Disney California Adventure's Food & Wine Festival is back in 2026, bringing with it plenty of delicious food and drink. If you're like me and a trip to the Disneyland Resort is as much about the attractions as the food, this festival is one you can't miss.
This year's Food & Wine Festival kicked off this past weekend and will run until April 27, 2026. For those who might be in the know, the focal point of Food & Wine is a selection of stalls offering unique savory appetizers and snacks, several desserts and plenty of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. You can easily spend an entire day at California Adventure and sample everything the festival has to offer, but I'd recommend bringing stretchy pants or planning a few laps around Pixar Pier.
Try the food at California Adventure's Food & Wine Festival
The selection at this year's Food and Wine Festival includes a good mix of new dishes and returning favorites. I sampled as much as my stomach could handle, as well as some more food in the park, and this is another successful season for DCA. There's a little something for every culinary palette, provided you're at least a little adventurous.
The key to the Food & Wine Festival is the Sip & Savor Pass, which is like a package deal for various stalls. You can purchase a ticket for 4 or 8 items for a cheaper price than buying so many items individually. The Pass does not work for alcoholic beverages, but it does work for anything else at the stands, as well as select items from fast food restaurants around the park. If you are going to take advantage of the Food & Wine Festival, I highly recommend picking up a Sip & Savor Pass.
Of the new food I tried, there were quite a few that were instant hits for me. Food & Wine always has some form of Mac & Cheese, and this year's iteration was the Ramen Mac & Cheese, which despite the recognizable cheesy taste, had an unmistakable hint of Ramen flavor. For a little more punch, the dish comes with a Chili Crunch side dish that's all the rage lately and adds a nice kick to the Mac & Cheese.
There were also quite a few dishes with a bit of flair, from Tajín Habanero Seasoned Wings to Chicharron Nachos. I'm not crazy about spicy food, but I enjoyed the taste of these two dishes. The nachos had a lot of flavor while the wings had that signature Tajin flavor that you often see in Disneyland food.
My favorite item at Food & Wine last year was Musubi Fried Rice and it's back again (at the Golden Dreams booth). The combination of salty spam with the sweet topping is addictive and the rice and egg balance out the intense flavor combination.
And you can't go wrong with a Mickey-shaped Macaron made from Snickers bars. This dessert cannot be described other than decadent. If you're a fan of the Snickers bar, or just the flavors in the Snickers bar (chocolate, caramel, peanut), this will knock your socks off.
Avengers Campus has one of my favorite meals of the season
Outside of the food stands, many of the vendors and quick service restaurants around Disney California Adventure have some new seasonal items to coincide with the Food and Wine Festival. Pym's Test Kitchen at Avengers Campus has a phenomenal grilled cheese with spinach and artichokes, Auntie Cass's cafe has a banana caramel bread pudding that's divine, and I'm a huge fan of the Asian burrito at Studio Catering Co.
There's honestly so much food around the park that you need at least a few days to try everything you can think of, and you can't go wrong with tons of items available during the Food and Wine Festival. I'm not much of a drinker so I tend to save on food, but I tried the Bourbon Peach Tea Lemonade and it was dangerously good. I hope you know what I mean.
Soarin' Over California Returns Once Again
Along with the Food & Wine Festival, Soarin' returns to its original form of Soarin' Over California for the duration of the season. Soarin' Around the World is an enjoyable motion simulator, but I like how Soarin' Over California captures the feel of being in the state. Patrick Warburton's safety video at the beginning is one of my favorite bits of Disneyland media (right next to the Buh Bye robot from Star Tours) and being immersed in the sights and smells of California is a real treat.
On the entertainment front, Food & Wine brings the Jammin Chefs show to the courtyard next to The Little Mermaid – Ariel's Undersea Adventure. Think of it like Stomp, but using kitchen utensils to create music. Played several times throughout the day, it's a great show to watch while enjoying some food or a nice cold drink. Disney usually likes to use a lot of characters to bring magic to their shows, but I like how simple it is with just Chip and Dale and some artists. It's a lot of fun.
Of course, Disney California Adventure still has a lot to offer besides the Food & Wine Festival – great rides, fun characters to meet, and some excellent design elements. It's also still the 70th anniversary celebration, so you can get those bonus points at Toy Story Midway Mania and end the night by watching the World of Color: Happiness water show.
A food and wine festival may not have the pageantry or rides of the Halloween or holiday season, but it does offer plenty of good food and that always means a fantastic time in the parks. And with new Avengers rides in the works, as well as a Coco ride and an Avatar-themed expansion all planned for California Adventure, there will be even more bonuses around the anniversary event over the next few years.
Disney California Adventure's Food & Wine Festival runs through April 27, 2026. GameRant was invited to a special media preview for this coverage.
