The 2026 festival is almost here, and Disney has now released much more of the information guests need to plan their visits. The event runs from August 27 through November 21 at EPCOT, with Global Marketplaces, returning favorites, new dishes, live music, family activities and special merchandise. The full 2026 Foodie Guide has also arrived, giving visitors a clearer look at the food and drink lineup before opening day.
This year’s celebration is especially notable because it marks the 30th anniversary of the event. Disney is bringing back 30 dishes from previous years, with those selections identified by a special anniversary marker. Several booths will also open later than the festival itself, so guests planning an early visit should pay attention to the rollout schedule.
When the 2026 Festival Runs
The 2026 event begins Thursday, August 27, and continues through Saturday, November 21.
That gives visitors nearly three months to experience the festival. The long schedule also means the atmosphere will change as the season moves from late summer into fall.
The event takes place throughout EPCOT, with temporary Global Marketplaces positioned around World Showcase and other areas of the park. Valid EPCOT admission is required, but there is no separate ticket just to enter the festival.
Food, drinks, merchandise and certain special experiences cost extra.
For guests visiting specifically for the culinary offerings, the August 27 opening date is important. Disney has confirmed that several marketplaces will not operate from day one, making the exact visit date relevant when planning a food-focused trip.
The 30th Anniversary Brings Back Festival Favorites
One of the biggest themes for 2026 is nostalgia.
Disney is celebrating 30 years of the event by bringing back 30 dishes from its history. Some are returning in their original form, while others have been reworked for the current festival.
The anniversary selections carry a special 30th-anniversary designation in the official Foodie Guide.
That gives longtime visitors an opportunity to revisit dishes associated with previous editions while giving newer guests a chance to sample some of the most memorable creations from the festival’s past.
The anniversary concept also adds another way to approach the event. Instead of simply moving from booth to booth, guests can specifically search for the marked dishes and build a tasting route around them.
The Global Marketplaces Are the Main Food Attraction
The temporary marketplaces remain the centerpiece of the celebration.
The 2026 lineup features more than 30 locations offering food and beverages inspired by different regions and culinary traditions. The booths stretch across World Showcase and other parts of EPCOT.
Among the confirmed locations are Coastal Eats, Gyozas of the Galaxy, The Fry Basket, Flavors from Fire, Brew-Wing Lab, Hops & Barley, Mexico, China, India, The Alps, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan, Greece, Belgium and Australia.
Several additional locations round out the festival lineup.
The variety means visitors can move from seafood and dumplings to barbecue, cheese, desserts, international specialties and beverages without sitting down for a traditional restaurant meal.
Portions are designed for festival-style sampling, making it easier for visitors to share dishes and try multiple items during one visit.
New and Returning Food Choices
The newly released menu information provides a much clearer picture of what guests can expect.
Among the returning dishes are several recognizable festival favorites. Disney has also highlighted new or reimagined creations across the marketplaces.
Gyozas of the Galaxy returns with Street Corn-style Dumplings. The dish combines chicken dumplings with tomatillo salsa verde, street corn salad, cotija, lime crema and cilantro.
Australia brings back its Grilled Bushberry-spiced Shrimp Skewer. The skewer comes with sweet-and-sour vegetables and a coconut-chili sauce.
The Alps continues to offer the Kirschwasser Torte, featuring cherry-brandy buttercream, fondant, sugared almonds and cherry compote.
A Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse Trifle is also among the returning offerings highlighted for this year’s event.
The 2026 menus include far more than these early preview items. Guests should use the latest official Foodie Guide when deciding which booths and dishes to prioritize.
Some Marketplaces Will Open Later
One of the most important details for visitors is that not every marketplace begins service on August 27.
Six locations have delayed openings.
That matters because guests visiting during the first days of the festival will not necessarily have access to every advertised food and beverage option.
The phased approach also means that a trip in September, October or November can provide a different food lineup from an opening-week visit.
Visitors should check the operating schedule for their specific date before creating a detailed tasting plan.
This is particularly useful for guests traveling from outside the Orlando area. A visitor with only one EPCOT day should know which marketplaces are operating before deciding where to spend time.
Emile’s Fromage Montage Returns
Cheese remains a major part of the celebration.
Emile’s Fromage Montage returns for 2026, giving guests a dedicated food stroll centered on cheese-based creations.
Participants purchase eligible dishes at participating locations and collect stamps in a festival passport. Completing the required selections leads to a special completion treat.
The experience encourages visitors to explore multiple sections of EPCOT rather than remaining in one area.
It can also make a useful activity for groups. Instead of everyone ordering the same item, guests can divide the selections and share them.
The 2026 anniversary theme gives the cheese stroll another layer of appeal for returning visitors who remember earlier versions of the experience.
Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Is Back
Families can once again add a scavenger hunt to their EPCOT visit.
Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak returns for 2026. The activity sends participants around the park searching for Remy and the ingredients connected with the hunt.
Guests purchase a themed map and stickers before beginning.
As they locate the designated characters, they place the corresponding stickers on the map. Completing the hunt allows participants to receive a special keepsake.
The activity works particularly well for families because it gives younger visitors a reason to explore World Showcase while adults sample festival food.
It also creates a natural route through several pavilions.
Eat to the Beat Returns Every Night
The food is only part of the attraction.
The Eat to the Beat Concert Series returns to the America Gardens Theatre, providing live performances throughout most of the festival.
The concert schedule runs nightly from August 27 through November 16. Performances are scheduled for 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The lineup includes major returning performers, new acts and local groups.
Hanson opens its run during the first weekend, while The War and Treaty, Yellowcard, Fitz and the Tantrums, MercyMe, New Found Glory, Smash Mouth, The Fray, Tiffany, Boyz II Men, Lauren Alaina, Grace Potter and The Beach Boys are among the other announced performers.
