Get ready, Atlanta, because the 16th annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival presented by Invesco QQQ just announced their lineup for 2026, and it’s an unbeatable blend of celebrity chefs, local tastemakers, and beloved culinary personalities!
Take an exclusive look at this year’s festival: the who’s who, the what’s what, and alllll the details you need to know, down below!
What is the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival?
Founded in 2010, Atlanta Food & Wine Festival presented by Invesco QQQ shines a spotlight on the culinary traditions, innovations and talent that shapes the South. Attendees can taste their way through both iconic and unexpected flavors of the south with chef-driven experiences, tastings, collaborations and educational programming, and more!
The festival’s mission is to bring together culinary professionals and enthusiasts to explore the flavors, people and stories that continue to define the region. And, of course, it’s a lot of fun, too!
What can festival-goers expect at this year’s Festival?
On top of some truly delicious food and wine? There are TONS of fun happenings at this year’s festival! Let us break it down for ya day by day!
1. Tasting Tents Presented by Goya Foods | The Atlanta Standard, hosted by Monti Carlo
When: Thursday, September 10th
- General Admission: 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. | VIP: 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Ticket Price: General Admission: $125 | VIP: $175
Every city has its signature. This is Atlanta’s. From late-night eats and neighborhood legends to rising stars and cultural icons, The Atlanta Standard celebrates the people, flavors, and creativity that make Atlanta unlike anywhere else.
Monti Carlo, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s senior dining editor, hosts an evening packed with chef-driven bites, innovative cocktails, incredible wines, live music and plenty of ATL swagger inside the Tasting Tents presented by Goya Foods at The Home Depot Backyard.
2. Tasting Tents Presented by Goya Foods | Flavors of Atlanta, hosted by Andrew Zimmern
When: Friday, September 11th
- General Admission: 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. | VIP: 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Ticket Price: General Admission: $145 | VIP: $195
Atlanta’s flavors run deep. Shaped by generations of cultures, communities, and culinary traditions, Flavors of Atlanta celebrates the people and places that make the city one of the most dynamic food destinations in the country.
Renowned chef, writer, TV host and culinary explorer Andrew Zimmern hosts this high-energy walk-around tasting, taking guests on a trip around the globe through Latin spices, Asian influence, Caribbean flair and beyond, alongside Atlanta’s most exciting chefs, restaurants and beverage partners.
3. Tasting Tents Presented by Goya Foods | The Southern Spread, hosted by Shawn Osbey
When: Saturday, September 12th
- General Admission: 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | VIP: 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Ticket Price: General Admission: $145 | VIP: $195
The Southern Spread is where Southern hospitality, bold flavors, and Atlanta’s creative spirit come together. From time-honored recipes to locally sourced ingredients, this lively afternoon gathering celebrates the chefs and visionaries who keep Southern traditions thriving.
Hosted by chef and visionary caterer Shawn Osbey, guests will gather under the Georgia sun for an afternoon of comforting classics, innovative interpretations, expertly paired beverages, live music, and the unmistakable energy of Atlanta’s food community. From Southern staples to fresh culinary perspectives, this is a celebration of the people, flavors, and traditions that make the South and Atlanta so delicious.
4. Stacked: The Burger Social, hosted by Ford Fry | Presented by Mike’s Amazing
When: Saturday, September 12th
- General Admission: 7:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. | Early Access 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Ticket Price: General Admission: $109 | VIP: $145
Stacked: The Burger Social presented by Mike’s Amazing is a mouthwatering celebration of America’s favorite handheld bite.
Hosted by restaurateur and chef Ford Fry, the event brings together chefs, restaurants, and culinary personalities to show off their most creative, over-the-top, and downright delicious burger creations. From perfectly smashed patties and towering stacks to unexpected toppings and bold flavor combinations, every Chef offers a new contender for your favorite bite of the night.
Pair it all with wine, spirits and other beverages while enjoying the high-energy atmosphere of one of the festival’s most craveable events.
5. Tasting Tents Presented by Goya Foods | The Homecoming, hosted by Kardea Brown
When: Sunday, September 13th
- General Admission: 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | VIP: 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Ticket Price: General Admission: $125 | VIP: $175
Close out the festival weekend with one more day of smoky and savory bites. The Homecoming is a celebration filled with bold flavors, Sunday Funday vibes, and the unmistakable warmth of Atlanta hospitality.
Hosted by Kardea Brown, the Emmy award-winning Food Network host, welcomes friends old and new as Atlanta’s chefs fire up the grills, pour the drinks, and serve up the bold, comforting dishes that make festival memories.
6. Southern Fried: A Fried Chicken Affair, hosted by Kelli Potter
When: Sunday, September 13th
- Early Access 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; General Admission: 5:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Ticket Price: General Admission: $109 | VIP: $145
Golden, crispy, and impossible to resist. Southern Fried celebrates one of the South’s most beloved dishes with a walk-around tasting featuring classic Southern recipes and bold global interpretations, hosted by Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member, restaurateur, and cookbook author Kelli Potter.
From Nashville hot and buttermilk-brined favorites to Korean or Japanese, this flavor-packed event proves that great fried chicken knows no borders.
7. Whiskey & Fire Atlanta
When: Sunday, September 13th
- Early Access 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; General Admission: 5:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Ticket Price: General Admission: $119 | VIP: $159
Where: Guardian Works | 775 Echo St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Atlanta Food & Wine Festival presented by Invesco QQQ welcomes back Whiskey & Fire Atlanta for its second year, a collaboration between Heritage Fire and Whiskies of the World uniting world-class whiskey with locally crafted culinary experiences. Wander between open-fire cooking stations featuring acclaimed chefs, savor wood-fired bites, and explore hundreds of whiskies from around the globe.
Additional participating chefs, restaurant partners, sponsors and event details will be announced throughout the summer.
Okay, okay! I’ve gotta check this out! Details, please!
Where: The Home Depot Backyard | 1 Backyard Way, Atlanta, GA 30313
When: September 10th – 13th
*Guests must be 21 and older.
Tickets are now available on the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival’s website, here!
- Tickets are available for individual events
- Guests looking to experience more of the festival can save with multi-day passes, covering all four days of Tasting Tents presented by Goya Foods (GA: $429 | VIP: $589) or access to all six events at The Home Depot Backyard (GA: $559 | VIP: $759).
- Additionally, a Sunday Funday Pass covers both Sunday events at The Home Depot Backyard (GA: $179 | VIP: $249).
Don’t miss out on all the fun, Atlanta! Check out the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival this September!