The countdown to EPCOT's annual Food & Wine Festival is nearly over, but guests arriving at the beginning of the event may notice a few missing pieces.
The 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival starts August 27 at Walt Disney World, bringing Global Marketplaces, specialty drinks, and entertainment back to the park. However, not every marketplace will begin serving food that day.
Several locations won't open until September, while four won't welcome guests until October.
Food & Wine Gives Guests Plenty to Sample
Part of the appeal of EPCOT's Food & Wine Festival is the freedom to try a little bit of everything.
Instead of choosing one restaurant, guests can travel around EPCOT sampling smaller dishes from Global Marketplaces inspired by different cuisines. Specialty beverages add to the selection, while the Eat to the Beat Concert Series provides entertainment throughout the event.
The 2026 festival runs from August 27 through November 21. Disney has officially released this year's menus, giving visitors an early look at the dishes and drinks coming to EPCOT.
Those menus also reveal that the complete festival lineup won't be available immediately.
Festival Favorites Arrives in September
Guests won't have to wait too far into September for Festival Favorites.
The CommuniCore Hall location begins serving food on September 9 and remains part of the festival through November 21. As a result, guests visiting during the first 13 days won't have access to its menu.
Selections include:
- Potato Pierogi
- Bo Ssam Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse Trifle
- Frozen S'mores milkshake
- Alcoholic Specialties
Festival Favorites will become available before several other marketplaces that are delayed.
The Wedge Gets a Limited Festival Run
The Wedge Hosted by Dairy Does More arrives next, but guests will have less time to visit this location.
The cheese-focused marketplace operates from September 18 through November 8. That means it opens roughly three weeks after Food & Wine begins and closes nearly two weeks before the overall festival ends.
Guests can find:
- Crab and Corn Macaroni and Cheese
- Cheesesteak Macaroni and Cheese
- Cannoli Milk Shake
- Alcoholic Specialties
Anyone hoping to visit The Wedge will need to plan around its shorter operating window.
Coastal Eats Doesn't Open Until October
The wait stretches even longer for Coastal Eats.
Located near Creations Shop, the seafood-focused marketplace begins serving guests on October 2 and remains available through November 21.
Its offerings include:
- Crab Cake
- Seafood Pot Pie
- Alcoholic Specialties
That schedule takes Coastal Eats completely off the table for guests visiting during August or September.
Earth Eats Follows the Same Schedule
Earth Eats will also skip the festival's first several weeks.
The marketplace, located in World Nature, opens on October 2 and continues serving through November 21.
Its menu includes:
- Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib
- Lemon-Almond-Olive Oil Cake
- Minute Maid Aguas Frescas – Strawberry Hibiscus
- Alcoholic Specialties
Guests interested in Earth Eats will therefore need to visit during the final portion of Food & Wine.
The Alps Makes an October Debut
The Alps follows that same October 2 opening schedule.
Located near the Germany pavilion in World Showcase, the marketplace focuses on Alpine-inspired foods and remains available through November 21.
The menu features:
- Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese
- Tartiflette
- Kirschwasser Torte
- Alcoholic Specialties
That leaves guests visiting during the festival‘s first five weeks without access to The Alps.
India Also Sits Out the Early Festival
One more World Showcase marketplace won't join the event until October.
India, located near the China pavilion, begins serving on October 2 and continues through November 21.
Its menu includes:
- Potato-Pea Samosas
- Chicken Tikka Masala
- Mango Lassi
- Alcoholic Specialties
Visitors arriving before October will have to miss these selections or plan another EPCOT visit later.
Later Visits Will Offer More Choices
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival itself isn't opening late. Guests can still begin eating their way around the park when the event officially starts on August 27.
The difference comes down to how much of the 2026 lineup visitors want to experience.
Festival Favorites joins the event on September 9, followed by The Wedge on September 18. Coastal Eats, Earth Eats, The Alps, and India all arrive on October 2.
That means two guests visiting the same festival several weeks apart could find noticeably different food selections.
Opening week still gives visitors the chance to experience Food & Wine right from the start. However, guests hoping to have the widest possible selection of Global Marketplaces may want to keep those later opening dates in mind before deciding when to visit EPCOT.
