a foodie’s guide to epcot international food and wine festival 2025

If you’ve ever dreamed of eating your way around the world without worrying about airport security, Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival is basically your passport to culinary bliss. From August 28 through November 22, 2025, World Showcase transforms into a global tasting adventure – part gourmet feast, part street fair, and part concert series that’ll have you singing with your fork in hand.

what’s cooking at the festival

This year, Epcot is rolling out over 35 Global Marketplaces, each packed with bites and sips inspired by cuisines from across the globe. You’ll find festival favourites returning – like Brazil’s famous pao de queijo (those heavenly cheese bread balls), Greece’s griddled cheese topped with honey and pistachios, and Canada’s cheddar cheese soup with a pretzel roll that’s basically a hug in food form.

But the festival isn’t just about old flames. Disney always adds a sprinkle of new magic, and 2025 brings some fun debuts – including a Guardians of the Galaxy – themed booth (“Gyozas of the Galaxy,” because Marvel apparently does everything now). Expect intergalactic dumplings and quirky cocktails that will probably have you quoting Rocket Raccoon by the second sip.

And if you’re a classic fanatic (who isn’t?), you’ll want to complete Emile’s Fromage Montage. It’s cheese-themed food crawl where you buy five select cheesy dishes, collect stamps in your Festival Passport, and then claim a sweet surprise at Shimmering Sips. Translation: eat cheese, get rewarded. Life goals achieved.

Sips, Treats, and don’t-miss dishes

Beyond the classics, here’s a peek at some standouts already causing a buzz:

• France: Crème Brulee with a pumpkin spice twist (oui, the basic latte flavour has invaded Paris).
• Italy: A giant crispy ravioli stuffed with mozzarella – basically fried pizza in pocket form.
• Japan: A yuzu cheesecake that’s light, tart, and way too easy to inhale.
• Ireland: Guinness chocolate cheesecake because chocolate plus beer equals happiness.
• Mexico: Tacos de ribeye with salsa Verde – messy, spicy, worth every napkin.

Pair all that with globally inspired drinks like a frozen sake cocktail in Japan or a sparkling wine flights in Italy, and you’ll quickly realize hydration is… flexible!

Eat to the beat: concerts worth dancing for

Food isn’t the only star of this festival. The Eat to the Beat Concert Series transforms the America Gardens Theatre into a live music hub. Concerts happen three times nightly – 5:30, 6:45 and 8:00 p.m. – and they’re included with park admission.

Here are some of the 2025 highlights:

• August 28 – 29: Tonic
• August 30 – September 1: Joey Fatone and Friends (yes, your inner ’90s fangirl just screamed)
• September 5 – 6: Sugar Ray
• September 7 – 8: Boyce Avenue
• September 12 – 13: KT Tunstall
• September 14 – 15: Newsboys
• September 19 – 20: Hoobastank
• September 21 – 22: Tiffany
• September 26 – 27: Everclear
• September 28 – 29: Bowling for Soup
• October 3 – 4: MercyMe
• October 5 – 6: 38 special
• October 10 – 11: Hanson (yes, still mmmbopping)
• October 12 – 13: Sheila E.
• October 17 – 18: Boys II Men (bring tissues for “End of the Road”)
• October 24 – 25: Jordin Sparks
• October 31 – November 1: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
• November 7 – 8: Switchfoot
• November 14 – 15: Daughtry
• November 21 – 22: David Cook

If you don’t want to gamble on standing in line, you can book an Eat to the Beat Dining Package. It includes a meal at a participating restaurant plus guaranteed concert seating, so you can munch your way through an entrée and stroll into the show without elbowing your way to the front row.

tips to survive the festival like a pro

• Go early in the day. Booth lines are shorter, and your food photos won’t look like “mystery meat at midnight.”
• Share dishes. Unless you want to roll out the park, split items with your crew so you can sample more without hitting the food wall.
• Skip the Shrimp. Insider tip: the shrimp dishes are often over priced and underwhelming. Go for scallops, salmon, or beef dishes instead.
• Pack Light but Smart. Sunscreen, comfy shoes, and stretchy pants are basically your holy trinity.
• Use your Festival Passport. It’s free, it helps you track what you’ve eaten, and it feels oddly satisfying to collect those stamps like a grown-up sticker book.

final bite

The Epcot International food and Wine Festival 2025 isn’t just a park event – it’s a rite of passage for foodies, Disney fans, and anyone who believes calories don’t count when consumed with joy (and paired with a good glass of wine). Between the cheesy food trails, killer concert line-up, and global bites, that’ll make your taste buds do cartwheels, this festival has all the ingredients for a perfect fall adventure.

So grab your fork, lace up your walking shoes, and get ready to eat, sip and repeat.