If you consider yourself a serious eater, or even just someone who appreciates a good taco paired with the right tequila, the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival is the event you clear your calendar for every spring. This year’s edition runs April 9 through 12, 2026 and it’s shaping up to be the most ambitious version of the festival yet.
Held entirely at the Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork, the four-day event brings together Fort Worth’s best chefs, nationally recognized culinary talent, premium beverage partners and live music under one very delicious roof. Tickets are already moving fast and if history is any guide, you’ll want to lock yours in before they’re gone.
What’s New in 2026
This year’s festival isn’t just a repeat of what you’ve seen before. The lineup has been significantly restructured, with two signature events getting full reimaginations and a brand-new addition that might be the most exciting thing to happen to the DFW food scene this spring.
The biggest debut is Taste of Texas Row is a first-of-its-kind culinary collaboration that brings together chefs from four of the state’s most respected food festivals. Chefs For Farmers from Dallas, Hot Luck Festival from Austin and Southern Smoke Festival from Houston are all joining forces with Fort Worth’s own festival, giving guests a rare chance to taste what’s happening across Texas in a single evening. Think of it as a culinary road trip without leaving Clearfork.
The old Rise + Dine brunch event has also evolved into The Big Brunch, a Sunday morning experience done the Texas way while the fan-favorite Burgers, Brews + Blues has been replaced entirely with Fork + Fire, an open-flame cooking event that puts live-fire techniques front and center alongside that Taste of Texas Row collaboration.
Breaking Down the Four Events
Here’s what each night looks like and what you need to know before buying:
Thursday, April 9: Tacos + Tequila The festival’s beloved kickoff event is back, though it sold out before this article was even written. If you didn’t grab tickets, keep an eye on the waitlist because cancellations do happen. Tickets range from $75 to $129.
Friday, April 10: The Main Event This is the festival’s flagship evening, featuring hundreds of stations with small bites, wine tastings, craft beer pours and cocktails. General admission starts at $145, with early entry at $229. Early entry is already sold out, so if you’re going, grab general admission now.
Saturday, April 11: Fork + Fire The brand-new event and the home of Taste of Texas Row. Sixteen Fort Worth chefs share the floor with acclaimed guest chefs including Bob Somsith of Lao’d Bar in Austin, Eduardo Osorio of Meridian in Dallas and Mike Pham of Trill Burgers out of Houston. Early entry is $159 starting at 5 p.m., general admission is $105 at 6 p.m. The event runs until 9 p.m.
Sunday, April 12: The Big Brunch The weekend wraps up with a Texas-style brunch starting at 11:30 a.m. Tickets run $95 to $149. This one is perfect if you prefer your food festival experience a little more relaxed and a little less late-night.
Why It’s Worth Going Beyond the Food
The Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival isn’t just a night out. It’s a fundraiser. The Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation is a nonprofit that has invested more than $610,000 back into the local culinary community through scholarships, classroom grants and support for hospitality workers facing hardship. Every ticket you buy goes toward that mission.
It’s the kind of event where you eat well and feel good about it.
Before You Go: Tips + Details
📍 Venue: Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork, located at 5000 Clearfork Main St, Fort Worth, TX 76109
🎟️ Tickets: Purchase directly at fwfwf.org. Each event requires a separate ticket
🔞 Age requirement: You must be 21+ to attend all events. No exceptions, no infants or strollers (except for the Shooting with the Chefs event)
🚗 Parking: Clearfork has a large surface lot and garage parking on site. Arrive early on Friday and Saturday because it fills up fast
🚕 Pro tip: Rideshare is your friend here. Between the tequila, the wine and the craft cocktails, Uber or Lyft makes a lot more sense than driving yourself home
💰 Price range: $75 (Tacos + Tequila GA) up to $229 (The Main Event early entry)
📅 Dates: April 9–12, 2026
🌐 Website: fwfwf.org
Subscribe for access to exclusive editorial content
