The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival returns to Baha Mar for its fifth year with new talent | News
Today, Baha Mar announces the return of the highly anticipated Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival, taking place October 21-25, 2026 at the luxury resort destination. Now entering its fifth year, the festival continues to evolve into one of the region’s premier celebrations of culinary excellence, artistic expression and Bahamian culture.
The festival’s lineup features returning and new* internationally acclaimed culinary talent, including Daniel Boulud (Café Boulud The Bahamas), Marcus Samuelsson (Marcus Fish + Chop House), Scott Conant (Leola), Dario Cecchini (Carna), Simeon Hall Jr., Buddy Valastro*, Amanda Freitag, Maneet Chauhan, Esther Choi*, Claudette Zepeda*, Alfredo Villanueva, Tristen Epps*, Nina Compton*, and Lisa and Chris Binns*, alongside renowned beverage experts Marv “Mr. Mixx” Cunningham and Noah Rothbaum.
Several chefs and culinary personalities bring deeply personal Caribbean perspectives to this year’s events. Bahamian culinary voice Simeon Hall Jr. will showcase the richness of the island’s cuisine and hospitality throughout the weekend. Saint Lucia native Nina Compton is celebrated for combining Caribbean traditions with refined French and Italian techniques, while Tristen Epps draws on his Trinidadian heritage and global upbringing to deliver bold Afro-Caribbean flavors. Finally, Lisa and Chris Binns, the husband-and-wife visionaries behind Jamaica’s acclaimed farm-to-table experience Stush in the Bush, focus on sustainable organic farming and gourmet vegan dining.
“As we celebrate five years of the Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival, it is incredibly rewarding to see how the event has grown into a true reflection of who we are at Baha Mar – a place where global talent and local culture come together in meaningful ways,” said Graeme Davis, president of Baha Mar. “This year, we are particularly proud to deepen our focus on Caribbean culinary voices, creating space for both emerging and established chefs to share their stories with some of the world’s most celebrated names.”
Programming highlights
Taste of Baha Mar | Friday October 23
The festival’s signature walk-around style tasting event returns to the Jasmine Lawn with culinary offerings from all of Baha Mar’s signature restaurants. Enjoy live-action chefs and inventive cocktails, followed by a special live performance from a soon-to-be-announced artist.
Foundation dinner The Art of the Plate | Saturday October 24
An immersive dining experience where each course is a living work of art, inspired by the daring strokes of Caribbean artists. From the dynamic palette of Caribbean spices to the delicate carvings etched into a plantain tostón, each dish is as purposefully composed as a painting and as purposefully presented as a sculpture.
Ticket details
Starting today, June 9, 2026, guests can purchase Gold Weekend Passes and Platinum Weekend Passes.
Golden Weekend Pass
The Gold Weekend Pass provides access to leading festival events and experiences, including:
Admission to the Taste of Baha Mar on Friday, October 23
Two-day access to the FUZE Art & Culinary Expo on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October
Admission to the Art of the Plate Foundation Dinner on Saturday, October 24
A curated welcome gift bag
Platinum Weekend Pass
The Platinum Weekend Pass offers VIP access and enhanced festival experiences including:
One hour early access and platinum access to the Taste of Baha Mar on Friday, October 23
One hour early access and two days access to FUZE Art & Culinary Expo on Saturday October 24 and Sunday October 25
Admission to the Art of the Plate Foundation Dinner on Saturday, October 24
A premium welcome gift bag
Additional details surrounding the programming will be announced leading up to the festival, including more information about the fourth annual FUZE Art Expo, the unique Caribbean art showcase. For tickets and festival updates, visit https://festival.bahamar.com/.
