Photo Credit: South Beach Seafood Festival
South Florida’s seafood season is about to get even more exciting. The 14th Annual South Beach Seafood Festival returns to Miami Beach from Wednesday, October 21 through Saturday, October 24, 2026, bringing together some of the region’s leading chefs, restaurants, bartenders and culinary talent for four days of food, drinks, entertainment and unforgettable experiences.
This year’s festival introduces several new events, including the inaugural Made in Miami collaborative dinner, an expanded VIP Chef Showdown featuring 18 chefs, two new culinary battle categories and the first-ever Shuck’n the Sunshine State oyster shucking competition.
With more than 40 South Florida restaurants and vendors expected to participate, the festival is set to celebrate the creativity and diversity of Miami’s culinary scene while kicking off the start of stone crab season.
The festival begins on Wednesday, October 21, with the inaugural Made in Miami collaborative dinner at Phuc Yea.
Presented by GOYA Foods and Herradura Tequila, the intimate dinner will celebrate the chefs whose creativity and influence have helped shape South Florida’s modern dining scene.
The evening will feature:
Guests will enjoy a four-course collaborative menu, with each course created through a unique partnership between the participating chefs. Herradura Tequila pairings will complement the meal, followed by surprise entertainment and celebratory toasts after dinner.
Date: Wednesday, October 21
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Phuc Yea, 7100 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami
Tickets: $250 per person, plus tax and processing fees
On Thursday, October 22, the festival continues with An Evening in Miami Beach, featuring two exclusive pairing dinners at beloved Miami Beach restaurants.
Rao’s Miami Beach will host an elegant multi-course dinner featuring the restaurant’s well-known Italian classics, paired with selections from Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Tickets: $500 per person
At South Beach favorite Macchialina, Chef Michael Pirolo will showcase the restaurant’s rustic yet sophisticated Italian cuisine. The dinner will be paired with premium Jack Daniel’s cocktails and selections from the restaurant’s award-winning wine program.
Tickets: $250 per person
Both dinners begin at 7 p.m., with locations varying by restaurant.
One of the festival’s most anticipated events, the Tequila Herradura VIP Chef Showdown, returns on Friday, October 23 at the GOYA Culinary Village in Lummus Park.
This year’s competition features 18 chefs competing in nine head-to-head battles, including two new categories: Battle Burger and Battle Fish Sandwich.
Guests can sample dishes from participating restaurants before watching the chefs compete live on the Jack Daniel’s LIVE Stage. Attendees will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite dishes while a panel of culinary judges selects the official battle champions.
The evening will also feature two bartender competitions.
At the Tequila Herradura Bartender Showdown, South Florida bartenders will create original Herradura-inspired cocktails before facing a mystery ingredient challenge. The winner will receive $500.
The Pacifico Beer Bartender Showdown will challenge bartenders to create cocktails using Pacifico Beer, with the winner taking home $1,000.
The VIP Chef Showdown will also include unlimited seafood bites, full bars, live music, DJ entertainment and interactive sponsor experiences.
Date: Friday, October 23
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: GOYA Culinary Village, Lummus Park, 1130 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
Tickets: $175 per person
Weekend Pass: $275 per person
The festival reaches its main event on Saturday, October 24, with the return of the Seafood Slam at Lummus Park.
This all-inclusive beachfront celebration will feature unlimited food and beverage tastings from more than 40 South Florida restaurants and vendors, along with live entertainment, DJs, brand activations and interactive culinary experiences.
Guests can explore seafood dishes from across the region while voting for their favorite bite in the Best of the Fest competition, presented by Baptist Health South Florida.
The winning restaurant will receive $1,000, while one lucky voting guest will receive a $250 gift card to the winning restaurant.
The current lineup includes:
Additional restaurants and vendors may be announced before the festival.
One of the most exciting additions to this year’s Seafood Slam is the inaugural Shuck’n the Sunshine State oyster shucking competition, hosted by Fresh From Florida.
Fifteen chefs will compete in timed rounds to see who can shuck 20 oysters the fastest. The finalists will then face off against Ryan Norris and Nick Frame of Florida’s Indian River Oyster Company, also known as iROC Oysters.
The competition adds another interactive element to an already packed day of seafood, drinks and entertainment.
In addition to the chef competitions and seafood tastings, guests can explore a variety of food and beverage activations throughout the weekend.
Highlights include:
The Home Chef Competition, hosted by Milam’s Markets in partnership with Baptist Health South Florida, gives local home cooks the opportunity to compete live on the Milam’s Culinary Stage. The deadline to enter is September 23.
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Lummus Park, 1400 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
General Admission: $160 per person, plus tax and processing fees
The South Beach Seafood Festival brings together established chefs, rising culinary talent, restaurants, bartenders and food lovers for a celebration of South Florida’s dining scene.
The festival also supports the CI Foundation’s EAT SMART program, a nonprofit initiative that provides healthy meals and nutritional education to local communities and Florida’s youth through programs in Miami-Dade County public schools.
With four days of dinners, culinary competitions, seafood tastings and beachfront entertainment, the 2026 South Beach Seafood Festival offers plenty of ways to experience the flavors and energy of Miami Beach.
Event: 14th Annual South Beach Seafood Festival
Dates: October 21–24, 2026
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Tickets: Available at sobeseafoodfest.com
For more information, ticket details and festival updates, visit the official South Beach Seafood Festival website and follow @sobeseafoodfest on Instagram.
Photo Credit: South Beach Seafood Festival
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