If you love food, booze, and a little bit of Nashville magic, mark your calendars: the Music City Food & Wine Festival is returning April 24–26, 2026. I didn’t get a chance to hit it last year, but the lineup this time? Yeah, I’m officially interested.
Produced by locals for locals (and visitors who really, really like eating), the festival brings together Nashville’s best chefs and some of the brightest emerging culinary talent in Centennial Park. Think Vivek Surti from Tailor, James Beard semifinalists Julio Hernandez (Maiz de la Vida) and Dung “Junior” Vo (Noko Hospitality), Jess Lambert (etch), Kristin Beringson (Henley), Marcelo Han (Superica), Shane Nasby (Cledis Burgers), and a whole lot more. Seriously, if you’re into tasting your way through Nashville’s restaurant scene, this is basically cheat mode.
The weekend kicks off Friday with the Southern Fried Hootenanny, presented by Waldo’s Chicken & Chefs. Over 25 local restaurants will be serving bites alongside craft cocktails, whiskey, and a Beer Garden from Bearded Iris Brewing, all to the soundtrack of honky-tonk tunes. Saturday is the Grand Tasting, featuring bites from 40+ restaurants (yes, including Indaco, Prime + Proper, Tio Fun, Little Rey, and more) plus 50+ wine and spirits brands, live demos, mixology competitions, and wine seminars. Sunday wraps it up with the Food Faire, a free-to-attend market with food, drinks, local artisans, and live music.
Bonus: there’s also Big Gay Brunch at rooftops and restaurants across the city, because Nashville knows how to brunch like no other.
Tickets are on sale now, ranging from $125 for single-event experiences up to $449 for the all-access VIP weekend pass. Honestly, even if you don’t go full VIP, this festival is shaping up to be a must for anyone who loves Nashville food (or just likes an excuse to drink and eat a lot in one weekend).
For full details, chef lineup updates, and ticket info, check out musiccityfoodandwinefest.com
