The South Beach Wine & Food Festival® at 25: Miami’s Table, Still Setting the Scene

It’s hard to imagine Miami without its annual culinary carnival on the sand. What began a quarter-century ago as a local tasting event has grown into one of the country’s most celebrated food festivals — a gathering that’s as much about community as it is about cuisine. The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival® presented by Capital One, returning February 19–22, 2026, isn’t just marking twenty-five years on the calendar; it’s marking a generation of taste.

Over the decades, SOBEWFF® has mirrored Miami’s transformation from a sunny playground into a serious food capital. The city that once leaned on Latin comfort now cooks with a global palette — and the festival has grown alongside it, becoming a showcase for that evolution. Each plate served under those white tents tells a story of influence and reinvention, of chefs who built their names here and those who came chasing the city’s restless energy.

The 25th anniversary promises to be an unforgettable celebration of culinary excellence, star-studded entertainment, and community impact. Since its inception, the Festival’s “Eat. Drink. Educate.” mission has raised more than $45 million for FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, offering over 1,500 students real-world experience each year. The milestone weekend kicks off Thursday, February 19, with Diplo performing live at the Grand Tasting Village Courtyard — its first-ever nighttime activation — hosted by David Grutman and Groot Hospitality. Fan favorite Burger Bash®, hosted by Rachael Ray, turns twenty this year with 25 restaurants serving up more than 46,000 burgers, while the Festival expands north to Fort Lauderdale for exclusive dinners featuring acclaimed chefs John Tesar, Danny Ganem, Alex Guarnaschelli, and Anthony Vitolo.

New experiences keep the momentum fresh: Dinner at the Museum with Food Network stars at the Frost Science Museum, Haute Potato hosted by Foodgod, and Let Them Eat Cake!, a dessert celebration led by Duff Goldman. Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions LIVE returns in full force, while Las Lap Link Up brings Afro-Caribbean cuisine to life with chefs Kwame Onwuachi and Nina Compton. The expansive Goya Foods Grand Tasting Village transforms into a 135,000-square-foot playground of tastings, cooking demos, and culinary creativity. The annual Tribute Dinner honors Miami icon Michelle Bernstein and vintner Sacha Lichine, with Bobby Flay as emcee, while Masters of Fire with Tyler Florence takes to the sand for an open-flame feast.

Beloved traditions meet fresh energy in 2026: Marcus Samuelsson’s Overtown Brunch, the glittering Drag Dance Party, and the debut of Eats & Beats with Mr. Eats 305, a new food-and-music block party. Guests can savor Tacos & Tequila in the Design District, attend a Late Night Pizza Party hosted by Ashley Graham, Jon and Vinny’s Sunday Parm Night, or an intimate Joe’s Stone Crab Lunch with Martha Stewart and Sacha Lichine. The Festival even steps into the world of storytelling with Chew on This, a live podcast series featuring Bert Kreischer, Chiquis Rivera, and more.

On Sunday, February 22, the energy lingers with Delilah Miami’s Jazz Brunch, Family BBQ with the Zakarians, and Coffee Culture: A Miami Brunch Experience hosted by David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris. The weekend culminates with 25 Years of Legendary Bites, hosted by Andrew Zimmern and soundtracked by DJ CASSIDY — a finale as vibrant and layered as the city itself.

Behind the glamour sits purpose. SOBEWFF® isn’t only about indulgence; it’s about mentorship, education, and community. Chefs guide students, restaurants uplift neighborhoods, and the city continues to feed its own cultural momentum. At twenty-five, the Festival doesn’t chase reinvention — it embodies it. Miami has grown into one of the world’s most exciting dining destinations, and SOBEWFF® remains its pulse — a blend of flavor, rhythm, and sunlight. The skyline may rise, the menus may shift, but come February, the beach will still hum with the scent of spice, charcoal, and possibility.

Tickets for the 2026 edition are available now at sobewff.org — an open invitation to taste not just what Miami eats, but what it has become.