Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Invesco QQQ Returns October 15–18 with a Citywide Celebration of New York's Culinary Spirit

The Festival's 19th year brings together the chefs, creators, restaurants and personalities shaping New York today, benefiting Event Zero Foundation and the James Beard Foundation®.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Invesco QQQ (NYCWFF) today announces its star-studded 19th annual programming lineup taking place October 15–18, 2026. Bringing together the chefs, restaurants, creators and tastemakers who help define New York today, NYCWFF will once again celebrate the city's unmatched culinary and cultural spirit through nearly 50 events across four days. Featuring more than 300 acclaimed chefs, culinary personalities, restaurateurs, winemakers, mixologists, creators and entertainers, the Festival will transform Manhattan into a vibrant showcase of the food, wine, culture and creativity that make New York one of the most exciting cities in the world.

All of it unfolds within the Invesco QQQ Festival Campus in the Seaport, New York City's most dynamic waterfront neighborhood, now anchored by an extraordinary new addition to the Festival footprint: The Rooftop at Pier 17. The iconic open-air venue above the New York City harbor will serve as the setting for signature Festival experiences, offering guests a one-of-a-kind backdrop throughout the weekend. The addition brings an exciting new dimension to a lineup that blends beloved Festival traditions with bold new culinary experiences, further cementing the Seaport and the Invesco QQQ Festival Campus as the home of New York City's premier celebration of wine and food.

“Each year, NYCWFF gives us an opportunity to celebrate the incredible chefs, restaurants, beverage partners and culinary talent that make New York one of the greatest cities in the world,” said Lee Brian Schrager, Festival Founder and Chief Communications Officer and SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits. “As we return to the Seaport for our 19th year, we're excited to continue building on the momentum of our new home while expanding the Festival experience with the addition of The Rooftop at Pier 17. This year’s lineup reflects the creativity, diversity and energy and sense of community that continue to shape New York’s culinary landscape.”

Beyond showcasing culinary talent, the Festival remains committed to creating a meaningful impact on the food and hospitality industry. Net proceeds from the Festival will support the Event Zero Foundation and its mission to advance sustainability and environmental responsibility across the events industry, as well as the James Beard Foundation and its work to lead chefs and the broader culinary community toward a new standard of excellence. Produced exclusively by a21, the Festival's agency of record and exclusive production partner, NYCWFF continues to bring together the people, partners and organizations that make this annual celebration possible.

“As the finest culinary and hospitality city in the world, a21 is proud to produce NYCWFF, which is emblematic of the five boroughs our Festival caters to,” said Brett Friedman, Founder and CEO of a21, partner and agency of record for the Festival. "Over 1,000 people from throughout the NY community work on developing this Festival year in and year out, and our collective pride is hopefully represented in the events we develop and produce for our guests and partners.”

"Every year, NYCWFF is a vibrant celebration of food, community, and the people behind our city's extraordinary independent restaurants — the chefs, restaurateurs, beverage and hospitality professionals who make New York a world-class culinary destination and are essential to its culture and economy," said Erica Helms, Chief Growth Officer, James Beard Foundation. "We are deeply grateful to be a beneficiary of this year's festival, whose support will help advance the James Beard Foundation's work celebrating American food culture and building a stronger future for the independent restaurant industry."

Fan Favorites Return

The Festival's beloved signature events return to anchor the weekend. Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats. NYCWFF's most iconic culinary showdown will take place at The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Thursday, October 15, hosted by Rachael Ray and Bert Kreischer. Competing chefs will battle for the coveted Judge's Choice and People's Choice titles in the event that has defined Festival opening nights for nearly two decades.

Steak & Whiskey hosted by Bryan and Michael Voltaggio returns Friday, October 16, bringing the brothers' signature competitive energy to Pier 17 with premium cuts, top whiskeys and waterfront skyline views. The Festival closes Sunday, October 18, with The Cookout presented by Mike's Amazing hosted by JJ Johnson and Angela Yee, celebrating Black cuisine, culture and community with a special performance by Method Man and an appearance by EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg.

Additional returning favorites include Oyster Bash presented by Modelo hosted by Andrew Zimmern, Tacos & Tequila hosted by Aarón Sánchez (both Saturday, October 17 at Gitano NYC), and the festival’s most known event, the Grand Tasting featuring Culinary Demonstrations at the Invesco QQQ Festival Campus in the Seaport. FoodieCon® returns Sunday, October 18, to Storied, bringing together food content creators and fans for a day of panels, tastings and meet-and-greets with some of today's most influential culinary personalities. Attendees can expect appearances from creator favorites including Olivia Tiedemann, Stefan Johnson and Bobby Pombo, along with additional talent to be announced, offering an inside look at the creators, trends and conversations shaping food culture today.

Bold New Additions

The Festival introduces an exciting lineup of new experiences for 2026. Among the most anticipated debuts is New York After Dark hosted by Kwame Onwuachi, which transforms The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Saturday, October 17, into Kwame Onwuachi's love letter to New York — an after-hours celebration of the city's food, music and culture. Inspired by his forthcoming cookbook All Hours, the evening will feature a special DJ set by Questlove and dishes from some of Kwame's favorite New York chefs and restaurants, with a complimentary copy of Kwame's cookbook available while supplies last.

