Tacos, tequila, brunch: What to expect at 2026 Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival

The biggest food festival in Fort Worth is back, and this year there are some new additions.

The Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival happens every year to fund the Fort Worth Food and Wine Foundation, which celebrates and supports local culinary talent. The festival is a four-day event where local chefs showcase their skills, raise money and compete in good-hearted competitions. Guests get to try multiple Texas chef creations, all in one venue for one ticket price.

The festival will take place from Thursday, April 9 until Sunday, April 12, each day holding a different event.

Tacos and Tequila is exactly what it sounds, like where chefs will bring their taco and tequila pairing creations.

That event is followed by the fan-favorite Main Event on Friday, where chefs bring small bites, wine, beer and craft cocktail samplings.

Then, two new events, Fork + Fire and The Big Brunch, will be on Saturday and Sunday. Fork + Fire will feature Texas-wide representation with chefs from Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin and Houston sharing small dishes and beverages. Then finally, The Big Brunch will wrap things up with live-fire grilling samples, and also brunch bites.

Here’s what to expect from the 2026 Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival.

Are there still tickets left for FWFWF 2026?

Tickets are still available for some of the event days. You must be at least 21 years old to attend. A ticket includes all food and beverages offered at the festival.

• Thursday, April 9– Tacos and Tequila is sold out.
• Friday, April 10– The Main Event, 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $145 for general admission. Early entrance is sold out. Event ends at 9 p.m.
• Saturday, April 11– Fork + Fire, 6 p.m. Tickets are $105 for general admission, $159 for early entrance at 5 p.m. Event ends at 9 p.m.
• Sunday, April 12– The Big Brunch, 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $95 for general admission, $149 for early entrance at 11:30 a.m. Event ends at 3:30 p.m.

To purchase tickets, visit Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival’s website here.

Which Fort Worth restaurants will be featured at FWFWF?

Each day will feature a plethora of small bites from different local chefs.

• Tacos and Tequila will feature restaurant chefs from Toro Toro, Shogun Taqueria, Panther City BBQ, La Cabrona, Dos Mares, Beverly’s and the new Almacen el Gallo. See the full list here.
• The Main Event will gather chefs from Bonnells, Ellerbee’s Fine Foods, Reata, Roots Southern Table, The Mont and Tinies. See the full list here.
• Fork + Fire will feature chefs not just from Fort Worth but also Dallas, Austin and Houston. The Fort Worth chefs are from Lucky Bee Kitchen food truck, Le Margot, Ellerbee Fine Foods and From Scratch Hospitality. See the full list here.
• The Big Brunch will have local chefs from BREWED, Crocodries, Dayne’s Craft BBQ, Don Artemio, Smoke-A-Holics and Rise Souffle. See the full list here.

Where is the Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival?

The Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival is at The Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork, 5000 Clearfork Main St. in Fort Worth.

Free parking for the venue is located on the northeast side of Clearfork’s The Heart of the Ranch. See a parking map here. Do not park in lots for The Trailhead, Press Cafe, Keith House, or Bike Mart.

Stay tuned for Star-Telegram’s Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival coverage of The Main Event.

This story was originally published April 6, 2026 at 2:47 PM.

Ella Gonzales

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Ella Gonzales is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Ella mainly writes about local restaurants and where to find good deals around town.