The schedule spans several musical styles, giving guests opportunities to pair their festival visit with a favorite artist.
Concert admission is included with valid EPCOT admission. Seating for guests without a dining package is first come, first served and depends on available capacity.
Concert Dining Packages Offer Guaranteed Seating
Guests who want more certainty around a concert can book an Eat to the Beat dining package.
The package combines a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant with guaranteed seating for a same-day performance.
Participating restaurants include locations such as Biergarten Restaurant, Chefs de France, Coral Reef Restaurant, Garden Grill Restaurant, La Crêperie de Paris, La Hacienda de San Angel, Le Cellier Steakhouse and other participating venues.
Package prices vary by restaurant and guest age.
At most participating locations, the meal includes an entrée and dessert or a full buffet where applicable, plus a beverage. Spice Road Table has its own format with small plates, a shared dessert platter and a beverage.
The concert badge received after the meal identifies the date and performance.
Guaranteed seating does not mean a specific seat. Guests in the reserved section are seated on a first-come, first-served basis.
A New Cheese Experience Arrives at CommuniCore Hall
A new attraction gives cheese enthusiasts another reason to return later in the season.
“Cheers to Cheese!” begins September 18 at CommuniCore Hall.
The interactive experience explores cheese through facts, history and themed content.
Its September 18 start date makes the timing significant. Visitors attending during the opening weeks will miss the experience, while guests arriving later can add it to their festival itinerary.
The addition also expands the event beyond marketplace tasting.
Rather than simply eating cheese-based dishes, guests can spend time exploring a dedicated experience centered on one of the festival’s signature ingredients.
2026 Merchandise Expands the Food Theme
Disney has also prepared a new merchandise collection for the celebration.
The collection includes apparel, accessories, drinkware, kitchen-themed products and other festival souvenirs.
Several items feature the event’s culinary identity through chef-inspired designs and food references.
The collection includes festival T-shirts, a sweatshirt, a baseball cap and themed Mickey ears. The ears feature culinary details including a chef hat, Mickey and Minnie imagery, a rolling pin and whisk.
Other previewed products include a churro-inspired tote, a wine glass designed for use with a festival tray and a mug featuring a pastry-inspired lid.
Merchandise availability can change throughout the event, so guests interested in a specific item should shop early rather than assume it will remain available until November.
Special PhotoPass Opportunities Return
Photography is also part of the 2026 celebration.
Disney is offering special PhotoPass Magic Shots connected with the event.
A new Waiter Mickey Magic Shot is planned for World Showcase locations in Mexico, China, Italy, Japan and France.
Returning options include the Giant Empanada, Leaning Tower of Cheeza, Swedish Chef and Chef Figment Magic Shots.
These effects add a festival-specific element to vacation photos and give visitors another way to document their day.
Guests using Memory Maker can download eligible PhotoPass memories as part of that service.
How to Plan a Food-Focused Visit
The sheer number of choices makes planning useful.
A visitor who arrives without a plan can easily spend too much time walking between marketplaces or fill up before reaching the dishes they most want to try.
Start by identifying priority dishes.
Then group the choices by location. World Showcase is large, so ordering several nearby items together can reduce unnecessary backtracking.
Guests should also consider sharing portions.
A group of two or more people can order different dishes and split them. That approach makes it possible to taste more items without becoming full too early.
The same strategy works for desserts and beverages.
Visitors should also leave room for unexpected discoveries. Festival menus can include unusual combinations that may not appear on a typical EPCOT restaurant menu.
Best Times to Visit During the Festival
The event lasts from late August through late November, so the experience can differ depending on the month.
Opening week provides the excitement of being among the first guests to try the new offerings. September adds the new cheese experience beginning September 18.
October brings the festival deeper into the fall season, while November offers a final opportunity to experience the event before it closes on November 21.
Guests choosing a date around a particular concert should check the Eat to the Beat calendar first.
Those focused mainly on food should also check which marketplaces are operating on their chosen date.
What Makes the 2026 Celebration Different
The 30th anniversary is the defining feature of this year’s event.
The return of 30 historic dishes gives longtime fans a reason to revisit familiar flavors. At the same time, new dishes and updated preparations keep the menu from becoming simply a repeat of previous years.
The expanded mix of food, music, family activities, merchandise and interactive experiences creates several ways to enjoy the event.
A food lover can concentrate on the Global Marketplaces.
A music fan can build the day around Eat to the Beat.
Families can combine food stops with Remy’s scavenger hunt.
Cheese enthusiasts can tackle Emile’s Fromage Montage and later explore “Cheers to Cheese!”
That flexibility remains one of the strongest features of the annual celebration.
Latest Details to Know Before Opening Day
With the event opening August 27, the major planning information is now available.
The celebration runs through November 21. More than 30 Global Marketplaces are part of the lineup, with six locations scheduled to open later.
The 30th-anniversary collection of returning dishes gives guests a way to revisit historic favorites. The latest menus also include new creations and returning seasonal selections.
Emile’s Fromage Montage and Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak are both returning.
Eat to the Beat runs nightly through November 16, with three scheduled performances each evening.
The new “Cheers to Cheese!” experience begins September 18 at CommuniCore Hall.
Disney is also bringing festival merchandise and special PhotoPass opportunities to EPCOT throughout the celebration.
For anyone planning a visit, the key is to match the date with the experiences that matter most. A concert-focused trip requires a look at the performance calendar, while a food-focused trip benefits from reviewing the marketplace menus and delayed opening dates.
The 2026 event is shaping up as a particularly broad celebration, combining three decades of festival history with new culinary choices and experiences for today’s EPCOT visitors.
Planning a visit or already have a favorite dish or performer on your list? Share your thoughts below and stay informed as the celebration gets underway.