The 25th Anniversary of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival wasn’t just a milestone — it was a full-bodied, bass-thumping, truffle-scented reminder that nobody throws a food festival like Miami. And in case anyone forgot, February 22 was officially declared Lee Schrager Day, honoring the festival’s fearless founder Lee Schrager — the man who turned South Beach into the culinary capital of February.

Let’s get into the bites, the beats, and the beautiful madness.

Mike’s Amazing Burger Bash Presented by Schweid & Sons

If you didn’t leave Burger Bash with the meat sweats and a only a couple of Tums left in your pocket, did you even go? 

Under the night sky, smoke rising and grills blazing, the festival’s most carnivorous crowd gathered for the main event — and once again, Burger Bash proved why it’s the crown jewel of the week. The vibe was fun, energetic and loud and the burgers were  delicious- down to the last bite. 

Hosted by the always adorable Rachael Ray alongside Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, the stage had serious star power. And the judges’ table wasn’t playing around either: Gayle King, Ashley Graham, Bert Kreischer (yes, shirt on… we checked), and Miami’s own Matt Kuscher came ready to crown greatness. 

Judges’ Choice: Classic Done Right 

NFA Burger — tucked inside a humble Chevron station in Dunwoody, Georgia — walked away with the big win thanks to their no-frills showstopper, the Billy Burger, named after owner Billy Kramer. 

Beef patty. Mustard. Pickles. “Sassy sauce.” Martin’s Potato Roll. That’s it. 

And somehow? Absolute perfection. The NFA philosophy is simple: do one thing and do it right. The judges clearly agreed.

People’s Choice: Miami Loves a Little Drama 

Miami favorite La Birra Bar snagged the People’s Choice Award with their unapologetically extra Crispy Dubai. 

We’re talking wagyu beef patties, white American cheese, crispy onions, Argentinian chimichurri mayo, and shaved black truffle. It was rich. It was indulgent. It was the kind of burger you think about the next day… while recovering. 

Honorable Mentions (Because Choosing Is Hard) 

With so many heavy hitters, we forced ourselves to narrow it down to two that had us contemplating elastic waistbands. 

Skinny Louie’s x Samantha Schnur (@naughtyfork) – The Naughty Burger

Double wagyu smash patty. American cheese. Maple bacon onion “damn jam.” Garlic dijonnaise. Pickled jalapeños. Buttered brioche. Oh — and truffle mayo tater tots on the side. It wasn’t just a burger. It was a full-on flavor explosion. Zero regrets. 

Cowy Burger – The Cabrito

Spanish chorizo, fried sweet potato straws, honey, goat cheese, and Cowy’s signature green sauce. Sweet, savory, crispy, creamy — basically everything you want in one glorious bite. Add waffle fries and call it a win. 

Honorable Dessert Mention: Nightowl Cookies OG Sticky Rolls with Butterscotch dipping sauce. 

By the end of the night, belts were loosened, selfies were taken, and the meat sweats were very, very real. 

And honestly? We’d do it all again.

Coca-Cola Presents Tournament of Champions Hosted by Guy Fieri with a Special Performance by Rev Run

25 Years. 4 Days. 500+ Culinary Stars. One Epic Weekend. February 19-22, 2026

MIAMI, FLA. (November 4, 2025) – The nation’s most iconic wine and food Festival, Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF®), is throwing its biggest party yet, and everyone’s invited. Tickets are now on sale for the star-studded 25th anniversary, taking place February 19–22, 2026, and featuring 500+ chefs, culinary icons, and GRAMMY award winning artists across four days of unforgettable events. Spanning from Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale to Homestead, the milestone celebration promises to be the most delicious and downright fun edition yet. Wines and spirits for the Festival are exclusively provided by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the industry’s leading distributor, and proud co-producer of the event.

“Celebrating our 25th year is an incredible moment for the Festival, our partners and the entire South Florida community,” said Lee Brian Schrager, Festival Founder & Director and Chief Communications Officer & SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. “From its early days with just 7,000 attendees to becoming one of the nation’s largest food Festivals, SOBEWFF® has always been about connecting people to incredible food, drink, and culture, while supporting the next generation of hospitality leaders from FIU. This year’s lineup honors the chefs and talent who have helped shape our legacy, while introducing new events that capture the evolving energy of Miami’s dining scene.”

