Columbia Food & Wine Festival unveils 2026 signature events and opens ticket sales

The Columbia Food & Wine Festival returns April 22-26, 2026, inviting locals and visitors alike to experience the Midlands through five days of thoughtfully curated dinners, tastings, competitions and interactive culinary events that celebrate the region’s people, culture and creativity.

Now entering its ninth year, the Columbia Food & Wine Festival has grown from a single tasting into a multi-day destination experience that reflects the energy and diversity of Columbia’s evolving food scene, with events staged across the city in settings ranging from historic buildings and established restaurants to waterfront venues and neighborhood gathering spaces. The 2026 festival will feature more than 100 chefs, mixologists, restaurants and artisans with each event designed to foster collaboration, spotlight local talent and create meaningful connections between chefs, makers and guests.

“The Columbia Food & Wine Festival is rooted in storytelling, using food and drink as a way to connect people to place, history and one another,” said Ashley Elsey, co-director of the Columbia Food & Wine Festival. “As the festival continues to grow, our focus remains on creating experiences that feel intentional, inclusive and reflective of the community we serve.”

To reward its most loyal supporters, a new program, Tastemakers, was launched this year, granting early access to select events that traditionally sell out quickly via a special promo code on Feb. 2. Tickets for the general public will go on sale Feb. 9 at colafoodandwine.com. Patrons can still buy a Tastemakers membership and have full access to the event lineup before the public ticket launch on Feb. 9.

“We design the festival to be an exploration of Columbia — its neighborhoods, its voices and its creative spirit,” said Kelly Glynn, co-director of the Columbia Food & Wine Festival. “From intimate dinners to large-scale tastings, every event is meant to feel immersive and memorable, while still staying true to our mission of supporting and uplifting the local hospitality community.”

2026 Columbia Food & Wine Festival Event Lineup
The festival’s one-of-a-kind signature events change every year and vary in location, theme, talent and size. This approach provides an opportunity to showcase different parts of the region while highlighting a combination of emerging and longtime chefs and mixologists as well as new and established venues.

Kickoff Dinner
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 6-9 p.m.
The festival opens with a progressive seated dinner which flows through four levels of the building that hosts Hendrix, Black Dog Pizza and Dorsia Pasta Co., featuring Hendrix executive chef Frank Bradley alongside Alex Strickland (Dragon Room), Anthea Douglas (Hendrix), Harold Pendleton (War Mouth), Joe Lytle (Black Dog Pizza), and Pierce Bowers (Dorsia Pasta Co.).

Cocktail Games
Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 6-9 p.m.
The fan-favorite cocktail competition returns at Gather COLA, where top mixologists compete for the title of CFWF Mixologist of the Year with expertly crafted bites.

Bites Around the Block
Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 6-9 p.m.
Guests sip and stroll along Main Street north of Elmwood Avenue for a progressive tasting featuring Curiosity Coffee Bar, Something Small Catering, The War Mouth, The Vino Garage and more.

The Collections Served: A Curated Dinner
Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 5:30-9:30 p.m.
An immersive evening combines a guided tour of the Columbia Museum of Art with an art-inspired seated dinner at Hampton Street Vineyard led by Chef Wes Fulmer and Kevin Minnick (Quincy Country Club).

High Tea & Tutus
Friday, April 24, 2026 | 3-6 p.m.
A ballet-inspired high tea at the Mansion on Blanding pairs elevated bites from B.MAC Bakeshop, COA, Nibl Dessert & Cafe, and more, along with theatrical design and a special performance by South Carolina Ballet.

A Reconstruction Dinner
Friday, April 24, 2026 | 6-9 p.m.
Hosted at the Museum of the Reconstruction Era at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home, this seated dinner featuring South Carolina Chef Ambassadors Chris Williams (Roy’s Grille), Darren Smith (Rivertown Bistro; Bonfire A Smokin’ Taqueria), Javier Uriarte (Woodcreek Club), Jessica Shillato (Spotted Salamander), and Sarah McClure (Southside Smokehouse & Grille) explores the intersection of history, place and Southern cuisine through chef-driven storytelling.

