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FEAST MODE

By Jenny Starr Perez

The South Beach Wine & Food Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary with celebrity chefs, and a packed four-day lineup.

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From January through March, South Florida quietly enters its best season. The weather settles into a stretch of clear skies and mild evenings, and the social calendar fills quickly with events that draw locals and visitors outdoors. Sitting squarely at the top of that calendar is the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, which returns Feb. 19–22, 2026, celebrating its 25th anniversary. The milestone edition arrives with four days of chef-driven programming, celebrity hosts, and music-forward experiences spread across Miami Beach and the mainland. Long known for blending food, entertainment, and setting, the festival leans into that reputation with expanded offerings that reflect how audiences now engage with culinary culture.

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New programming for the festival’s 25th anniversary places an emphasis on intimate, chef-driven experiences alongside high-energy nighttime moments. One of the most anticipated additions is Rachael’s Table, an Italian-inspired dinner hosted by Rachael Ray on Friday, Feb. 20, at the Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau showroom in the Miami Design District. Limited to just 20 guests, the evening offers a rare opportunity to dine in a more personal setting, with a menu designed specifically for the occasion.

On Saturday night, the festival shifts into after-hours mode with a Late Night Pizza Party at Bar Bucce. Hosted by Ashley Graham alongside chefs Michael Pirolo of Macchialina and James Beard Award winner Marc Vetri, the event pairs endless slices with DJ sets and flowing pours of Lambrusco, delivering a relaxed but spirited counterpoint to the festival’s daytime tastings.

Another newcomer, “Naughty Bites,” promises a playful approach to elevated comfort food. Hosted by Samantha Schnur of The Naughty Fork, the event centers on indulgent favorites reworked with creative flair, from loaded potatoes to globally inspired street-food staples, paired with wines and cocktails.

Returning anchor events remain central to the weekend. Mike’s Amazing Burger Bash celebrates its 20th anniversary, while the Grand Tasting Village brings large-scale walk-around tastings, demonstrations, and daytime performances. Celebrity hosts this year include Sofia Vergara and her son Manolo Vergara, who will appear at the Grand Tasting Village.

Music continues to play a larger role in the festival’s evolution. Diplo kicks off the weekend with a nighttime takeover of the Grand Tasting Village, while performers including Rev Run, Ja Rule, and DJ Cassidy appear across multiple events. The festival closes with “The David Grutman Experience,” set to feature a surprise musical performance.

Twenty-five years in, the South Beach Wine and Food Festival remains a defining fixture of Miami’s peak season—one that reflects how the city eats, gathers, and celebrates.

sobewff.org

New programming for the festival’s 25th anniversary places an emphasis on intimate, chef-driven experiences alongside high-energy nighttime moments. One of the most anticipated additions is Rachael’s Table, an Italian-inspired dinner hosted by Rachael Ray on Friday, Feb. 20, at the Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau showroom in the Miami Design District. Limited to just 20 guests, the evening offers a rare opportunity to dine in a more personal setting, with a menu designed specifically for the occasion.

On Saturday night, the festival shifts into after-hours mode with a Late Night Pizza Party at Bar Bucce. Hosted by Ashley Graham alongside chefs Michael Pirolo of Macchialina and James Beard Award winner Marc Vetri, the event pairs endless slices with DJ sets and flowing pours of Lambrusco, delivering a relaxed but spirited counterpoint to the festival’s daytime tastings.

Another newcomer, “Naughty Bites,” promises a playful approach to elevated comfort food. Hosted by Samantha Schnur of The Naughty Fork, the event centers on indulgent favorites reworked with creative flair, from loaded potatoes to globally inspired street-food staples, paired with wines and cocktails.

Returning anchor events remain central to the weekend. Mike’s Amazing Burger Bash celebrates its 20th anniversary, while the Grand Tasting Village brings large-scale walk-around tastings, demonstrations, and daytime performances. Celebrity hosts this year include Sofia Vergara and her son Manolo Vergara, who will appear at the Grand Tasting Village.

Music continues to play a larger role in the festival’s evolution. Diplo kicks off the weekend with a nighttime takeover of the Grand Tasting Village, while performers including Rev Run, Ja Rule, and DJ Cassidy appear across multiple events. The festival closes with “The David Grutman Experience,” set to feature a surprise musical performance.

Twenty-five years in, the South Beach Wine and Food Festival remains a defining fixture of Miami’s peak season—one that reflects how the city eats, gathers, and celebrates.
New programming for the festival’s 25th anniversary places an emphasis on intimate, chef-driven experiences alongside high-energy nighttime moments. One of the most anticipated additions is Rachael’s Table, an Italian-inspired dinner hosted by Rachael Ray on Friday, Feb. 20, at the Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau showroom in the Miami Design District. Limited to just 20 guests, the evening offers a rare opportunity to dine in a more personal setting, with a menu designed specifically for the occasion.

On Saturday night, the festival shifts into after-hours mode with a Late Night Pizza Party at Bar Bucce. Hosted by Ashley Graham alongside chefs Michael Pirolo of Macchialina and James Beard Award winner Marc Vetri, the event pairs endless slices with DJ sets and flowing pours of Lambrusco, delivering a relaxed but spirited counterpoint to the festival’s daytime tastings.



Another newcomer, “Naughty Bites,” promises a playful approach to elevated comfort food. Hosted by Samantha Schnur of The Naughty Fork, the event centers on indulgent favorites reworked with creative flair, from loaded potatoes to globally inspired street-food staples, paired with wines and cocktails.



Returning anchor events remain central to the weekend. Mike’s Amazing Burger Bash celebrates its 20th anniversary, while the Grand Tasting Village brings large-scale walk-around tastings, demonstrations, and daytime performances. Celebrity hosts this year include Sofia Vergara and her son Manolo Vergara, who will appear at the Grand Tasting Village.

Music continues to play a larger role in the festival’s evolution. Diplo kicks off the weekend with a nighttime takeover of the Grand Tasting Village, while performers including Rev Run, Ja Rule, and DJ Cassidy appear across multiple events. The festival closes with “The David Grutman Experience,” set to feature a surprise musical performance.

Twenty-five years in, the South Beach Wine and Food Festival remains a defining fixture of Miami’s peak season—one that reflects how the city eats, gathers, and celebrates.

Photos are courtesy of SOBEWFF.

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