The Food & Wine Classic in Charleston Returns This November With Full Chef Lineup

The Food & Wine Classic in Charleston is set to return from November 13 to 15, 2026, with the full lineup of chefs and presenters announced for the three-day culinary event.

The festival is once again a collaboration between Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and Southern Living, with Explore Charleston presenting the event. The weekend will feature chef-driven seminars, Lowcountry cuisine, and wine and spirits experiences.

Among the renowned chefs and media personalities scheduled to participate are Nyesha Arrington, Maneet Chauhan, Tyler Florence, Amethyst Ganaway, Mike Lata, James London, Eric Ripert, Scott Wapner, and Andrew Zimmern.

The event will also welcome 12 presenters for the first time. They include Corey Alston, 2015 F&W Best New Chef Katie Button, 2022 F&W Best New Chef Ana Castro, Carla Hall, Susur Lee, Canaan Marshall, Rick Martinez, Dan Pashman, 2022 F&W Best New Chef Justin Pichetrungsi, 1990 F&W Best New Chef Nancy Silverton, Sarah Thomas, and Martin Yan.

A weekend pass includes access to four Grand Tastings, where chefs, wineries, spirits brands, restaurants, and other participants will serve food and drinks, as well as access to five seminars. Pass holders can register for their preferred seminars starting August 26.

The seminar program will include wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, and discussions covering a range of culinary subjects. Carla Hall will lead “Carla Bakes: Sweet, Savory, and From the Heart,” while Martin Yan and Top Chef winner Melissa King will present “Yan Can Cook, King Can Too: The Art of Chinese Cooking.”

The festival will also introduce the BNC Kitchen series, featuring Food & Wine Best New Chefs from different decades discussing their careers and cooking techniques. Sessions include “In the Best New Chef Kitchen: Celebrating 20 Years of Pizzeria Mozza” with Nancy Silverton and “Tacos Without Borders: A Celebration of Tradition, Culture, and Creativity” with Ana Castro, Justin Pichetrungsi, and Katie Button.

Other programming will include the panel “Evolution of American Barbecue” with Hector Garate, Shuai Wang, and Clay Williams, as well as a conversation with French chef Eric Ripert hosted by CNBC’s Scott Wapner.

Guests will have access to more than 20 wine, cocktail, and beverage seminars. The program includes “The $20 vs. $200 Bottle Battle: Can You Taste the Price?” with sommelier Anthony Giglio, “Crushable Wines for Game-Day Tailgates” with Amanda McCrossin, “Better With Beer: Local Snacks, Global Brews” with Anne Becerra, and “Fried Chicken & Fine Wine” with Andy Chabot, senior vice president of food and beverage at Blackberry Farm.

The 2026 event will also introduce the inaugural Makers Series, which will give attendees the opportunity to learn hosting skills including flower arranging.

Pass holders can additionally choose from nine exclusive ticketed events, including Travel + Leisure and Food & Wine’s Pearls of the Coast Oyster Roast on November 13, featuring live fire-roasted shellfish, and Southern Living’s Lowcountry Tailgate, centered on Southern barbecue.