The Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival is gearing up for its sixteenth year, returning for three weekends of eating and drinking from Oct. 16 through Nov. 8, 2026, with events on Hawai‘i Island, Maui and Oʻahu. Tickets are set to go on sale Saturday, May 23 at 9 a.m. HST, and organizers say proceeds will again back culinary education, local agriculture and workforce development. This year’s statewide series leans into a Traditions & Heritage theme that pairs visiting chefs with Hawaii producers and keeps the focus squarely on island-grown ingredients.
Dates, islands and mission
According to the festival’s website, the Sixteenth Annual Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival kicks off on the Island of Hawai‘i from Oct. 16 to 17, shifts to Kāʻanapali from Oct. 23 to 25, and finishes on Oʻahu from Nov. 5 to 8. The producer of the festival, the nonprofit Hawaii Ag & Culinary Alliance, states that ticket revenue is channeled into culinary scholarships, sustainability work and workforce training programs across the islands. For the complete schedule and a rundown of beneficiary initiatives, visit the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival’s website.
Lineup and flagship events
Organizers say nearly 100 chefs and culinary leaders from the United States, Canada and South Korea are on the books for this year, with 18 of them joining the lineup for the first time. Under the Traditions & Heritage programming, every participating chef is required to showcase ingredients that are locally grown, raised or caught, a setup that turns the events into a rolling spotlight on Hawaii farms, fisheries and ranches. On the published schedule, headlining attractions include the Cuisines of the Sun Golf Classic at Mauna Kea, the Roy Yamaguchi Golf Classic in Kāʻanapali, Smoked, Shucked & Cured and the FEAST Summit at Sheraton Waikiki. Further details on the talent roster and individual events are outlined by Hawaii News Now.
Community impact and funding
The festival is produced by the Hawaii Ag & Culinary Alliance, which reports that HFWF has generated more than $27.5 million in visitor spending and raised over $5.2 million since its debut. Those dollars have gone toward culinary education, sustainability projects and relief efforts for hospitality workers, according to figures shared on the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival’s website. The nonprofit also publishes a list of beneficiary organizations that have received support over the years.
Tickets and what to watch for
Tickets, which went on sale May 23 at 9 a.m. HST, are available through the festival’s ticketing portal with pricing and capacity listed for each event. FEAST Summit speakers and individual session topics are expected to be announced in June, according to Hawaii News Now, so travelers may want to keep an eye on the schedule before locking in flights and hotels.
For local residents, HFWF doubles as a networking hub that connects farmers, fishers and ranchers with chefs and hospitality employers. For visitors, it is a deep dive into the islands’ food systems through ingredient-driven dinners, tastings and seminars. Organizers expect the biggest events to sell out, and they are urging would-be attendees to book early if there is a particular night or chef they have on their wish list.
