For 25 years, the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One has transformed Miami into a global epicenter of flavor, talent, and indulgence. What began as a modest campus fundraiser has evolved into one of the most prestigious culinary festivals in the world, an annual celebration that reflects not only how far the festival has come, but how profoundly it has shaped South Florida’s culinary identity.
This month, SOBEWFF® celebrates its 25th anniversary, taking place February 19–22, 2026, with a program that honors its origins while embracing its future. Hundreds of chefs, winemakers, mixologists, and cultural tastemakers will come together for a four-day experience spanning Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Wynwood, and beyond.
The festival’s roots trace back to 1997, when it launched as the Florida Extravaganza, a one-day wine and food event held on the Biscayne Bay campus of Florida International University. Designed to showcase wine pairings and local cuisine while giving hospitality students hands-on experience, the event was intimate, educational, and deeply mission-driven.
Everything changed in 2002, when Lee Brian Schrager reimagined the concept and relocated it to South Beach. The newly branded South Beach Wine & Food Festival® expanded into a multi-day affair, bringing food lovers onto the sands of Miami Beach and into restaurants, hotels, and venues across the city. Attendance surged, national attention followed, and the festival quickly became a winter highlight on the culinary calendar.
In 2007, the partnership with Food Network further elevated the festival’s profile. Celebrity chefs, televised moments, and signature events were introduced and would soon become annual traditions. Over the next two decades, SOBEWFF® grew steadily in scale and scope, welcoming some of the most celebrated names in food and wine while generating significant economic impact for the region and raising millions of dollars for FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management.
Today, the festival is both a glamorous destination event and a philanthropic powerhouse, with students continuing to play a vital role behind the scenes. That dual mission of celebration and education remains central to SOBEWFF®’s identity.
This year’s 25th anniversary festival reflects that legacy with more than 100 events and over 500 chefs and culinary personalities. The lineup balances longtime favorites with new experiences designed to mark the milestone in memorable fashion.
Among the most anticipated events is Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best sponsored by Cunard, presented by Fontainebleau Miami Beach and Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Long considered one of the festival’s most elegant evenings, the walk-around tasting brings together more than 60 acclaimed chefs and over 65 premier wineries for a single night inside the iconic Fontainebleau. Guests move through the legendary property sampling refined dishes from James Beard Award winners, Food & Wine Best New Chefs, and Michelin-recognized culinary leaders, alongside curated pours from world-class winemakers. An exclusive Wine Wall offers attendees the chance to take home a coveted bottle, adding a tangible keepsake to an already indulgent evening. With the Fontainebleau’s timeless glamour as its backdrop, Best of the Best captures the spirit of SOBEWFF® at 25. It is elevated, celebratory, and unforgettable.
The festival’s signature beach events remain a major draw. Mike’s Amazing® Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons® returns for its 20th year, hosted by Rachael Ray, bringing together top chefs competing for burger supremacy as guests sample and vote along the shoreline. The event has become a joyful kickoff tradition that blends culinary competition with Miami’s relaxed beachfront energy.
Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions LIVE once again delivers high-octane excitement. Elite chefs are pitted against one another in a bracket-style showdown inspired by the hit Food Network series. Meanwhile, Masters of Fire, curated by Tyler Florence, celebrates the primal art of live-fire cooking. Pitmasters and chefs who specialize in bold flavors forged over flame come together for a truly visceral experience.
New additions underscore the festival’s evolution. Let Us Eat Cake!, hosted by Duff Goldman, brings desserts into the spotlight with a playful and indulgent celebration of pastry and creativity. The anniversary finale, 25 Years of Legendary Bites & Iconic Sips, hosted by Andrew Zimmern with music by DJ Cassidy, serves as both a retrospective and a party. It brings together chefs and flavors that have defined SOBEWFF® across its history.
Throughout the weekend, guests can also enjoy a range of experiences that reflect Miami’s diversity and global influence. These include Tacos & Tequila hosted by Aarón Sánchez and intimate dinners honoring culinary leaders and local icons. Events pay tribute not only to national figures, but also to Miami’s own culinary voices, reinforcing the city’s status as a serious food destination with a distinct point of view.
While the celebrity appearances and marquee venues draw headlines, SOBEWFF®’s enduring impact lies in its connection to community and education. Each year, FIU students gain invaluable real-world experience working alongside industry professionals, and festival proceeds continue to support scholarships and programming that shape the next generation of hospitality leaders.
As SOBEWFF® marks its 25th anniversary, it stands as a reflection of Miami itself. The festival is ambitious, diverse, celebratory, and always evolving. It has grown alongside the city, mirroring its rise as an international destination where culture, cuisine, and creativity intersect.
A quarter-century in, SOBEWFF® shows no signs of slowing down. Instead, it continues to refine its voice, expand its reach, and elevate its offerings. Some traditions do not just endure. They get better with time. This February, as chefs fire up grills on the sand, corks pop at elegant tastings, and the city gathers once again to eat, drink, and celebrate, SOBEWFF® invites everyone to raise a glass to 25 years well savored and to many more still to come.