Viva Las Bourbon!
Friday, April 24, 2026 | 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Where whiskey meets wagyu, and the king takes the mic — this three-course meal at Bourbon’s courtyard, led by chef/owner Kristian Niemi along with Chef de Cuisine Cody Cable features Mishima Reserve American Wagyu alongside tastings and cocktails from Heaven Hill plus live music by the Capital City Playboys.

Cheese Rave: A Curd Collective
Friday, April 24, 2026 | 9 p.m.-midnight
A melty mashup pairing electronic music genres with curated cheese tastings and eccentric sips from 929 Kitchen & Bar, MOA Korean BBQ & Bar, Rosewood Market and more across evolving soundscapes led by The Mixstress Madi Jo — with venue details shared first with ticket holders.

Taste the Rainbow
Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
This drag brunch at The Big Apple features color-inspired dishes from Café Strudel, Market on Main, Motor Supply Co. Bistro and more, cocktails and performances hosted by Paris Lefaris with music by DJ Lonzo.

Bunaroo
Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 1-4 p.m.
A gourmet take on the humble bun — from craft sliders to bao buns and beyond, this dog-friendly tasting at Finlay Park features live music and local chefs from Dragon Room, Guy’s Hotdogs, Hall’s Columbia and more.
Chef Secrets: An Empanada and Salsa Workshop
Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 3-5 p.m.
Chefs Javier Uriarte (Woodcreek Club) and David Grillo (Boca Grande) lead an interactive classroom at Savage Craft focused on empanada-making and salsa fundamentals.

Smoke on the Water
Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 4-7 p.m.
Set on Lake Murray at Putnam’s Harbor, this premium barbecue event showcases an all-star barbecue lineup featuring James Beard Award finalist Robbie Robinson (City Limits), James Beard Award winner Rodney Scott (Rodney Scott’s BBQ), and five-time World Barbecue Champion Myron Mixon (Myron Mixon’s BBQ).

Grand Tasting
Sunday, April 26, 2026 | noon-4 p.m.
The festival concludes across two Historic Columbia properties — the Hampton-Preston Mansion and Robert Mills House — with more than 100 culinary partners, live music and chef demonstrations.

Tickets and Attendance Information
Tickets are available at colafoodandwine.com, with early access for Tastemakers beginning Feb. 2, who are given a special promo code. General public ticket sales open on Feb. 9.
All 2026 festival events are 21 and older.

Applications for Hospitality Scholarship are Open
The Columbia Food & Wine Festival is proud to launch the CFWF Hospitality Scholarship, created to support the next generation of hospitality leaders right here in Columbia. The goal is to uplift emerging talent, deepen student involvement in the festival and strengthen the long-term growth of our city’s culinary community.

Two outstanding USC Hospitality students will receive a $2,500 scholarship to support their education and fuel their journey into a career within the hospitality industry. Applications are open until Feb. 15 and can be submitted at colafoodandwine.com

At its core, the festival is designed to benefit the local hospitality community at every level. The festival prioritizes thoughtful compensation for participating chefs and beverage professionals, while also reinvesting in Columbia through nonprofit partnerships and community initiatives. As a marketing engine for Columbia’s culinary scene, the Columbia Food & Wine Festival drives visibility, tourism and economic momentum — helping restaurants thrive and ensuring the impact lasts well beyond festival week.

Since its founding, the festival has welcomed more than 15,600 guests to 62 events featuring more than 375 culinary partners from across the region. More festival information can be found online at colafoodandwine.com.

About the Columbia Food & Wine Festival
Columbia Food & Wine Festival is a nonprofit organization that spotlights and supports the culinary community throughout the greater Columbia S.C. region. The multi-day festival brings thousands of food lovers and community members together for a one-of-a-kind experience featuring Columbia’s finest plates and pours. Attendees build personal connections with the history and culture of Columbia’s food scene by meeting chefs, partaking in unique and local eats, and learning about the connections between chefs and the local farming community. The festival’s values lie in supporting the hospitality community, a commitment to culinary education and delivering an unparalleled customer experience. Since 2018, Columbia Food & Wine Festival has highlighted the “Heart of SC” as a diverse and vibrant destination for food-filled experiences. Plan your #ColaFoodandWine itinerary at columbiafoodandwinefestival.com.

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