If your idea of a great NYC weekend includes excellent food, good drinks, famous chefs, and a few reasons to dress up and head downtown, the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival has you covered. From October 15th through 18th, the festival takes over Lower Manhattan’s historic Seaport district for four days of tastings, chef dinners, parties, panels, and culinary experiences.
The 2026 festival features nearly 50 events and more than 300 chefs, winemakers, and culinary creators. The lineup has plenty of big names, too. Rachael Ray, Marcus Samuelsson, Kwame Onwuachi, Michael Symon, Questlove, Nobu Matsuhisa, and more will be part of the weekend.
Four Days, Nearly 50 Ways to Eat
The festival covers a lot of ground, from large scale tasting events to intimate dinners. The Invesco QQQ Festival Campus serves as the daytime hub, while The Rooftop at Pier 17 hosts several of the weekend’s biggest parties.
The Grand Tasting is one of NYCWFF’s signature events. Marcus Samuelsson, Ayesha Nurdjaja, Michael Symon, and Andrew Rea of Binging with Babish are among the hosts. Guests can sample food and drinks, watch live culinary demonstrations, and explore the campus.
FoodieCon adds another layer to the weekend. Food creators, influencers, and podcasters take part in live conversations, meet and greets, and food focused experiences.
International events include Flavors of Bollywood and A Culinary Journey Through Peru, hosted by Nobu Matsuhisa.
Pier 17 Is Ready for a Party
The Rooftop at Pier 17 hosts three major events this festival weekend. Thursday features the Blue Moon Burger Bash, co-hosted by Rachael Ray and comedian Bert Kreischer. At this party, chefs compete for the People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice titles.
On Friday, brothers Bryan and Michael Voltaggio host Steak & Whiskey, an evening built around premium cuts of steak and whiskey pairings. Saturday night belongs to New York After Dark, hosted by Kwame Onwuachi. Inspired by his upcoming cookbook All Hours, the event pairs dishes from his favorite NYC spots with a live DJ set from Questlove.
The Festival Campus Has Plenty to Explore
The daytime lineup goes well beyond the Grand Tasting.
Morning Buzz adds coffee, matcha, and pastries to the festival lineup. The Cookout closes out the weekend Sunday with JJ Johnson and Angela Yee at the helm. Whoopi Goldberg will make a special appearance, and Method Man will take the stage for a live performance.
The festival offers walkaround tastings and other chef-led experiences. With so many events on the calendar, you can build a day around one big tasting or pick a few different experiences that catch your eye.
Save Room for Dinner
The James Beard House Dinner Series brings multi-course meals from acclaimed culinary teams to the James Beard House in Greenwich Village. Other collaborative dinners take place at restaurants around Manhattan, with chefs such as José Andrés, Rocco DiSpirito, and Marcus Samuelsson among the culinary names connected to the festival.
For food lovers who prefer a table and a full meal to a giant tasting event, these dinners give the festival another way to experience NYC’s food scene.
How Much Does NYCWFF Cost?
Tickets start at $195 for general admission. The festival has bundles that can save 20% compared with purchasing eligible events separately. Options include the Grand Tasting Weekend Package, Sunday Funday, and a Build Your Own Bundle.
One important detail: NYCWFF events at the Seaport campus are 21+.
The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is back October 15th through 18th, so start figuring out which events deserve a spot on your calendar.
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