Whistler’s annual fall festival of food and drink is happening November 5 to 15, 2026, with over 100 events including signature tastings, lively parties, winemaker dinners, culinary demonstrations, and educational seminars. Whistler Cornucopia is an 11-day event for foodies and the epicurious, inviting you to experiment, expand your knowledge, celebrate your passions and explore Whistler’s world-class food and drink scene. Cornucopia is celebrating 30 years, so join us and raise a glass to three decades of flavour, flair and creativity.
“We wanted Cornucopia’s 30th edition to have a festival lineup that feels worthy of the milestone,” says Jasmine Robinson, Event Director of Cornucopia. “We’ve woven special touches throughout the program, including new experiences created specifically for the 30th and fresh takes on signature events and festival favourites. We’re excited to make this milestone edition one to remember.”
The Four Categories of Whistler Cornucopia
The events are split into four categories: Cornucopia’s Signature Events, Food + Drink Seminars, Culinary Stage Series and Restaurant + Bar events, with tickets starting at $32 (early bird). Although there is always something delicious and fun happening throughout the festival, the larger events are on Thursdays and over the weekend (go on, extend that weekend), with mid-week a great option for the more intimate events, and good value on accommodation.
Most of the events happen at the Whistler Conference Centre in the heart of Whistler Village, a central location with lots of accommodation options nearby.
Tickets sell out fast for the key events, so let’s dive into each of these Cornucopia categories and see what’s on the menu at Whistler’s festival of food + drink.
What’s New at Whistler Cornucopia for 2026
On Tuesday, November 10, renowned plant-forward Chef Wolfgang Sterr will lead a new environmentally conscious dinner highlighting the best of vegetarian cuisine paired with organic wines.
Also joining the program is Brunch League on Sunday, November 15, a lively, new karaoke brunch inspired by Belfast Brunch, a viral social brunch concept that has made its way to Canada from the UK and Ireland.
The festival is expanding its programming throughout the week, with additional midweek dinners and drink seminars, creating more ways to experience Cornucopia beyond its signature weekend events (read on for more details on those).
Cornucopia Signature Events
Thursday, November 5
The festival kicks off with the BC House Party, a mix of live music, local cuisine and wine, spirits, beers and alcohol-free options from British Columbia. Indulge in a dinner buffet inspired by the West Coast, offering up coastal flavours and comforting favourites alongside fresh, innovative creations. Meet the makers and taste the ingenuity that has helped establish the West Coast as one of Canada’s most exciting food and beverage destinations. This perennial sellout event is the perfect way to start your weekend early.
Friday, November 6
SPECIAL FOR 2026: The 30th Dinner with Reception honours three decades of remarkable chefs and the people who helped transform a grassroots Whistler celebration into one of Canada’s most anticipated food and drink festivals. The evening begins with a premium wine tasting reception, with a curated selection of wines from British Columbia, the Pacific Northwest and renowned wine regions around the world.
Then it’s an inspired multi-course menu, with curated wines and beverages, celebrating Cornucopia’s past, present and future. Each course tells part of the festival’s story, revisiting the ingredients, ideas and personalities that have shaped its history while introducing fresh perspectives on what comes next. Expect exceptional food, meaningful storytelling, genuine hospitality and a few memorable surprises along the way.
Saturday, November 7
The flagship event of Cornucopia, CRUSH Grand Tasting, invites you to sip, sample and savour your way through a variety of BC, Canadian and International wines. These exceptional wines are complemented by delicious culinary bites from talented chefs and food producers, adding another layer of flavour to the evening. Live entertainment and the energy of fellow food and wine enthusiasts create a lively, celebratory atmosphere worthy of Cornucopia’s 30th anniversary.
Sunday, November 8
We’re all donning headphones and choosing our own DJ adventure at With a Twist: Silent Disco. Flick between three different DJs (dance anthems, throwback favourites and party classics) and dance the night away while sampling cocktails and spirits from featured bartenders and beverage partners (alcohol-free options available).
Do you like a good whodunnit? Savour a sumptuous dinner with paired wines served with a side of suspense at the Murder Mystery Dinner. Hosted at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler this year, it’s usually themed, so get your tickle trunk out for a night of entertaining drama.
Thursday, November 12
At the Comedy Kitchen, award-winning comedian Damonde Tschritter is leading a lineup of nationally acclaimed comedians serving their best material in a classic comedy-club setting. The first Canadian to win the Seattle International Comedy Competition, Damonde has appeared at Just For Laughs, the Chicago Comedy Festival and New York Comedy Festival, as well as on CBC, CTV and HBO.
Expect sharp observations, great storytelling and the kind of candid comedy best enjoyed with friends and a drink in hand. Your ticket includes one drink, but there are more on offer to purchase.
Friday, November 13
Nightmarket: legends & Next Gen brings established culinary icons together with a new wave of emerging chefs educated at BC’s own LaSalle College. Move through a bustling market-inspired setting filled with tasting stations, live culinary energy and an exciting mix of flavours. Celebrated chefs and producers will share dishes and drinks that reflect their experience, traditions and signature styles, while rising talents bring fresh perspectives, techniques and ideas inspired by the evolving landscape of Canadian cuisine.
Saturday, November 14
For this milestone year, the festival pays homage to its namesake: the cornucopia, or Horn of Plenty. Rooted in Greek mythology and long associated with abundance, harvest and feasting, the Cornucopia Gala: 30th Edition is a celebration worthy of the gods. Don your finest toga and get ready to mix and mingle at this non-seated, party-forward gala. Sip from an impressive selection of wines, sparkling pours, cocktails, spirits and creative alcohol-free options, and dine on delicious bites, and celebrate three decades of Cornucopia in spectacular Greek-inspired style.
