Five-day feast for the senses expands culinary experiences,
chef demonstrations, and lakeside events

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Traverse City Food & Wine is expanding waterfront programming and unveiling new chefs, events, and experiences for its 2026 festival, Traverse City Tourism announced today. The five-day celebration of Northern Michigan’s culinary and agricultural excellence returns August 19–23 with more than 80 events and experiences in Traverse City and across the Grand Traverse region.

For the first time, the festival's waterside Open Space Demonstration Kitchen will feature events every day of the festival, transforming Traverse City’s downtown waterfront into a daily destination for chef demonstrations, tastings, wine experiences, and signature culinary events overlooking West Grand Traverse Bay.

“The lakes and fresh water are central to the lifestyle, agriculture, and recreation that define Traverse City and the surrounding region,” said 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.”

The expanded waterfront schedule for Traverse City Food & Wine 2026 features experiences for every type of food and wine enthusiast, including:

  • Morning Chef Demonstrations at the Open Space | August 19-21: There's no better way to spend a morning in Traverse City than on the water. Open-air chef demonstrations at the Open Space Demonstration Kitchen offer an up-close look at how the region's best ingredients become something truly extraordinary on the plate, turning the waterfront setting into an outdoor classroom that's as delicious as it is inspiring. These family-friendly, community-focused events are priced below $15, with kids under 17 admitted free with a paid adult admission.
     
    • Wednesday: A Farmers Market Morning – Guest chefs prepare fresh creations using locally grown produce, herbs, and seasonal ingredients sourced straight from northern Michigan's farms and markets.
    • Thursday: Local Chefs Take the Stage – Local chefs share an up-close look at the techniques, ingredients, and inspirations behind some of the region's most celebrated kitchens.
    • Friday: Kevin Tien of Washington D.C.'s Moon Rabbit, recently named to North America's 50 Best Restaurants, showcases the techniques and philosophy behind his celebrated modern Vietnamese cuisine. The morning will also feature demonstrations for – and by – kids and a cookbook panel where guests can learn about the art of developing and publishing a cookbook from several recent authors.
       
  • James Beard Foundation Dinner | August 19: The festival’s opening night features an elegant al fresco dinner overlooking Grand Traverse Bay, with nine Michigan-based James Beard recognized chefs teaming up to craft the wine-paired affair benefiting the James Beard Foundation.
     
  • The Four Seasons: A Traverse Wine Journey | August 19: Acclaimed wine critic and former Wine Enthusiast editor-in-chief Susan Kostrzewa guides guests through six top Traverse City-area wines that embody the seasons of northern Michigan and the flavors that define them.
     
  • Cheese & Wine Masterclass with Afrim Pristine | August 20: An exploration of artisan cheese and regional wine led by Afrim Pristine – Food Network host, author of the bestselling cookbook For the Love of Cheese, and one of North America's most celebrated cheese authorities.
     
  • Bubbles by the Bay | August 20: Enjoy sparkling wines crafted in the Méthode Champenoise while watching the sunset over Grand Traverse Bay. The evening includes live music, small bites, and decadent desserts in one of the festival's most scenic settings.
     
  • National Writers Series at Traverse City Food & Wine | August 20-21
     
    • Ruth Reichl – Matthew Rodbard moderates a special conversation with the bestselling author and former lead restaurant critic at the New York Times and editor-in-chief at Gourmet magazine.
       
    • Martin Sorge – The winner of the 2023 Great American Baking Show shares insights into his baking journey and recipes from his debut cookbook Great Bakes: Modern Classic Recipes from the Midwest.
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  • The Grand Tasting | August 22: Traverse City Food & Wine’s signature event returns to the Traverse City Open Space with chef demonstrations, dozens of culinary tastings from local and visiting chefs, and more than 100 Michigan wines, beers, ciders, and spirits. Live demonstrations on the Main Stage allow attendees to watch acclaimed chefs prepare signature dishes before visiting the Chef's Table to sample recipes firsthand. New for 2026, the event includes a completely redesigned VIP experience featuring award-winning local chefs and an elevated beverage program.
     
  • Slow Sunday Lunch Featuring a Low Country Boil | August 23: A classic Low Country Boil served alongside a spread of slow-cooked southern-inspired dishes. Staffed and supported by student chefs from Michigan's ProStart program, this event brings southern cooking traditions to northern Michigan while inspiring the next generation of culinary talent.

More NEW additions to the 2026 Traverse City Food & Wine event schedule announced today include:

  • The Global Table. A Reunion of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs & Friends: Six nationally acclaimed chefs, including Food & Wine Best New Chefs Kate Williams, Kevin Tien, Diana Dávila, and Ji Hye Kim, unite for a collaborative dinner celebrating diverse culinary traditions and bold, personal cooking.
     
  • Under the Northern Star: An Evening with Chef Andrew Zimmern at Black Star Farms: Chef and TV personality Andrew Zimmern hosts an immersive outdoor dinner at Black Star Farms, featuring seasonal dishes, estate wines, and stories from his global culinary travels. [Sold out]
     
  • Afrim Pristine’s Estate Cooking Demo & Dinner at Black Star Farms: World-renowned Maître Fromager Afrim Pristine joins Black Star Farms chef Leah Moerdyk for an intimate cooking demo and multi‑course dinner showcasing artisan cheeses, local ingredients, and award‑winning estate wines.
     
  • The Art of Riesling Tour and Barrel Room Tasting: Explore the vineyards, cellar, and barrel room of Chateau Grand Traverse during this immersive Riesling-focused experience featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes winery access and seasonal pairings from the estate Executive Chef and culinary team.
     
  • Silk Roads Flavor Oddyssey with Anna Ansari at Aerie | August 22: Chef Anna Ansari – Metro Detroit native, world traveler, and author of Silk Roads: A Flavor Odyssey with Recipes from Baku to Beijing – joins the culinary team at Aerie inside the Grand Traverse Resort for an intimate four-course dinner that weaves the bold, aromatic flavors of her travels into dishes rooted in the extraordinary ingredients of northern Michigan.
     
  • The World at the Table | Aarti Sequeira & Sarah Bobier: For this special dinner at Artisan, Food Network star and cookbook author Aarti Sequeira brings her signature global palate to the table in collaboration with Executive Chef Sarah Bobier. The result is a four-course tasting menu that travels through the flavors and influences that have shaped one of Food Network's most beloved personalities, with each dish thoughtfully paired with locally crafted northern Michigan wines.|
     
  • Water and Wine - An Afternoon Sail with Left Foot Charley: Join Kristy McClellan, Chief Happiness Officer at Left Foot Charley, for a beautiful afternoon sail on Grand Traverse Bay featuring four of Kristy’s favorite LFC wines and a personal board of local charcuterie.

Additional events will continue to be added to the schedule as the festival dates approach. Go to TraverseCityFoodandWine.com for the complete schedule, event information, and tickets. Connect with @traversecityfoodandwine on Instagram and Facebook or additional announcements and ticket offerings as they become available.

Traverse City Food & Wine is presented by 4Front Credit Union and organized by Traverse City Tourism.

Contact: Nick Nerbonne
231.590.9942
nick@traversecity.com

About Traverse City Tourism

Traverse City Tourism is an independent, not-for-profit destination organization that promotes the greater Traverse City area as a leisure and business destination with an excellent quality-of-life. Through the impact of travel, Traverse City Tourism helps strengthen the local economy and supports a thriving entrepreneurial community. Details of the regions lodging, attractions and area events are available at www.TraverseCity.com.