The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival has geared up again at Walt Disney World. The event holds mostly true to the format it has had for decades with edible options scattered around World Showcase and beyond. And, despite trade disagreements, visitors can still get cheddar and bacon soup and filet mignon from the Canada pavilion.
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Here are notes from the opening days of the 2026 fest.
30 for 30
The theme park is working its “around the world in 30 plates” theme, a nod to the longevity of the event and its international flair. Displays/photo ops at the entrance to the park incorporate food and suitcases. And this year’s menu reflects some through-the-years favorites, including some that have been re-imagined.
Those items are indicated with a small, round 30 logo in the event guide (aka passport), which also has a center fold-out with the goodies indicated, divided by eras. If you want to know what’s new-new, a good source is an article about the festival on the official Disney Parks Blog. (disneyparksblog.com)
Delayed gratification
A growing trend at Food & Wine is the delayed roll-out of some marketplaces and menu items. It sure is disappointing to head for the Alps and then realize the tartiflette isn’t ready until Oct. 2. In fairness, these dates are clearly marked in the passport. Reading is fundamental, y’all.
Among the options coming soon/later are the new Wedge (as in cheese) marketplace inside Communicore Hall (Sept. 18), Festival Favorites (Sept. 9), India (Oct. 2), Coastal Eats (Oct. 2), Earth Eats (Oct. 2) and the Alps (Oct. 2).
The staggered scheduled also means Goofycore, the Cool Kids Summer entertainment offering inside Communicore Hall, is extended through Sept. 8. As of Sept. 18, that space will be home to “Cheers to Cheese,” an interactive exhibit.
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Jumping for dumplings
Once everything opens, there will be about 90 solid-food options in the fest, so we felt no compulsion to eat everything on Day One. The event runs through Nov. 21, so there’s time. Our first round of the showcase had a definite dumpling theme, which included the dumpling trio from China pavilion and two orders from Gyozas of the Galaxy, including basil pesto chicken (creamy) and street corn-style (sorta spicy).
Intriguing new choices on our to-eat-eventually list: BBQ braai chicken pizza (Connections Eatery), taco de camaron (Mexico), croquetas de jamon (Spain), beef wagyu temaki hand roll (Japan) and bruleed sweet potatoes (Bramblewood Bites).
Slew of souvenirs
Expect the usual array of festival-related merchandise, including the ears headband with assorted culinary imagery, a 3-D whisk and a chef’s hat centerpiece.
Surprise item: Food & Wine T-shirt featuring characters from “Luca,” the 2021 Pixar film centering on boys/sea monsters.
Trash can talk
Spotted: Fence-attachments that form a small table, but we had to look. The continuing changeover in trash cans at Disney World parks – from the flattop traditional ones to new curved compactors – may have prompted alternatives. The new flat surfaces seem a little low, but that may be by design to discourage folks from camping out there. Churn keeps this festival going, so move along, we say.
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