The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Invesco QQQ returns for its 19th year October 15-18, 2026, with nearly 50 events spread across four days in Lower Manhattan's Seaport neighborhood. This guide is published ahead of the Festival's 2026 run, so everything below reflects the official lineup, venues and ticket structure as announced — not a recap.
NYCWFF is built around individually ticketed events rather than a single all-access pass: a walk-around tasting like the Grand Tasting is a different purchase than a celebrity-hosted dinner or a late-night party, and prices range from around $120 to $430-plus depending on the event. It's a splurge weekend for serious food-and-wine fans, not a budget outing, though a handful of lower-cost options (like FoodieCon) exist.
How to use this guide
- The Festival runs Thursday, October 15 through Sunday, October 18, 2026, with most events clustered in the Seaport 1.
- Tickets are sold per event, not as a single festival pass — budget separately for a tasting event versus a hosted dinner.
- Most walk-around tastings (Grand Tasting, Burger Bash) run 3-4 hours with unlimited bites and drinks included in the ticket price.
- Dinners and small-format events (Nobu's "A Culinary Journey Through Peru," chef-hosted dinners) have limited capacity and sell out fastest 3.
- The new Rooftop at Pier 17 venue hosts several signature nighttime events this year, so check each ticket's specific venue, not just "the Seaport," before planning transit 5.
- All ticket sales and the full schedule are managed through nycwff.org and its ticketing partner — buy directly from there to avoid scalped tickets.
Key events to know
Grand Tasting featuring Culinary Demonstrations
- When: Saturday, October 17, 12-4pm, and Sunday, October 18, 12pm
- Where: Invesco QQQ Festival Campus in the Seaport
- Price: General admission tickets have been priced around $119-$230 in recent years 4
- Hosts: Marcus Samuelsson hosts Saturday's demos alongside Andrew Rea of Binging with Babish; Sunday's demo lineup was TBD at announcement 5
NYCWFF's signature event is a walk-around tasting featuring hundreds of NYC restaurants alongside wine and spirits from Southern Glazer's portfolio, plus a live demo stage. It's the single best way to sample a huge cross-section of the Festival's participating restaurants in one visit, and it runs on both Saturday and Sunday this year.
Blue Moon Burger Bash
- When: Thursday, October 15, evening (early entry at 6:30pm, general admission 7-10pm)
- Where: The Rooftop at Pier 17
- Price: General admission around $215; early entry around $270 3
- Hosts: Rachael Ray and Bert Kreischer
The Festival's longtime opening-night tradition moves to the new Rooftop at Pier 17 this year, pitting NYC burger joints against each other with skyline views as the backdrop.
A Culinary Journey Through Peru
- When: Thursday, October 15, 7-9:30pm
- Where: STORIED NYC
- Price: Around $215 3
- Host: Nobu Matsuhisa
A dedicated tasting built around Peruvian-Japanese flavors, hosted by one of the Festival's best-known chef names.
Oyster Bash presented by Modelo
- When: Saturday, October 17, 11am
- Where: Gitano NYC, Invesco QQQ Festival Campus in the Seaport
- Host: Andrew Zimmern
A midday walk-around tasting centered on oysters and raw bar fare, paired with Modelo.
Best of the Best presented by Resorts World New York City
- When: Friday, October 16, 8pm
- Where: 48 Wall Street
- Hosts: Jonathan Waxman and Keith Hernandez
This event spotlights James Beard Award-recognized chefs in a single walk-around format — a good pick if you want the Festival's most decorated culinary talent in one room.
New York After Dark
- When: Saturday, October 17, 7:15pm
- Where: The Rooftop at Pier 17
- Hosts: Kwame Onwuachi with DJ Questlove
A late-night party format blending tastings with a DJ set, positioned as one of the weekend's higher-energy events.
FoodieCon
- When: Sunday, October 18, 11am
- Where: STORIED NYC
NYCWFF's content-creator-facing event, built around the food personalities and creators shaping how New Yorkers discover restaurants online — a different, younger-skewing vibe than the chef-dinner circuit.
The Cookout presented by Mike's Amazing
- When: Sunday, October 18, 6:15pm
- Where: Invesco QQQ Festival Campus in the Seaport
A closing-night walk-around event that wraps the Festival's final day with a cookout theme.
Tickets and prices
| Event type | Example price range |
|---|---|
| Walk-around tastings (Grand Tasting, Burger Bash, Oyster Bash) | roughly $119-$270 |
| Hosted dinners (Nobu, Ducasse, Voltaggio) | roughly $215-$430 |
| FoodieCon | separate, generally lower-priced ticket |
Exact prices vary by event and change as inventory sells; always confirm current pricing on nycwff.org or the official ticketing site before buying 3.
Good to know before you go
NYCWFF takes place across the Seaport, now anchored by the Invesco QQQ Festival Campus and, new this year, The Rooftop at Pier 17 overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge and East River 5. Several events also run at nearby venues like STORIED NYC, Gitano NYC and 48 Wall Street, so double-check your ticket's specific address — "Seaport" covers more than one physical location. Dress for the weather since several signature events (the Rooftop series, Oyster Bash) are partly or fully outdoors. Arrive at tasting events as close to doors-open as possible; the best bites and shortest demo-stage lines come in the first hour.
The 2026 Festival's host and beneficiary partners are Event Zero Foundation, which focuses on sustainable event practices, and the James Beard Foundation, which the Festival supports as part of its charitable mission for the independent restaurant industry 1.
Frequently asked questions
What are the official dates of NYCWFF 2026?
October 15-18, 2026, the Festival's 19th year 2.
Where does the Festival take place?
Primarily in the Seaport neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, at the Invesco QQQ Festival Campus, with new programming at The Rooftop at Pier 17 and additional events at venues like STORIED NYC, Gitano NYC and 48 Wall Street 5.
Who benefits from NYCWFF?
The Festival's 2026 beneficiaries are Event Zero Foundation, its sustainability-focused host partner, and the James Beard Foundation, which it supports to advance a more sustainable and equitable independent restaurant industry 1.
Is there a single pass to attend everything?
No — NYCWFF sells tickets per individual event rather than one all-access pass. Each tasting, dinner or party is booked separately through the official ticketing site.
Do events sell out?
Yes, especially marquee tastings (Grand Tasting, Burger Bash) and small-format chef dinners. Buy as soon as tickets go on sale rather than waiting until October.
Is NYCWFF good for a first-time visitor to NYC?
It's a strong option if your trip lines up with mid-October, but it's a food-and-drink-focused weekend rather than a general sightseeing one — pair it with a broader itinerary rather than building an entire trip around it.
Plan the rest of your trip
If your visit doesn't line up with these October dates, bookmark this guide for next year and build the rest of your stay around the city's everyday food scene — start with the NYC Food Bucket List for essential eats, browse Hidden Gems in NYC and 25 Hidden Gems NYC Tourists Never Find for spots away from the festival crowds, and check Events and the Weekend Guides for what else is happening in the city that week.