Traverse City Food & Wine is expanding its waterfront programming and unveiling new chefs for the 2026 festival taking place August 19–23. The event features over 80 events and experiences in Traverse City and across the Grand Traverse region.
“The lakes and fresh water are central to the lifestyle, agriculture, and recreation that define Traverse City and the surrounding region,” says Whitney Waara, COO at Traverse City Tourism. “We expanded our programming this year to create new opportunities for guests to experience the waterfront setting at Open Space Park. From hands-on cooking demonstrations to the world-class chefs and flavors of the Grand Tasting, the Traverse City waterfront will be a vibrant hub for immersive culinary experiences.”
This year, the festival’s waterside Open Space Demonstration Kitchen will feature events every day, with Morning Chef Demonstrations at Open Space Park. The festival will also include the James Beard Foundation Dinner, A Traverse Wine Journey wine tasting, Cheese and Wine Masterclass, National Writers Series, The Grand Tasting, and a Slow Sunday Lunch featuring a low country boil. Expanded waterfront experiences include The Global Table. A Reunion of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs & Friends; Under the Northern Star: An Evening with Chef Andrew Zimmern at Black Star Farms; Afrim Pristine’s Estate Cooking Demo & Dinner at Black Star Farms; The Art of Riesling Tour and Barrel Room Tasting; Silk Roads Flavor Odyssey with Anna Ansari at Aerie; The World at the Table | Aarti Sequeira & Sarah Bobier; and Water and Wine – An Afternoon Sail with Left Foot Charley.
Visit TraverseCityFoodandWine.com for the complete schedule, event information and tickets.
PHOTO: TRAVERSE CITY FOOD & WINE FACEBOOK