“For nearly two decades, Food Network has partnered with the South Beach Wine & Food Festival to bring a piece of our brand to life each winter, celebrating the chefs, creators, and culinary innovators who inspire our viewers every day,” said Lauren Burack Senior Vice President Marketing, Food Network. “As the Festival marks its 25th anniversary, we’re honored to continue showcasing the talent, creativity, and passion that have made this partnership so special since its inception in 2007.”

For 2026, SOBEWFF® is pulling out all the stops, with the kind of energy only Miami can deliver. Guests can expect the return of fan favorite signature events, alongside brand-new experiences, and a noteworthy music talent lineup.

Here are 25 reasons why SOBEWFF® 2026 will be a celebration to remember:

1. EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE.: To date, SOBEWFF® has raised $45+ million for the Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, and gives over 1,500 students the opportunity to gain real life, hands-on experience alongside the industry’s top chefs every year.Thursday, February 19
2. Diplo LIVE from South Beach, Celebrating 25 Years of SOBEWFF® hosted by David Grutman & Groot Hospitality (NEW): The 25th anniversary kicks off in the Grand Tasting Village Courtyard with a late-night set by Diplo, marking the first time the space has ever been activated at night.
3. Burger Bash® Turns 20: Rachael Ray will host the fan favorite Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons®, bringing together 25 restaurants who will make over 46,000 burgers in hopes of winning the title of the country’s best burger.
4. The Festival Heads North:The Festival will host two not-to-be-missed dinners in Fort Lauderdale. John Tesar and Danny Ganem at Daniel’s, and Alex Guarnaschelli with Anthony Vitolo at Vitolo.
5. Asian Night Market: Hosted by Jet Tila and Aarti Sequeira, Asian Night Market returns to the Loews Miami Beach for late-night, street-style bites.
6. Dinner at the Museum with Food Network Stars (NEW): Dinner hosted by Bryan Voltaggio, Michael Voltaggio, Brooke Williamson, Zac Young, and Peyton Leffingwell at Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science as part of The New York Times Dinner Series.
7. Foodgod Hosts Haute Potato (NEW): A playful, Instagram-worthy event blending creative renditions of potato dishes with entertainment, Haute Potato hosted by Foodgod is a new addition to The Hangar Event Series in Coconut Grove.
8. Let Them Eat Cake! A Sweet Celebration of 25 Years (NEW): Duff Goldman hosts the 25th anniversary celebration at the National Hotel, with a dessert-focused, walk-around party.
9. Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions LIVE: The high-energy culinary competition is back inspired by the hit Food Network show with a live, in-person showdown. 
10. Las Lap Link Up: A Celebration of Afro-Caribbean Cuisine (NEW): Kwame Onwuachi and Nina Compton highlight Afro-Caribbean cuisine at the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel for a night filled with fresh seafood, zesty sauces, smoky grills, sweet island fruits, and tropical drinks.
11. 135,000 square-feet of Culinary Playground: The Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village on Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22, will feature culinary tastings and experiences, including LIVE cooking demonstrations from Food Network personalities, 1,200+ products for sampling, over 45 restaurants and more.
12. Tribute Dinner Honoring Miami’s Beloved Michelle Bernstein: For the first time, the Tribute Dinner will honor a South Florida chef and transformative Miami talent, Michelle Bernstein, who has participated in the Festival all 25 years. The evening will also honor renowned vintner Sacha Lichine, with Bobby Flay serving as Master of Ceremonies.
13. Masters of Fire Goes to the Beach: Hosted by Tyler Florence, Masters of Firedebuts as a signature event on the sand, with 25+ chefs cooking over open flames on Miami Beach.

