Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival
Celebrating 7 Years of Food, Wine, Craft Beers & Spirits in Greater Fort Lauderdale
The Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival (VLFWF) returns January 19–25, 2026, bringing a full week of culinary exploration to the sun-drenched shores of Greater Fort Lauderdale. For seven days, the city transforms into a playground for food lovers, where every corner offers a new taste, sip, or sensory experience. From bustling beachside tastings and sizzling competitions to intimate chef-led dinners and hands-on classes, the festival showcases the energy, creativity, and mouthwatering flavors that define the region’s dynamic food and drink scene.
This year’s festival features a standout roster of celebrity chefs, including Richard Blais, winner of “Top Chef: All-Stars” and host of multiple Food Network shows; Eddie Jackson, former NFL player turned Food Network personality; Nancy Fuller, host of “Farmhouse Rules”; Jason Smith, winner of both “Holiday Baking Championship” and “Food Network Star”; Clarice Lam, pastry chef and 2022 James Beard semifinalist for Best New Restaurant; and crowd-favorite pitmaster Captain Ron Dimpflmaier. Guests will experience each chef’s unique approach, exploring their techniques, ingredients, and what fuels their passion in the kitchen.
As always, guests will dine for a cause, with a portion of proceeds supporting Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, one of South Florida’s leading pediatric hospitals.
A Taste of What's to Come
The Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival is a feast for the senses. Signature events, interactive cooking classes, and exclusive chef-driven dinners invite visitors to taste, learn, and immerse themselves in Greater Fort Lauderdale’s culinary culture. Whether you’re wandering a bustling tasting tent or rolling pasta by hand in a sunlit kitchen, every event offers a chance to explore flavors, aromas, and textures in new ways.
Classes and Seminars
When: January 20–23, 2026
Where: Various locations throughout Greater Fort Lauderdale
Details: Get ready to roll up your sleeves and awaken your taste buds with an expanded lineup of interactive classes and seminars designed to inspire and educate. This year’s programming spans hands-on cooking classes, guided tastings, mixology sessions, wellness experiences, and family-friendly workshops. Dive into artisan pizza-and-beer pairings, master the art of pasta, explore tiki cocktail traditions, stretch into a yoga-and-feast session, or experiment in an ice cream lab. Whether you’re a home cook looking to level up or simply eager to taste your way through new flavors, these sessions offer a delicious and immersive way to dive deeper into Greater Fort Lauderdale’s vibrant culinary scene.
Tickets: Click here.
#VLFWF Dining Series
When: JJanuary 20–22, 2026
Where: Various locations throughout Greater Fort Lauderdale
Details: The 2026 #VLFWF Dining Series returns with a roster of intimate dinners highlighting South Florida’s rising talent alongside distinguished guest chefs from across the world. Guests can expect carefully curated menus, creative pairings, and one-night-only collaborations that showcase global flavors and seasonal ingredients.
Tickets: Click here.
Wok 'n Roll Curated by Chefs Alex Kuk and Diego Ng
When: Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Where: Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park
Details: Celebrate the flavors of Asia paired with rock ‘n roll flair at this high-energy street food experience hosted by Celebrity Chef Clarice Lam. In partnership with Two Happy Buddhas, you can expect sizzling woks, bold spices, and electrifying live music under the night sky.
Tickets: Click here.
BBQ at the Beach Presented by Demesmin & Dover
When: Friday, January 23, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Where: Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park
Details: Heat, flavor, and ocean air set the scene as pitmasters fire up their smokers and serve fall-off-the-bone ribs, brisket, and wings. Hosted by Food Network favorite Jason Smith, guests can expect tender bites, cold drinks, and a finger-licking good time.
Tickets: Click here.
The Grand Tasting
When: Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 12 p.m.
Where: Las Olas Oceanside Park
Details: The festival’s flagship event returns to the beach for an afternoon of unlimited bites and sips from South Florida’s top restaurants, breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Stroll through the tents, enjoy live music, and watch culinary demonstrations featuring some of this year’s celebrity chefs, including Richard Blais, Eddie Jackson and Captain Ron Dimpflmaier. Expect inventive dishes, refreshing pours, ocean breezes, and the vibrant energy only Greater Fort Lauderdale can deliver.
Tickets: Click here.
Beachside Brunch
When: Sunday, January 25, 2026 at 1 p.m.
Where: Las Olas Oceanside Park
Details: Close out the weekend with a breezy coastal brunch hosted by Nancy Fuller, who brings her signature warmth and approachability to a relaxed, celebratory Sunday spread. Think vibrant local ingredients, refreshing brunch cocktails, and a live soundtrack to enjoy with friends and family.
Tickets: Click here.
Picnic in the Park Presented by Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
When: Sunday, January 25, 2026 at 12 p.m.
Where: Las Olas Oceanside Park
Details: This FREE family-friendly finale offers something for every age. Parents and kids can enjoy curated food trucks, exciting cooking demos, live entertainment, local artisan vendors, the JDCH Teddy Bear Clinic, and plenty more.
Free RSVP: Click here.
Plan Your Culinary Adventure
Getting here is easy thanks to Delta, the official airline partner of the Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival. Operating out of their newly remodeled terminal at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, Delta offers daily flights from hundreds of cities around the world, making it simple to join the festivities no matter where you’re traveling from.
And for those who want to stay close to the action, B Ocean Resort Fort Lauderdale serves as the 2026 festival headquarters hotel. Additional partner hotels include:
