The full Eat to the Beat 2026 concert lineup has been confirmed for the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, running nightly at the America Gardens Theatre from 27th August to 16th November 2026. All concerts are included with standard EPCOT park admission, with nine acts making their EPCOT debut this year including Lauren Alaina, Fitz and the Tantrums and Grace Potter.
Article Summary
- Festival dates: 27th August to 16th November 2026 (concerts run to 16th November)
- Concert venue: America Gardens Theatre, American Adventure Pavilion, EPCOT
- Cost: Included with standard EPCOT park admission - no extra ticket required
- New acts in 2026: Nine EPCOT debuts including Lauren Alaina, Fitz and the Tantrums and Grace Potter
- Guaranteed seating: Concert Series Dining Package is now on sale for 2026
- UK angle: Autumn half-term falls during the festival window - worth timing your trip around a favourite act
Check Walt Disney World dates and prices for the Food & Wine Festival
Read on for the full night-by-night schedule, how the dining package works and tips for UK visitors planning around the festival.
What Is Eat to the Beat at EPCOT?
Eat to the Beat is the live concert series that runs throughout the entire EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival each autumn at Walt Disney World. It takes place at the America Gardens Theatre - an outdoor amphitheatre at the front of the American Adventure pavilion in World Showcase, sitting along the lagoon between the Japan and Italy pavilions.
Shows typically run three times each evening (historically around 5:30pm, 6:45pm and 8:00pm, though Disney hasn't confirmed the exact 2026 showtimes yet). Most acts play for a two to four night run, so even if your dates don't line up with your first choice you've usually got options. Weekday slots tend to feature local Central Florida bands, while the bigger names are generally scheduled across the weekends when park attendance is higher.
The whole thing is included with your EPCOT park admission - there's no additional ticket or upcharge to watch a show. Seating is first-come, first-served unless you book a dining package (more on that below).
If you're planning a Walt Disney World trip this autumn, check the latest dates and prices here - the festival window runs nearly three months so there's a reasonable amount of flexibility to time it around a specific act.
Full Eat to the Beat 2026 Concert Schedule
Here's the complete night-by-night lineup as announced. Acts marked (NEW) are making their EPCOT debut in 2026.
August
- 27th Aug: Evolution: Motown
- 28th-31st Aug: Hanson
September
- 1st-3rd Sep: Evolution: Motown
- 4th-5th Sep: The War and Treaty (NEW)
- 6th-7th Sep: Yellowcard
- 8th-10th Sep: Fly Guys
- 11th-12th Sep: Couch (NEW)
- 13th-14th Sep: Fitz and the Tantrums (NEW)
- 15th-17th Sep: Latin Ambition
- 18th-19th Sep: MercyMe
- 20th-21st Sep: Grupo Manía (NEW)
- 22nd-24th Sep: Metro Latino Band
- 25th-27th Sep: Element
- 28th-29th Sep: New Found Glory
- 30th Sep: Smash Mouth
October
- 1st Oct: Smash Mouth
- 2nd-4th Oct: Champagne Orchestra
- 5th-6th Oct: Rey Ruiz (NEW)
- 7th-8th Oct: Tiffany
- 9th-11th Oct: Viva Latina
- 12th-13th Oct: The Fray
- 14th-15th Oct: STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
- 16th-18th Oct: Jaclyn Hayden
- 19th-20th Oct: Ben Rector
- 21st-22nd Oct: Allen Stone (NEW)
- 23rd-25th Oct: SoundUp
- 26th-27th Oct: Lauren Alaina (NEW)
- 28th-29th Oct: Bowling for Soup
- 30th-31st Oct: Southbound
November
- 1st Nov: Southbound
- 2nd-3rd Nov: Boyz II Men
- 4th-5th Nov: Big Head Todd and the Monsters (NEW)
- 6th-8th Nov: M-80's
- 9th-10th Nov: Grace Potter (NEW)
- 11th-12th Nov: The Beach Boys
- 13th-16th Nov: The Hooligans
New Acts Making Their EPCOT Debut in 2026
Nine acts are appearing at Eat to the Beat for the first time this year, which is a decent amount of fresh material for anyone who's done the festival before and found the lineup a bit familiar.
The headliners among the newcomers are probably Lauren Alaina (country, 26th-27th October), Fitz and the Tantrums (indie pop, 13th-14th September) and Grace Potter (blues-rock, 9th-10th November). If any of those three appeal, they're the ones most likely to draw a crowd, so arrive early if you're going free seating - or book the dining package below to skip that altogether.
The War and Treaty (4th-5th September) are also worth adding to your list if you're into soul and Americana - they're a duo with a strong live reputation. Allen Stone (21st-22nd October) is similarly well-regarded in the R&B space.
The other 2026 newcomers are Couch, Grupo Manía, Rey Ruiz, Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Jaclyn Hayden.
The Eat to the Beat Concert Series Dining Package
If standing in a queue and hoping for the best isn't your idea of a relaxing experience, Disney offers a Concert Series Dining Package that gets you a guaranteed reserved seat at the show alongside a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant on the same day. The 2026 dining package is now on sale, so you can book ahead of your trip rather than taking your chances on the day.
It's worth being clear about what "guaranteed seat" actually means here - you'll be in a reserved section, but within that section it's still first-come, first-served. So if you want a good spot, you'll still need to turn up with some time to spare. You can see the full list of participating restaurants and book directly with Disney via the official Concert Series Dining Package page.
Whether it's worth the money depends largely on which act you're going to see and how much it matters to you to have a seat. For a headline name like Boyz II Men or The Beach Boys on a busy Saturday night, it often makes more sense than arriving 45 minutes early and standing around. For a weeknight local band slot, maybe not.
See what's available for your dates at Walt Disney World here >
Eat to the Beat 2026: Your Questions Answered
Is Eat to the Beat included with EPCOT admission in 2026?
Yes - all Eat to the Beat concerts are included with standard EPCOT park admission. There's no additional ticket or upcharge to attend the shows.
How do I get guaranteed seating at Eat to the Beat?
You'll need to book a Concert Series Dining Package, which includes a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant and a reserved seat at the show on the same day. The 2026 dining package is now on sale. Within the reserved section, seating is still first-come, first-served, so arriving early still helps.
What time do the Eat to the Beat shows start?
Disney hasn't confirmed exact showtimes for 2026 yet. In recent years shows have typically run at 5:30pm, 6:45pm and 8:00pm, with three performances each evening. You should verify this on the official Disney World app once times are confirmed closer to the festival.
What dates does the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival run in 2026?
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs from 27th August to 16th November 2026. The Eat to the Beat concert series runs within that window from 27th August to 16th November.
Is the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival good for UK families visiting in October half-term?
Yes - October half-term falls during the festival window, with acts including Lauren Alaina and Bowling for Soup performing that week. It's one of the busier periods at Walt Disney World so expect larger crowds, but the festival atmosphere is a decent bonus for that time of year.
