The Austin Food & Wine Festival is coming back to Auditorium Shores November 6 through 8, marking its 15th year with three days of chef demos, tastings, live-fire cooking and a lineup that mixes national names with plenty of familiar Austin kitchens.
This year’s headliners include Andrew Zimmern, Esther Choi, Richard Blais and Kevin Lee, alongside Austin chefs and restaurants including Amanda Turner, Alexa Mejia, Sarah McIntosh of épicerie, Amir Hajimaleki of Roya and teams from Uchi, Barley Swine, Odd Duck, Austin Oyster Co. and more.
The weekend starts Friday evening with Made In Texas, a dine-around at the Long Center Terrace from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The event focuses on Texas chefs, ingredients, drinks and live music, with Choi, Zimmern and Lee joining a roster that includes Damon Cook of Uchi and Hai Hospitality, Ian Lanphear of Isidore, Alan Dale Nelson of Best Quality Daughter and Augusta Passow of Barley Swine and Odd Duck.
Saturday and Sunday move the festival to Auditorium Shores, where the Chef Showcase remains the centerpiece. More than 40 Austin restaurants have already been announced, ranging from established names like Loro, Lutie’s, Parkside, Intero and The Peached Tortilla to newer additions including Alteño, Barbacana, Ēma, Ensenada ATX, SITI and Yellow Ranger.
Cooking demonstrations will bring some additional star power to the stage. Zimmern, a four-time James Beard Award winner, joins Choi, Blais and 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist Kevin Lee for demonstrations throughout the weekend.
For anyone who prefers smoke to stage lights, the festival’s Fire Pit returns with chefs and pitmasters cooking directly over open flames. Ali Clem of la Barbecue, Chelsea Fadda of Pecan Square Cafe and Enma Lopez of Austin Beer Works will curate this year’s lineup, with additional participants still to come.
Chef Tim Love is also returning for his Hands-On Grilling session Saturday morning. The add-on experience puts guests behind a charcoal grill to prepare their own meal while Love walks them through the process. Considering how many festival events involve watching somebody else cook, getting handed the tongs is probably not the worst change of pace.
Wine, beer and spirits remain just as central to the weekend as the food. Guided tastings and beverage programming will include sommeliers, winemakers, mixologists and brewmasters, with FOOD & WINE contributing editor Anthony Giglio among the returning experts.
Tickets are available as VIP, Weekender, single-day Grand Taste and standalone Made In Texas options. Food and beverages are included with festival tickets, while Hands-On Grilling is available as an additional purchase.
All Austin Food & Wine Festival events are restricted to guests 21 and older.
Austin Food & Wine Festival
November 6–8, 2026
Auditorium Shores and Long Center Terrace
Tickets: austinfoodandwinefestival.com