Additional new experiences include A Culinary Journey Through Peru hosted by Nobu Matsuhisa (Thursday, October 15), which celebrates Peru's bold culinary heritage alongside top NYC Peruvian restaurants and marks the legendary chef's first-ever NYCWFF appearance. Flavors of Bollywood hosted by Maneet Chauhan and Vijay Kumar (Friday, October 16) gathers the city's best Indian restaurants for an evening inspired by India's iconic film industry, while Best of the Best presented by Resorts World New York City hosted by Jonathan Waxman and Keith Hernandez (Friday, October 16) showcases more than 15 James Beard Award winners, nominees and semifinalists in a tribute to American culinary excellence. Also new for 2026, Morning Buzz hosted by mgk, founder of 27 Club Coffee, invites guests to kick off Festival Sunday with an all-ages celebration of New York City's thriving café culture, featuring coffee, matcha, tea and breakfast favorites from beloved local spots.

An Exceptional Roster of Intimate Dinners

Throughout the Festival, one-night-only dinners offer rare access to acclaimed chefs through bespoke collaborations and menus paired with wines and spirits from Southern Glazer's. Highlights include Alex Guarnaschelli and Mario Vitolo of Emilio’s Ballato, José Andrés, Jonathan Beno, Flynn McGarry, Maneet Chauhan and Stephanie Izard, Rocco DiSpirito and Nadia Caterina Munno, Andrew Carmellini and Hillary Sterling, Angie Mar and Charlie Palmer, Alain Ducasse, Marc Forgione, Antonia Lofaso and Michael Symon, Geoffrey Zakarian and Doug Brixton, and Masaharu Morimoto. Additional evenings feature Tyler Florence, Cédric Vongerichten, Ayesha Nurdjaja, Jonathon Sawyer, Marcus Samuelsson and more.

Presale Tickets: July 13 - 19, 2026 – exclusively for Bank of America cardholders offering cardholders 25% off signature events and access to exclusive events and offerings.

General Tickets On Sale: July 20, 2026

Stay up to date by following the conversation all year long on Facebook and Instagram using @NYCWFF and on TikTok at NYCWineFoodFestival. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.nycwff.org.

Press images and interviews are available upon request.

Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Invesco QQQ

The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Invesco QQQ is hosted by and benefits the Event Zero Foundation and the James Beard Foundation. Over the past 18 years, the Festival has generated more than $15 million in net proceeds for its charitable causes. Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits is the exclusive provider of wine and spirits at the Festival. BizBash has named the Festival the #1 Food & Restaurant Industry event in New York for 10 years in a row. More information on the Festival can be found at nycwff.org. Follow @NYCWFF on Facebook and Instagram and on TikTok at @NYCWineFoodFestival.

Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits

Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits is the world's preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, building brands for moments that matter. The multi-generational, family-owned Company has operations in 47 U.S. markets and Canada, as well as brokerage operations through its Southern Glazer's Travel Retail Sales & Export Division in the Caribbean, Central and South America. In 2024, Southern Glazer's was recognized by Newsweek as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and America's Greatest Workplaces for Women. Southern Glazer's urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information visit www.southernglazers.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram @sgwinespirits.

The James Beard Foundation

The James Beard Foundation (JBF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to leading chefs and the broader culinary industry towards a new standard of excellence. Our guiding principle, Good Food for Good®, informs our vision of a vibrant, equitable and sustainable independent restaurant industry that stands as a cornerstone of American culture, community and economy. For nearly 40 years, JBF has been instrumental in recognizing, amplifying, educating and training the individuals who shape American food culture. Learn more at jamesbeard.org.

Event Zero Foundation

The Event Zero Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering positive environmental and social impact within the events industry. Our mission is to inspire and guide event organizers, businesses and communities to implement sustainable practices that reduce environmental footprints and promote social responsibility. Learn more at eventzerofoundation.org.

a21

a21 is a full-service live experience agency, specializing in event operations, production, marketing, corporate sales and brand activations for live experiences. Founded in 2006, a21’s portfolio includes internationally recognized events and festivals in South Florida and throughout the US: Food Network South Beach & New York City Wine & Food Festivals, Sunfest, Palm Beach Wine & Food Festival, Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival, Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival, Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, Heritage Fire and Whiskies of the World National Tours, AMP's suite of Art Fairs, International Wine & Spirits Competition and more. Learn more at https://www.teama21.com/.

About the Seaport

Located along the East River in Lower Manhattan, the Seaport is one of New York City’s original neighborhoods, rich in maritime history and framed by iconic views of the Brooklyn Bridge and city skyline. Today, it’s a vibrant home for residents and a global destination for visitors, offering over 450,000 square feet of dining, entertainment, and cultural experiences.

The Seaport celebrates local organizations, emerging and established artists, and community connection through year-round programming. It has become the go-to destination in New York City for marquee events including the Macy’s 4^th of July Fireworks® and the New York City Wine and Food Festival.

Visit www.theseaport.nyc or @theseaportnyc for the latest.

*Invesco is not affiliated with the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival or any of the individuals, brands or companies mentioned; nor should this be construed as an endorsement for any of the individuals, brands or companies mentioned.