INSIDE LOOK at the new Busch Gardens Food, Wine & Garden Festival
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is leaning into its “garden” roots with the unveiling of the Busch Gardens Food, Wine & Garden Festival!
Adding the Garden is a new twist, but it's one that makes total sense for the theme park that got its start as a bird garden 60+ years ago.
We went to explore this year's festival during a sneak peek to give you a first look at what to expect and to help you map out your best day ever. So let's get to it, friends!
First things first… How to get tickets to the Busch Gardens Food, Wine & Garden Festival
The Food, Wine, and Festival is included with park admission, so if you have a ticket, an annual pass, or a Fun Card, you are good to go!
Otherwise, single-day tickets are on sale now for $99.99 each. We honestly think the Busch Gardens Fun Card is your best bet right now at the same sale price of $99.99 because it will get you unlimited visits back to the park for the rest of 2026, and you'll get a free Adventure Island Fun Card too. (Blockout dates apply)
If you want to ensure you get free parking with each of your visits and no blockout dates, then you'll want to pick up a Silver, Gold, or Platinum annual pass. The Silver Pass is $198 and also includes 2 free guest tickets. You can also break down the cost of a Silver Pass into monthly payments as low as $16.50. Learn more about Busch Gardens annual passes here.
While we're on the topic of deals, the date to take advantage of the FREE Busch Gardens Preschool Card and Adventure Island was extended through March 31, 2026, so don't forget to register before it's too late!
Another option is to purchase a CityPass, which includes admission to several local attractions–this may be great for out-of-town guests who only need a one-day visit, but still want to explore all of the other amazing things to do in the Tampa Bay Area.
When is the Busch Gardens Food, Wine & Garden Festival?
The Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival kicked off on March 6 and will be celebrated Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through May 10, 2026. The concerts will be primarily held on Saturday and Sunday nights. It's among our weekend top picks in Tampa Bay!
What's NEW in 2026?
The new name is the most obvious change, but once you step into the Festival Walkway area, you'll notice the difference immediately. Rather than food cabins representing countries around the world, you'll find that the cabins have transformed into little greenhouses. They have on-theme names like Rosemary Table and Blossom & Barrel.
As the park leans into the garden theme, its horticulture team is also working to add more topiaries to its collection to represent the animals that call the park home.
There are 100+ different sips and flavors on the menu this year, including the return of fan favorites like the Cajun Lobster Roll and Smoked Chicken & White Cheddar Mac & Cheese.
New on the menu in 2026
Our team had a few favorites when we went on opening night:
- Red Wine-Braised Short Ribs: Fork-tender short ribs braised in red wine and served over a smooth parsnip purée with crispy leeks. Cabin 11: Root & Reserve
- Stuffed Bell Peppers: Roasted bell peppers filled with quinoa and seasonal vegetables, finished with a rich tomato reduction. Cabin 13: Pep & Zest
- Tampa Cuban Spring Rolls: Crispy rolls stuffed with Cuban-style pork, ham, cheese, and pickles, served with grainy mustard dipping sauce. Cabin 8: Tampa Sol Garden
- Strawberry Shortcake Kabobs: Tender bites of vanilla cake layered with ripe strawberries and cream, served on skewers for a light, elegant take on a classic shortcake. Cabin 10: The Brazen Berry
How to Save at the Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival
If you are planning to go with the family or know you're going to be purchasing more than a few items, you will definitely want to consider purchasing a Food and Wine Festival Sampler. There are two Sampler passes available:
- Food, Wine & Garden Festival 12-Item Sampler for $75
- Food, Wine & Garden Festival 8-Item Sampler for $65
- Food, Wine & Garden Festival 8-item Sample (4 pack): $60 for each lanyardÂ
The Concerts at the Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival
- Mar. 7: Walker Hayes
- Mar. 8: Â Puddle of Mudd
- Mar. 14: P.O.D.
- Mar. 15: Grupo Mania
- Mar. 21: Skillet
- Mar. 22: Robin Thicke
- Mar. 27: Warren G
- Mar. 28: Dylan Scott
- Mar. 29: Kansas
- Apr. 4: Nick Carter
- Apr. 10: The Band Perry
- Apr. 11: El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
- Apr. 12: Smash Mouth
- Apr. 18: Flo Rida
- Apr. 19: Air Supply
- Apr. 24: Bowling For Soup
- Apr. 25: Surprise Artist To Be Announced Soon
- May. 2: Bow Wow & Ying Yang Twins
- May 3: Taking Back Sunday
- May 9: Pop 2000 with Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC, O-Town, Ryan Cabrera & LFO
How to upgrade your concert experience
If you want reserved seating for any of the concerts, there are a few ways to take advantage of this! Â Options start at $9.99 for a reserved seat and $24.99 for premium reserved seats. You can explore your concert upgrade options here.
More ways to upgrade your visit to the Busch Gardens Food, Wine, and Garden Festival
In addition to the Reserved Seating for concerts, there is this amazing upgrade:
Food and Wine Festival Guided Tour for $139.99 per person. This experience gets you your very own VIP tour guide who will escort you around the event so you can skip the lines as you sample all of the culinary offerings and ride the coasters. This option also includes VIP concert seating.