The 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival won't officially open for several more weeks, but Disney isn't waiting until late August to get started. Guests visiting EPCOT are already spotting early signs that one of the park's most popular events is on the way.
The changes aren't the finished product just yet, but they're enough to show that festival season is officially taking shape. If you're walking through the park now, you may notice EPCOT beginning its annual transition long before the first festival dishes are served.
A Festival That Transforms the Park Every Year
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival has become a favorite tradition for Disney fans. Each year, the event brings Global Marketplace booths to World Showcase and other areas of the park, offering food and beverages inspired by flavors from around the globe.
Of course, the festival is about much more than what's on the menu. Guests can shop for exclusive merchandise, take part in family-friendly activities, and enjoy performances during the Eat to the Beat Concert Series. Popular experiences like Emile's Fromage Montage and Remy's Ratatouille Hide & Squeak also give visitors another reason to explore every corner of EPCOT.
Creating an event of that size doesn't happen overnight, which is why Disney always starts building well before opening day arrives.
Festival Booth Installation Has Begun
That annual process is now underway.
Crews have started installing Global Marketplace kiosks throughout EPCOT ahead of the 2026 festival. Booths have already appeared around World Showcase, and guests have also spotted additional kiosks in other sections of the park.
These temporary structures are usually among the first visible signs of the festival each summer. While the booths remain plain for now, they signal that Disney has officially entered the next phase of preparing for Food & Wine.
Menus, themed decorations, festival branding, and signage typically follow after the kiosks are in place. Those additions haven't appeared yet, but they'll continue arriving over the coming weeks as opening day gets closer.
For returning guests, seeing the booths pop up has become a familiar reminder that one of EPCOT's busiest seasons is almost here.
Disney Has Already Revealed Several Festival Details
The early construction comes after Disney announced the festival's official schedule and several returning experiences.
The 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival will take place from August 27 through November 21, giving guests nearly three months to enjoy this year's event.
Disney has already confirmed the return of Emile's Fromage Montage, which encourages guests to sample select cheese dishes while collecting stamps for a special prize. Remy's Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt will also return, once again inviting families to search for Remy throughout World Showcase.
Guests can also start planning around this year's entertainment. Disney has released the complete Eat to the Beat Concert Series lineup, making it easier to schedule a visit around favorite performers.
More announcements are still expected before opening day, including additional menus, merchandise, and other festival offerings.
EPCOT Will Continue Changing in the Weeks Ahead
The newly installed kiosks are only the beginning of the park's seasonal makeover.
As August approaches, Disney will continue adding decorative elements, menu boards, themed displays, and festival signage throughout EPCOT. With each new addition, the park will move one step closer to welcoming guests for another Food & Wine Festival.
Many longtime visitors enjoy watching that transformation happen in real time. It offers a unique glimpse into how Disney prepares for one of its largest annual events while the park continues to operate as normal.
The Countdown Has Already Started
Even though the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is still weeks away, Disney has already begun setting the stage for another busy season. The arrival of Global Marketplace kiosks confirms that preparations are moving forward, giving guests an early preview of everything that's still to come.
Visitors heading to EPCOT before August 27 can watch the festival gradually come together as more booths, decorations, and signage appear across the park. Before long, those temporary structures will become the center of one of Walt Disney World's most anticipated annual celebrations.