Sunday, November 15
NEW for 2026 is the Brunch League on Sunday, November 15. This is where weekend brunch meets your favourite singalong, with an irresistible combination of brunch bites, music, singing and dancing.
Cornucopia Food + Drink Seminars
There are 40 seminars on offer featuring wine, spirits, beers and more, done in an intimate setting with world-class experts. These seminars are all about deepening your knowledge and refining your palate with experts to guide you. You could be intrigued by a certain country, region or varietal, a particular libation or want some drink suggestions for the upcoming festive table.
You can take a deep dive into wines from different places like Italy, France, Spain, South America and Canada, of course. You can focus on a varietal like Chianti, White Burgundy, and Syrah or go for a session that showcases a few, like Classic vs Contemporary, Legends + Next Generation and Around the World in 90 Minutes.
It’s also not all wine, with sessions delving into Great Scotch Whisky, Caviar and Spirits with Copperpenny Distilling Co., and Japanese alcohol. There’s also a seminar, Free Spirit Whistler!, that’s dedicated to non-alcoholic options.
We also like the food-paired seminars like Wine + Dumplings Around the World, French Wine + Charcuterie with Oyama Sausage Co. and Sake, Shochu + Snack Attack!. We also noted the British Columbia events highlighting areas like Naramata in the Okanagan and Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.
The seminars are your chance to learn something new while sipping on something fun, so make sure you take a look at the drink seminar event page and pick some that stand out to you.
Culinary Stage Series – The Hidden Gem at the Festival
If you’ve ever watched a cooking show and wished you were one of the judges testing the delectable outcomes, the Culinary Stage events are for you (minus the stress of actual judging). Set in the airy and light foyer of the Whistler Conference Centre, you get to absorb tips and tricks from national chefs, producers and beverage professionals as you sample what they make.
What you can expect is a delicious, multi-course meal with drink pairings, as you watch the demonstrations for $55. Each Culinary Stage has a different spin, as it depends heavily on the expert on the stage, who often brings you something they’re passionate about, whether that be the latest in sustainable eating, bold takes on traditional dishes or something completely unexpected.
Chopped Canada winner Chef Alana Mass is back on the stage, as is Chef Quang Dang, a champion of West Coast cuisine. The Gusto TV’s “The Latin Kitchen” Chef, Luis Valenzuela, and Chef Julian Bond of BC’s Restaurant Hall of Fame are also firm Culinary Stage favourites. These events are the festival’s hidden gems, combining food, drink and entertainment – a triple threat.
Restaurant + Bar Events
Whistler has a world-class, award-winning dining scene, and Cornucopia is a time for them to experiment, push boundaries and really wow diners. Some restaurants partner with wineries for winemaker dinners, whereas some lean into a theme or region – it’s exciting to see what they create.
We spotted that Bearfoot Bistro is hosting Lightning Rock Winery in their incredible cellar; Mekong is being inspired by the variety of cultures that define their kitchen; Il Caminetto is offering a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with one of Italy’s most legendary estates: Tenuta dell’Ornellaia; and Wild Blue is offering a late-night experience, bringing the listening bars of Japan to the mountains.
For some of the popular establishments, tickets go quickly, but another strategy is to pick somewhere you’ve never been to before so you can uncover a new gem. Take a look through the Restaurant + Bar schedule.
Save With Signature Event Packages and Early Bird Tickets
Cornucopia Signature Event Packages combine discounted tickets to the signature events with accommodation, a great way to sort out two planning items in one go and snag a discount (packages start at $90 per person, per night). There’s a finite number of these packages, so book now before they go! Staying through midweek is another way to grab a deal with lower rates away from the weekends. If you stay three nights or more, you also receive a free $100 Dining Credit.
There are also Early Bird Tickets for some of the Signature Events, but there are a limited number of these tickets, so get yours before they go!
6 Whistler Cornucopia Tips
1. Schedule Food Events
Between alcohol seminars and tastings, slot in one of the culinary demonstrations or take a stroll in Whistler Village to find a nearby eatery. For Signature Events like CRUSH, although there are delicious canapés being served, you’re going to want to have dinner beforehand. Take a look at Whistler.com’s dining guide and book an early dinner.
2. Move Your Body
Fall in Whistler is a beautiful time to be in the mountains with its changing colours. Get outside for some fresh mountain air. Schedule windows of time for activities like a short hike (try Lost Lake), biking on the Valley Trail, or rejuvenating at a spa. You’ll go longer and harder and feel less guilty when you have to get up and do it all over again the next day.
3. Stay in Town
Even Whistler locals take advantage of the Cornucopia accommodation pairings because, after three or more days of food and drink, a good night’s sleep in a king-size bed with high thread-count bedding and housekeeping service is very nice to come home to.
4. Experiment
Adopt an open mindset. Cornucopia is the ultimate celebration of bold tastes, where you can experiment with your palate, expand your knowledge, and celebrate your foodie passions as you explore Whistler’s world-class food and drink scene. Don’t be afraid to try something new.
5. Dress for Success
Try sweaters and skinny jeans for craft beer and scotch tastings, and fancy and festive attire for socials and galas. As a rule of thumb, dress up rather than down, as you never know who you might meet. We also suggest bringing a waterproof jacket and winter shoes for when you’re not inside!
Cornucopia is an amazing place to learn about and sample new food, wine and spirits. It’s all about feeling good, making friends and enjoying the cornucopia!
Bundle your Signature Event tickets with lodging for unbeatable value with Whistler.com, and if you stay more than three nights, you also receive a free $100 Whistler Dining Credit. Cheers to that!
