The countdown to fall at Disney World officially starts now. EPCOT just released the details for this year's Food & Wine Festival, and cheese fans have plenty to look forward to. Alongside a lineup of returning dishes, EPCOT confirmed a brand-new exhibit built entirely around cheese, set to debut inside the park later this year. Here's what to know before you plan your visit.
Festival Dates and What Makes It Special
This year's EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs from August 27 through November 21. The event turns EPCOT into a sprawling celebration of global food and drink, with marketplaces scattered across World Showcase serving up bites inspired by cultures worldwide. Live entertainment fills out the experience, keeping the festival feeling less like a food court and more like a full-blown cultural showcase.
Guests keep returning to this festival year after year because it makes travel easy. You can sample dishes from a dozen countries without ever leaving the park, and pop-up kiosks and food stalls give EPCOT a completely different feel than it does the rest of the year. Nearly three months gives visitors plenty of chances to catch it, whether they're stopping by once or making multiple trips.
A New Cheese Exhibit Heads to CommuniCore Hall
EPCOT is rolling out something new for cheese lovers this year.
A hands-on cheese exhibit will take over CommuniCore Hall, walking guests through the food's history with interactive elements and plenty of fun trivia along the way. It gives visitors a reason to slow down and explore something educational between marketplace stops, rather than just grabbing a bite and moving on.
Timing Explains the Late Start
Guests won't find this exhibit open on day one of the festival. It runs from September 18 through November 8, a shorter window than the festival as a whole. The reason comes down to real estate.
CommuniCore Hall is currently home to GoofyCore for Cool Kids' Summer, which runs through September 8. Once that wraps up, the space becomes available just in time for the cheese exhibit to move in and run through most of the festival's back half.
Returning Menu Favorites Confirmed
Disney hasn't finalized the full 2026 menu yet, but three returning dishes are already locked in. Fans of Gyozas of the Galaxy can expect the street corn-style dumplings to make another appearance, featuring chicken, tomatillo salsa verde, a corn salad, cotija cheese, lime crema, and cilantro.
The Australia marketplace brings back its grilled shrimp skewer, seasoned with bushberry spice and served with sweet-and-sour vegetables and coconut-chili sauce.
Dessert fans can look forward to The Alps marketplace serving its Kirschwasser torte again, complete with cherry-brandy buttercream, fondant, sugared almonds, and cherry compote.
Marketplaces won't all open at once, though. Some follow a staggered schedule throughout the festival, so checking the Foodie Guide once it releases is worth the effort. That guide will confirm full menus and opening dates for every marketplace.
Emile's Fromage Montage Returns for Cheese Fans
Beyond the new exhibit, cheese lovers get another reason to celebrate. Emile's Fromage Montage returns this year, sending guests on a self-guided trail through select Global Marketplaces to sample cheese-inspired dishes.
Each eligible dish earns a stamp in the festival passport, and completing the full set unlocks a special festival treat. It's a fun incentive that turns tasting your way through the festival into a bit of a challenge.
Time to Start Planning
This year's festival brings a fresh cheese exhibit, the return of Emile's Fromage Montage, and a menu that's already showing promise. More announcements should surface as the August 27 start date gets closer, so keep checking back for updates.
Are you planning to check out the new cheese exhibit this fall? It might be exactly the reason you need to book that Disney World trip.
