The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is known for introducing new flavors every year, but in 2026, the biggest changes aren't happening at the food booths.
Instead, they're taking place on stage.
Starting August 27, Disney will welcome nine first-time performers to the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, giving one of EPCOT's most popular festival traditions a fresh look.
For years, guests have become accustomed to seeing many of the same artists return to the America Gardens Theatre. That consistency has helped build a loyal audience, but Disney is expanding the lineup with a collection of performers representing several different musical styles.
Among the newcomers are Fitz and the Tantrums, Lauren Alaina, Grace Potter, Allen Stone, Grupo Manía, Rey Ruiz, The War and Treaty, Couch, and Big Head Todd and the Monsters.
Rather than focusing on one genre, Disney has assembled a lineup that ranges from pop and country to Latin music, rock, blues, soul, and funk.
Even with those additions, the festival isn't leaving longtime favorites behind.
Guests can still catch performances by Hanson, Boyz II Men, Yellowcard, MercyMe, New Found Glory, Smash Mouth, The Fray, STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas, and The Beach Boys throughout the event.
That mix should appeal to both first-time visitors and guests who return to Food & Wine every fall.
The concert series opens August 27 with Evolution: Motown before continuing almost daily through mid-November. Because performances are included with EPCOT admission, the shows have become one of the festival's most popular experiences outside of the Global Marketplaces.
It's common to see guests grabbing food from nearby booths before finding seats for an evening concert, creating a tradition that blends dining and live entertainment into one experience.
Disney has gradually refreshed many parts of EPCOT over the past several years, and this updated entertainment lineup continues that trend. While the park has seen new attractions, updated spaces, and expanded festivals, smaller changes like these often help keep annual events feeling different from one year to the next.
Whether you're planning to revisit a favorite performer or discover one of the nine artists making their first appearance at the festival, this year's Eat to the Beat schedule offers more variety than guests have seen in quite some time.
With the festival beginning August 27, music fans will soon have dozens of opportunities to experience both familiar favorites and brand-new performers during one of Walt Disney World's most anticipated seasonal events.