14. Overtown Brunch with Marcus Samuelsson: The popular event is back at Red Rooster Overtown to spotlight some of the best talent and flavors the historic Black neighborhood has to offer. 
15. Drag Dance Party: Hosted by Athena Dion, Juicy Love Dion and Mia Starr at the Miami Beach Bandshell, this will be a high-energy celebration mixing music, food and feature a performance by a GRAMMY award winning artist. 
16. Eats & Beats with Mr. Eats 305 (NEW): A curated food and music block party at ZeyZey combining live beats and creative bites.
17. Tacos & Tequila: The fan-favorite event hosted by Aarón Sánchez is heading to the mainland as part of the Miami Design District Event Series.
18. A Late Night Pizza Party (NEW): Hosted by world-renowned supermodel Ashley Graham, Michael Pirolo, and Marc Vetri at Little River hotspot Bar Bucce.
19. Jon and Vinny’s Sunday Parm Night (NEW): A family-friendly Sunday night hosted by Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo at the Rubell Museum. 
20. Joe’s Stone Crab Lunch with Martha (NEW): Martha Stewart and Sacha Lichine will host an intimate lunch at Miami institution Joe’s Stone Crab.
21. Chew on This: A Live Podcast Series (NEW): Featuring Bert Kreischer, Chiquis Rivera, Medha Gandhi and Andrew Pugliese from Elvis Duran and the Morning Show, taking place at the Miami Beach Bandshell.

Sunday, February 22

22. Delilah Miami Jazz Brunch: Hosted by Brad Kilgore and Michael Teich, this event combines live jazz with brunch at the Brickell restaurant.
23. Family BBQ with the Zakarians (NEW): Hosted by The Zakarian Family, Family BBQ featuring Apocalypse BBQ will be a relaxed afternoon celebrating the art of BBQ and family-style dinner at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. 
24. Coffee Culture: A Miami Brunch Experience (NEW): A new event part of the Miami Design District Event Series featuring the best coffee and matcha spots in Miami hosted by David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris. 
25. 25 Years of Legendary Bites (NEW): Closing out the weekend, this event will be hosted by Andrew Zimmernwith a live performance by DJ CASSIDY at the Festival’s North Venue on the beach.

The 2026 Festival lineup continues to grow, with additional events and talent to be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for the Festival are On Sale NOW, with plenty of options to suit your taste and budget at sobewff.org. Stay up to date all year long by following @SOBEWFF on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.  

It’s the most wonderful time of the year….well for wine and food lovers it is! The 18^th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF^®) returns to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. February 20 – 24, 2019.  Widely known as one of America’s favorite gourmet gatherings on the beach, the Festival has once again added an all-star line-up of musical acts to join its fan-favorite roster of renowned chefs, culinary and lifestyle personalities, winemakers, and spirits producers.

On Saturday, February 23, GRAMMY^® Award-nominated artist Cassadee Pope and popular band Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real will take center stage at the Festival’s signature Beachside BBQ presented by The National Pork Board hosted by Guy Fieri.  In addition to sipping on libations and savoring carnivorous creations from more than 30 of the nation’s top grill maestros and pitmasters, Pope, the first female winner of NBC’s The Voice, and Nelson, co-producer of the music for the film A Star is Born, will treat attendees to a live performance of their pop and country-rock hits. 

Wildly popular musician and mogul DJ IRIE, who is recognized for his continuous support of a variety of local and national non-profit organizations, will provide the high-energy beats at two Festival events.  These include:

• Taste Jamaica presented by the Jamaica Tourist Board and TEF hosted by Cindy Hutson & Delius Shirley (Friday, February 22)
• Goldbelly presents Sweets & Beats hosted by Cake Boss Buddy Valastro and Joe Ariel(Saturday, February 23)

GRAMMY^® Award-winner and 90’s icon Rev Run will bring the beats to a returning Festival favoriteMidnight Eats: An Española Way Block Party hosted by Bar Lab, Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos.  Taking place on Saturday, February 23, this late-night soiree will take over the charming, pedestrian-friendly corridor known as Española Way in the historic Art Deco part of South Beach.  Featuring midnight bites from the restaurants that call the coveted respite home and specially crafted cocktails from the masterminds at Bar Lab, this party has all of the ingredients to create a great night out on the town. 

