Each fall, EPCOT® transforms in a way that feels especially fitting for the season. The pace softens. The air around World Showcase carries the scent of something warm and freshly made. And families who know — really know — begin planning their fall Disney trips around one of the most beloved events on the calendar: the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.
The 2026 Festival will run August 27 through November 21, 2026 — 87 days of culinary discovery, live music, and the kind of relaxed park experience that is increasingly hard to find.
What Returns for 2026
This year’s festival features 32 to 36 Global Marketplaces stationed throughout World Showcase, each offering small plates and beverages from a different culinary tradition. It is, in many ways, the most accessible way for families to “travel the world” without ever leaving Orlando — a quiet favorite of ours for multi-generational trips.
Returning festival activities include the beloved Eat to the Beat Concert Series at the America Gardens Theatre, with shows multiple times each evening and seating first-come, first-served (concerts are included with park admission). Family-friendly festival traditions also continue, including Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt — a charming way to keep little ones engaged between bites — and Emile’s Fromage Montage, a cheese-themed food stroll for the slightly older palate.
Why Fall Travel Just Makes Sense
For our PPV families, the Food & Wine Festival is one of the most rewarding times of year to visit Walt Disney World®. School schedules are settled. Florida temperatures begin to soften. Crowds tend to be more manageable than peak summer. And the festival itself adds something special to a park visit that even the most seasoned Disney families look forward to.
Our Practically Perfect Tip
Festival weekends — particularly those tied to Eat to the Beat headliners — tend to be the busiest nights of the season. If your family is hoping to combine the festival with a Halloween Party night or a quieter weekday visit, plan early. We are already pacing trips for clients now, and Disney Resort hotel availability for popular fall weeks moves more quickly than most families expect. Reach out to your Practically Perfect Guide — we will help you choose the dates that match the experience you are picturing.
Calm. Care. Connection. Magic. With a side of small plates.
