events across their several Turks and Caicos properties, including ck House, Grace Bay Club, Point Grace, and the newest luxury resort, South Bank. Highlights include exclusive wine tastings, meetings with award-winning chefs, a Sunday brunch, and more.
St. Kitts & Nevis Restaurant Week in St. Kitts (July 17-27, 2025): Held annually in July, St. Kitts-Nevis Restaurant Week is a destination-wide celebration of the islands’ culinary culture, spotlighting chef-driven dining and immersive food experiences across St. Kitts and Nevis. Participating restaurants offer prix-fixe menus inspired by a featured local ingredient (tamarind in recent years), while the week typically includes marquee culinary events such as the St. Kitts Tasting Showcase, Grill Fest with local grill masters, and themed experiences like Taste at Twilight, a farm-to-table-style dinner centered on the annual ingredient. Recent editions have featured collaborations with visiting culinary talent like Chef Nyesha Arrington alongside standout local chefs including Chef Alaric Arache, Chef Lawrencia Joseph, Chef Tiandra Francis, and Park Hyatt St. Kitts’ Chef Karl Christian Aular, underscoring the festival’s focus on Kittitian flavors, heritage, and chef-led storytelling. Additional programming and chef participants will soon be announced for 2026.
UK
London Restaurant Festival in London West End, UK (October 1-31, 2026): As the autumn air turns crisp, the London Restaurant Festival returns from October 1-31, 2026, inviting food lovers to experience the city’s robust dining scene. Bookable exclusively through OpenTable, the festival brings together a curated selection of establishments offering specially curated set menus, limited time offers, and thoughtful drinks pairings. Last year’s lineup included beloved West End spots such as Berners Tavern, giving diners a taste of the high-quality experiences. Restaurants across London’s most popular neighborhoods, including the West End, take part, from casual favorites to Michelin-starred destinations. While dining in the West End, visitors can enjoy iconic theatre shows like Hamilton, performances at the Royal Opera House, and world-class shopping on Bond Street and Oxford Street
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