Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival

Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival returns April 7 to 11, 2026 for five spectacular days of collaborative dinners, high-energy chef competitions and expansive waterfront tastings across Tampa and St. Petersburg. Now in its fourth year, the fast-growing culinary showcase once again takes over the Tampa Bay area with an even larger footprint and signature event lineup. 

This year’s festivities include three new events, making it the most robust schedule for the festival in its history. Thursday night’s Rock the Range at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is a new high-energy signature event blending live-fire cooking with restaurant tastings. Friday night’s fan-favorite VIP Chef Showdown expands with the debut of the Milagro Tequila Bartender Showdown, bringing the region’s top mixologists into the competition, while the new Chefs After Dark Party hosted by OpenTable offers a late-night gathering where participating chefs can celebrate together. 

Celebrity chef Robert Irvine returns as host for the week, joined by honorary chef host Sean Brasel of Meat Market. Making his festival debut, nationally acclaimed chef and restaurateur Beau MacMillan, known as BeauMac, brings additional high-energy excitement and expertise. Best known for his culinary talents at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain and frequent appearances on Food Network, including co-host of “Worst Cooks in America” and competitor on “Guy’s Grocery Games,” chef MacMillan will join chef Irvine in emceeing Rock the Range and will also host the Milagro Tequila Bartender Showdown.

The culinary extravaganza begins on Tuesday, April 7 with Experience St. Pete and continues on Wednesday, April 8 with Experience Tampa. New this year, dinner reservations for both nights will be powered by OpenTable, with tickets sold directly through the platform for a seamless booking experience.

Experience St. Pete is offering two unforgettable dinners that will showcase the city’s culinary creativity and personality. Chef Jason Ruhe of Latin-inspired favorite Pulpo Kitchen & Lounge will team up with Chef David Lazer Benstock of MICHELIN-recognized Il Ritorno to host an exclusive, four-course dining experience complete with premium wine and spirits pairings from Breakthru Beverage (stay tuned for link and pricing). Also helping to kick off the festival in refined style is Chef Steven Cady of culinary gem The Birchwood in collaboration with Chef Alex Chamberlain and his new restaurant concept coming soon, Mei, along with Chef Andrew Huang of Kosen. Chef Steven Cady  and his team will welcome guests to Birch & Vine at the Birchwood for an exquisite multi-course dinner with pairings among the inviting atmosphere of St. Pete’s waterfront ($185 pp). 

Experience Tampa, will feature four of Tampa’s most sought-after dining destinations for one-night-only collaborative evenings. At Meat Market, Chef Sean Brasel joins forces with Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine, GOYA Executive Chef Fernando Desa and pastry Chef Max Santiago for an elevated, multi-course dinner highlighting premium cuts and thoughtfully curated wine and spirits pairings ($350 pp,). Over at Epicurean Theatre at the Epicurean Hotel, Chef Jon Atanacio will partner with Chef Rob Reinsmith of WildChild for a refined tasting menu that blends expert technique and innovative flair in the hotel’s chic and inviting setting ($300 pp). Along the waterfront, American Social’s Chef Ryan Leonard will present an upscale, four-course dining experience featuring craveworthy, crowd-pleasing dishes paired with standout selections from Breakthru Beverage, all set against the restaurant’s lively space and stunning views of the city’s skyline ($150 pp). And Chef Ferrell Alvarez and Chef Seth Temple of Ash will partner up Chef Matt Zappoli of the Hard Rock Hotel to prepare an unforgettable five course family style dinner ($150 pp). The night continues at Meat Market with the debut of Chefs After Dark Party, a lively late-night celebration where participating chefs can unwind, connect and toast the evening together.

Thursday, the festival action amps up further with the inaugural Rock the Range ($266.18pp) hosted by high-profile talents Chef Robert Irvine, Chef Beau MacMillan and The Cakegirl, Chef Kristina Lavallee, benefiting the Robert Irvine Foundation. Presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa and hosted by Jack Daniel’s and Hendrick’s Gin,  the new high-energy signature event blends the excitement of live cooking with a diverse selection of restaurant tastings.

Tickets for the Experience St. Pete and Experience Tampa dinners are now available exclusively through OpenTable. Tickets for Chef Showdown, Grand Tasting, and Rock the Range are on sale now at tampabaywff.com, with weekend pass bundles also available, including options that feature a two-night stay at the festival’s host hotel, the Epicurean. Additional details, including the Chef Showdown matchups and Grand Tasting participants, will be unveiled soon. 

Festival-goers can also enter the ultimate giveaway, presented by Official Bank Partner, First Horizon and valued at $1,700. The prize includes $200 to Meat Market, $100 to American Social, $50 to Timpano, $50 to Tanya and Matt’s Ice Creamiest, a weekend pass for two to the festival, and a two-night stay at the Epicurean. Visit tampabaywff.com to enter; the winner will be announced on March 20.

In addition to showcasing the region’s culinary talent and offering these experiences, the Fourth Annual Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival proudly supports the EAT SMART campaign, a 501(c)(3) initiative that provides nutritious meals and nutrition education to children and families throughout Tampa Bay. A portion of proceeds helps fund programs that promote healthier futures across the community.

