This week, Amelia Island will have another reason to lure travelers to Florida’s northeast coast: four days devoted to good food, local flavor and a little adventure. The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island will host itsfourth annual Amelia Island Cookoutfrom October 15–18, 2026, bringing an impressive mix of chefs, pitmasters, sommeliers and mixologists to the island.
The 20-event lineup unfolds across the resort and historic Fernandina Beach, giving visitors plenty of ways to experience the destination between meals. There are coastal wine cruises and fishing excursions, live-fire cooking and oceanfront dining, plus a pickleball match with pink Champagne mimosas and a mystery lunch at a secret island location. After dark, the weekend shifts gears with a late-night
speakeasy experience.
Here’s what to know about the festival, including the standout events, ticket options and pricing.
What’s the Amelia Island Cookout Festival?
The Amelia Island Cookout is a four-day culinary festival hosted by The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Now in its fourth year, the event brings together chefs and beverage professionals from across the country for a mix of dinners, tastings, cooking demonstrations, outdoor events and off-property experiences.
fourth annual Amelia Island Cookout from October 15–18, 2026, bringing an impressive mix of chefs, pitmasters, sommeliers and mixologists to the island." id="91879896007">
When is the Amelia Island Cookout 2026?
Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 15 through Sunday, October 18, 2026, when the four-day Amelia Island Cookout will take over The Ritz-Carlton and select spots around Amelia Island and historic Fernandina Beach.
The weekend blends intimate chef dinners, tastings, cooking demonstrations and the signature Saturday night cookout. Travelers can pick individual events to create their own culinary itinerary or book an overnight package for the full experience, with plenty of time to explore the island between bites.
Who are the chefs attending the Amelia Island Cookout 2026?
The 2026 chef lineup includes Michelin-starred and Michelin-recognized chefs, Master Chefs of France, television personalities, pitmasters and pastry professionals.
Featured culinary talent includes Freddy Money of Michelin-starred ATLAS, Ron Hsu of Michelin-starred Lazy Betty and Top Chef finalist Jennifer Carroll.
The festival will also feature Master Chefs of France Philippe Haddad, Bernard Guillas and Gilles Schreiber.
Additional guests include Dean Max, Brandon Carter, Clarice Lam, Dylan Benoit, Camilla Testa and Papi Arnaldo Gonzalez.
The live-fire side of the lineup includes pitmaster Tank Jackson of Holy City Hogs, while Farmer Lee Jones and Chef Jamie Simpson of The Chef's Garden will join the programming. Pastry chefs Daniel Mangione and Verousce McKibbin are also part of the 2026 roster.
Meet the sommeliers and mixologists at the Amelia Island Cookout
On the beverage side, the lineup includes:
- Master Sommelier Michael Kennedy
- Mixologist Simon Crompton
- Sommelier and cookbook author Sarah Thomas.
What's the Amelia Island Cookout like? See photos of what to expect
What are the main Amelia Island Cookout events?
The festival's marquee event is the Saturday Premier Cookout, held on the resort's oceanfront lawn against the dunes. The outdoor gathering features live-fire seafood, slow-roasted meats, cocktails, wine and live music.
But some of the weekend's most distinctive experiences happen away from the main event.
Guests can take part in a coastal wine cruise, a chef-led "Cast to Table" fishing excursion, a downtown Backyard BBQ & Oyster Roast and a Mystery Destination Lunch at a secret location on Amelia Island.
At the resort, the schedule includes chef demonstrations, multi-course meals, beverage seminars and intimate dining experiences.
What is the 'Mystery Destination Lunch?'
One of the more unusual events on the 2026 schedule is the Mystery Destination Lunch.
The location is kept secret, turning the meal into part culinary experience and part island excursion. Guests receive the destination details shortly before the event rather than simply arriving at a predetermined restaurant.
It's one of several Cookout experiences designed to get guests beyond the resort and into different corners of Amelia Island.
When: Sunday, October 18, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Where: OffsiteCost: $230 per person, plus a 25% service charge and tax
What is the 'Cast to Table Experience'?
For travelers who like their meals with a little adventure, Cast to Table pairs a day on the water with a chef-led dining experience. Guests head out from the marina with chefs for a fishing excursion, then bring the catch back to shore for a meal that connects the experience on the water with what ends up on the plate.
It’s a hands-on way to experience Amelia Island’s coastal flavors and a different take on the traditional chef tasting experience.
When: Friday, October 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Where: MarinaCost: $500 per person, plus a 25% service charge and tax
What happens at the Saturday Amelia Island Cookout?
The Saturday oceanfront cookout is the festival's biggest gathering.
Set against the dunes, the event centers on live-fire cooking, seafood, slow-roasted meats, cocktails, wine and live music. It offers a more casual counterpoint to the weekend's fine-dining dinners and chef-led tasting experiences.
Other Saturday programming includes Chef's Court, a pickleball event paired with pink Champagne mimosas, along with additional cooking demonstrations, tastings and beverage experiences.
Amelia Island Cookout late-night events programming
Guests staying through the festival can also find late-night programming after the main culinary events wind down.
One of the highlights is a speakeasy takeover by Saturday After Glow with San Diego’s Realm of 52 Remedies, bringing cocktails and an after-hours atmosphere to the resort.
Cayman Islands mixology veteran Simon Crompton is also part of the late-night beverage programming.
Access to some of these experiences is tied to Cookout overnight packages.
When: Saturday, October 17, 9:30 p.m.Where: Ritz-Carlton FoyerCost: $35 per person, plus a 25% service charge and tax
How much are Amelia Island Cookout tickets?
The festival uses individual event pricing, so the cost depends on which experiences guests choose.
The 2026 schedule includes cookout overnight package and day ticketed experiences, including:
- Savor & Learn demonstrations: $55
- Chef's Court: Rosé Edition: $60
- Champagne & More: $75
- Saturday Oceanfront Cookout: $170
- Cast to Table: $500
- Master Chefs Gala Dinner: $950
Prices are subject to applicable taxes and service charges, and some experiences have limited capacity.
Where can you buy Amelia Island Cookout tickets?
Individual event tickets and overnight packages are available through the official Amelia Island Cookout website. See pricing.
Doris Alvarez is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for The Florida Times-Union. You can get all of Jacksonville’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free Daily Briefing and News Alerts newsletters at jacksonville.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Amelia Island Cookout 2026 is bringing Michelin-Starred Chefs Oct. 15