On Sunday, February 24, the Festival signature daytime tasting on the beach will include two featured musical experiences throughout the event.  The Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village featuring Mastercard Grand Tasting Tents & Publix Culinary Demonstrations sponsored by Sub-Zero Group Southeast will delight attendees by adding music from Nu Deco Ensemble, an eclectic chamber orchestra designed for the 21^st Century based out of Coral Gables, FL, to the event.  As attendees sip on wines and libations from more than 80 suppliers from the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits portfolio and nosh on tastings from more than 55 restaurants, they will also enjoy the return of the featured David Grutman Experience throughout the day.  Curated by the nightlife and hospitality leader himself, this 360-experience will include interactive activations and high-energy beats.  The David Grutman Experience will be hosted by Ludacris with top DJ’s on-site, including a set by wildly popular artist and producer Cedric Gervais as part of the experience.

While at the tents guests should plan to visit the “Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, the Original” booth, which aims to promote the added value of the product, in terms of authenticity, safety, traceability, and labelling. The goal is to teach how to identify the Original Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, by recognizing the PGI logo.  Earlier in the week, this wonderful produce will be featured at Barilla’s Italian Bites on the Beach, hosted by Giada De Laurentiis where it will be reinterpreted by local chefs.  It will also be highlighted at the Wine Spectator Trade Day on Friday, February 24.

 

EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE.  All proceeds from the Festival benefit the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University.  Tickets to these events and more are available online at sobewff.org or by calling 877.762.3933 (Phone sales are open Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST).  To date, SOBEWFF^® has raised more than $28 million to support the education of the future leaders of the hospitality industry.     

 

illy Returns to South Beach Wine and Food Festival!

illy at Best of the Best

At Best of the Best, illy has partnered with Miami based restaurant, LA ESTANCIA ARGENTINA to serve their delectable cookies with Dulce De Leche paired with illy espresso. This small dessert paired with illy espresso is the perfect finale to end the Best of the Best,  the last bite and sip of the evening to balance out a night filled with heavy wine and rich, savory foods.

illy at the SOBEWFF Grand Tasting Village

Immersive music experience at the Grand Tasting Village. illy is bringing relaxation to busy festival-goers with a SUNFONY sound seat experience that carries the user like a wave, offering an innovative sensory listening experience throughout the body.

 

-PHOTO by: Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com

By: Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore and Maryanne Salvat

The nation’s biggest food festival got an upgrade for its 16th year with events that brought a fun, club-like atmosphere- drawing in club kids from yesteryear and today. The Dave Grutman Experience on Sunday, February 26 at the Grand Tasting Village had revelers dancing and jumping around on the sand, leaving us to wonder whether it was 3:00 PM or 3:00 AM, and how and when this wine and food festival had become a mini-Ultra. Another terrific new addition was the Bacardi and Beats on the Beach- a late night party featuring none other than Run DMC’s Rev Run- in all his glory, accompanied by DJ Ruckus on the ones and twos. Needless to say, that was one heck of a party- with the quintessential party foods (think Shake Shack fried chicken sandwiches and croquetas from Versailles) and libations galore to fuel the energetic party goers who showed no sign of stopping long after the party officially ended. In all, the party atmosphere made this year’s festival even more of a blast than it always has been and drew a crowd of party people who came to play more than just to eat or drink. Below find some our favorite events of the magnificent weekend. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

How does a multi-media website that spotlights celebrities and parties throughout the country celebrate five years in business? With an over-the-top, champagne-soaked weekend filled with bashes, celebrities, and fun, of course.

For the momentous occasion, Seth Browarnik, dubbed the “Lensman of South Beach,” invited 500 of his closest friends to a “bash for the books” at South Beach’s most beautiful new hotel, the 1Hotel South Beach on Friday, May 29. As expected, a crowd ten times the size of the invitation list showed up, hoping to gain access to the private event. Those fortunate to be deemed worthy were treated to a night drenched in Moët & Chandon champagne, too many cocktails, music by Miami’s favorite DJ, Irie, spirited conversations and lots of dancing. An innovative photo booth allowed guests to capture and share their favorite party moment. Read the rest of this entry »