Hawaii Food & Wine Festival 2026 (Oct–Nov)
Hawaii Food and Wine Festival 2026
The Hawaii Food and Wine Festival is Hawaii's premier culinary event, bringing together James Beard Award-winning chefs, master sommeliers, and world-class spirits experts for a multi-day celebration of food, wine, and Hawaii's extraordinary local ingredients. The festival runs in October and November, with events spread across Waikiki venues and occasional programs on neighbor islands.
In 2026, the festival is expected to run across multiple weekends in October-November. Tickets sell out well in advance — plan to book as soon as the 2026 schedule is announced (typically August-September).
James Beard Chefs in Hawaii
The Hawaii Food and Wine Festival was founded in 2011 by Roy Yamaguchi (of Roy's restaurants) and Alan Wong, two of Hawaii's most celebrated chefs and both James Beard Award winners. The festival brings Hawaii's top culinary talent together with notable mainland and international chefs, showcasing it all against the backdrop of Hawaii's world-class local ingredients.
Past festival chefs have included Tyler Florence, Tom Colicchio, Marcus Samuelsson, Sheldon Simeon (of Top Chef fame), and Japanese and Korean chefs reflecting Hawaii's culinary crossroads identity.
Types of Events
- Grand Tasting Events: Large-format tasting events at venues like the Hilton Hawaiian Village, where dozens of chefs set up stations. Sample food from 20+ notable chefs in a single evening. Tickets typically $150-$200 per person.
- Winemaker Dinners: Intimate seated dinners (40-80 guests) where a single chef creates a multi-course menu paired with wines from a specific vineyard. These events are the most exclusive and sell out first. Tickets typically $250-$450 per person.
- Celebrity Chef Lunches: More affordable midday events featuring one or two featured chefs, often at Waikiki venues with ocean views. Tickets typically $100-$150 per person.
- Neighbor Island Dinners: Occasional events on Maui or the Big Island, featuring local chefs and local ingredients in their home environments.
Hawaii's Local Ingredients
One of the festival's great pleasures is seeing what Hawaii's extraordinary agricultural diversity looks like in the hands of world-class chefs:
- Maui onions: The sweetest onions in America, grown on the slopes of Haleakala
- Hamakua mushrooms: Grown on the rainy slopes of the Big Island's Hamakua Coast; oyster, king trumpet, and specialty varieties
- Kona coffee: Grown on the volcanic slopes above Kailua-Kona; one of the world's great coffee-growing regions
- Kauai shrimp: Raised in aquaculture farms on the south shore of Kauai
- Hawaii-caught ahi (yellowfin tuna): Among the best sashimi-grade fish available anywhere
Booking Tickets
Visit hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com for the 2026 schedule and ticket sales. Grand tasting events sell out within 1-2 weeks. Winemaker dinners sell out within days. Sign up for the festival's email list for first-notice access.
Practical Tips
- Most events are in Waikiki — stay in Waikiki for maximum convenience
- Dress code: smart casual to cocktail for most dinners; Aloha attire (nice aloha shirt or dress) is always appropriate
- Many events include complimentary valet or validated parking — check individual event details
- Some programming is free or low-cost — check for demos and panels open to the public
Looking for things to do in Hawaii? Browse upcoming events →
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