Dubai’s biggest foodie weekend is making a delicious comeback. Taste of Dubai 2026 is officially happening from Friday, February 6 to Sunday, February 8, and if you’re someone who plans weekends scouting for great grub places in town, this foodie event surely deserves a spot on your calendar.

Taking over Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, the festival is expected to welcome more than 25,000 visitors across three days, all ready to snack, sip, learn, and meet some seriously big culinary names. And the best part? Early bird tickets start from just Dh60, which is cheaper than a brunch appetiser.

16 of Dubai’s Best Restaurants in One Place

One of the joys of Taste is simple: You don’t have to choose one restaurant; you can select all of them.

Sixteen of Dubai’s favourite spots have been handpicked to showcase their best dishes, with each serving three to five taster-sized plates so you can graze your way across cuisines without the food guilt.

So far, the first five confirmed restaurants include:

• Duck and Waffle
• Akira Back
• Demon Duck
• Lowe
• Khadak

Expect at least one vegetarian dish and one kid-friendly option from every restaurant, perfect for mixed groups and families.

Celebrity Chefs, Cooking Workshops and Plenty of “I Can Try This at Home” Moments

Yes, Taste brings the food. But it also brings the chefs behind Dubai’s most-loved dishes.

This year’s line-up features a mix of global culinary icons who’ll be hosting workshops, demos and cook-alongs at the Taste Cook School, Chefs Hub and Fire Pit, all hosted by Virgin Radio’s Priti Malik.

The first announced chefs include:

• Gino D’Acampo – Italian legend and TV personality
• Matt Preston – MasterChef Australia judge
• Rachel Allen – Ireland’s bestselling cookbook queen
• Jenny Morris – South Africa’s ‘Giggling Gourmet’
• Fred Casagrande – Smoking Beard’s master of smoke
• Andrew Dickens & Joseph Nesbitt-Larking, UK’s favourite pitmasters

Best of all? Workshops are free with your entry ticket; just sign up early before slots fill up.

Artisan Market, Family Fun and Lots of Tasty Surprises

Don’t leave without wandering through the Taste Artisan Market, where homegrown brands and indie food makers come together with treats, trinkets and edible souvenirs.

The entire festival is also super family-friendly; every restaurant will offer a dish for kids, and children under 12 can enter for free.

Tickets and Packages: What You Need to Know

Here’s the quick breakdown:

• Dh75 – Single-day entry + cooking workshops
• Dh175 (Taster Package) – Entry + 2 food vouchers + 2 drink vouchers + workshops
• Dh299 (VIP Package) – Fast-track entry + 3 food vouchers + 4 drink vouchers + access to the Taste VIP Lounge + workshops

There’s also a Friday Work Social package for groups of 10 or more, with perks like VIP lounge access and food vouchers starting from Dh135 per person.

Early bird deals end on Friday, February 14, so the smart move? Grab your tickets now.

The Bottom Line

If your perfect weekend involves trying new dishes, watching celebrity chefs in action, listening to live music and discovering cool homegrown brands, Taste of Dubai 2026 is basically your playground.