2026 Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival Event Schedule

DAY 1 | TUESDAY, APRIL 7 | EXPERIENCE ST. PETE

Experience St. Pete opens the festival with two four-course dinners highlighting some of the city’s top talents. Chef Jason Ruhe of Pulpo Kitchen & Lounge teams up with Chef David Lazer Benstock of MICHELIN-recognized Il Ritorno for a collaborative pairing experience, while Chef Steven Cady hosts a refined multi-course dinner at The Birchwood in collaboration with Chef Alex Chamberlain and Chef Andrew Huang, each complemented by curated wine and spirits selections from Breakthru Beverage. 

Tickets: Birch & Vine at the Birchwood Now Available on Open Table, Stay Tuned for Pulpo Kitchen & Lounge

Where Birch & Vine at The Birchwood & Pulpo Kitchen & Bar

DAY 2 | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8 | EXPERIENCE TAMPA

Experience Tampa continues the week with four pairing dinners across some of the city’s most sought-after restaurants. At Meat Market, Chef Sean Brasel welcomes Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine, GOYA Executive Chef Fernando Desa and pastry Chef Max Santiago for a multi-course steakhouse-inspired experience. Chef Jon Atanacio partners with Chef Rob Reinsmith of WildChild for a refined tasting menu at the Epicurean Hotel’s Elevage, while along the waterfront, Chef Ryan Leonard joins forces with Chef Jay Rodriguez to host a four-course dinner at American Social presented by Sazerac. Chef Ferrell Alvarez and Chef Seth Temple of Ash will partner up Chef Matt Zappoli of the Hard Rock Hotel to prepare an unforgettable five course family style dinner. Each dinner will be thoughtfully matched with premium wines or handcrafted cocktails provided by Breakthru Beverage and its partners. 

Tickets: $150 pp – $350 pp  Now available on OpenTable 

Where: Meat Market, Elevage, Ash,and American Social

CHEFS AFTER DARK PARTY: A new addition to this year’s festival, the Chefs After Dark Party brings participating chefs together for a late-night celebration at Meat Market, offering a relaxed space to unwind, enjoy food and drinks and toast to the events to come. 

Tickets: Invite Only

Where: Meat Market

DAY 3 | THURSDAY, APRIL 9 | ROCK THE RANGE WITH CHEF ROBERT IRVINE & FRIENDS

This year’s lineup debuts a showstopping Thursday night event: ROCK THE RANGE With Chef Robert Irvine & Friends, presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. Benefiting the Robert Irvine Foundation, this all-new experience blends indulgent dining and live entertainment into one next-level Hard Rock celebration. Hosting alongside Chef Robert Irvine will be high-profile talents Chef Beau MacMillan and The Cakegirl, Chef Kristina Lavallee.

Tickets: $266.18 Tickets on sale now!

Where: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

DAY 4 | FRIDAY, APRIL 10

BREAKING BREAD WITH HEROES: Friday morning brings Breaking Bread with Heroes, a private breakfast hosted in partnership with the Robert Irvine Foundation. Chef Robert Irvine, along with host sponsors Publix and American Social, welcomes veterans, active-duty military and first responders for a shared meal recognizing their service, courage and sacrifice.

Tickets: Invite Only

Where: American Social Bar & Kitchen Tampa

VIP CHEF SHOWDOWN: Presented by GOYA Foods and crafted by Milagro Tequila, the crowd-favorite VIP Chef Showdown returns bigger than ever with the most battles in the event’s history. Twenty chefs will face off across ten matchups, joined by the all-new Milagro Tequila Bartender Showdown hosted by Chef Beau Mac . Each team hosts its own battle pavilion, where guests sample dishes, cast votes and choose their champions before chefs take the Publix Culinary Showcase Kitchen stage for live demos judged by culinary insiders and media. High-energy and interactive, the Chef Showdown turns guests into judges, with unlimited bites, cocktails and friendly rivalry fueling the night. The complete chef and bartender showdowns will be revealed soon.

Tickets: $170. Tickets on sale now

Where: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa, FL

DAY 5 | SATURDAY, APRIL 11 | GRAND TASTING

The festival culminates Saturday with the Grand Tasting, the signature day-long riverfront celebration of Tampa Bay’s culinary community. Brought to you by title sponsor and exclusive wine and spirits provider Breakthru Beverage Florida, presented by GOYA Foods and hosted by Publix, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park transforms into an open-air tasting experience featuring bites from Tampa Bay’s favorite restaurants, organized by neighborhood to help guests explore what to try next. Fresh From Florida returns as a sponsor, highlighting the state’s exceptional local ingredients throughout the day. First Horizon, the event’s Official Bank Partner, hosts the Best of the Fest contest, inviting guests to vote for their favorite bite and crown one restaurant as the ultimate champion of the festival. Live chef demos take place throughout the day on the Publix Culinary Showcase Kitchen Stage, alongside wine and cocktail pavilions, brand activations and live DJ sets that keep the energy going from the first bite to the last sip. With a bounty of tastes and experiences to discover, the Grand Tasting serves as the weekend’s can’t-miss finale.

Tickets: $160 pre-event, $185 day of event. Tickets on sale now

Where: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa, FL