Taste of Cincinnati Delivers the Best of the Cincy Food Scene

Taste of Cincinnati is the nation’s longest running food festival, and one of the largest street festivals in the country. At this admission-free festival foodies can find the best of the best from some of the most creative chefs in the Cincy Region and indulge in some of the region’s rich culinary traditions.

What you need to know about Taste of Cincinnati 2026

Kicking off the summer season, Taste of Cincinnati takes to the streets of downtown Cincy on May 22 - 25 in 2026, serving up Italian, creole, vegetarian/vegan, Hawaiian, Greek and, of course, Cincy Region staples like goetta and chili! So, bring your appetites and prepare to dig into some of the tastiest treats from the Cincy Region. There will be dozens of restaurants, food trucks, local breweries, wineries, and even vendors from the local and historic Findlay Market. 

Every Memorial Day weekend Taste of Cincinnati takes over several blocks of 5th St. in Downtown Cincy. In 2025 the festival spread from Main St. past Pike St. and on to Columbia Parkway with a "Findlay Market Zone" starting at Broadway and 5th with that expanded footprint continuing in 2026. In 2026 Taste is expanding to four days, starting on Friday the 22nd. Over half a million people on average attend Taste of Cincinnati, so here's your chance to get your plan together ahead of time to make the very best of your experience. 

Top restaurants featured at Taste of Cincinnati

Note: Taste of Cincinnati won’t release a list of restaurants and vendors until much closer to the event, at which time we will update this article. Also to be announced is the much-anticipated Best of Taste Awards. These judge-awarded accolades name the best of the best in three categories: Restaurants, Food Trucks, and Findlay Market vendors.

Here are some of the 2025 award winners to keep an eye out for in 2026:

In the Restaurant category Kabobske held on to their silver medal in Appetizer and Side Dish for their Street Corn Hummus and Seasoned Pita Chips. Alfio's Buon Cibo won gold for their Braised Short Rib over Gnocchi entree and bronze for their Korean Pork BBQ Empanada appetizer. Hankering Southern Kitchen grabbed gold Appetizer and Side Dish for their Fried Green Tomatoes and bronze for their Smoked Carolina Street Tacos entree. The Cheesecakery grabbed gold in Dessert with their Black Raspberry Chip Cheesecake.

In the Findlay Kitchen Start-Ups category Jay's Nyam & Jam took silver in Appetizer and Side Dish for their Jerk Chicken Wings with Pineapple Jerk Sauce and gold for their Jerk Chicken "Jamaican" Bowl entree. Dessert gold went to Walkerbar and their Judgy Jenn Ice cream that has a baked brie base, ginger pecan praline, fig jam, and a salted honey swirl. 

Food Truck gold Entree went to Twisted Greek for their Hera's Garden Gyro, and they also took bronze in Appetizer and Side Dish for their Deep Fried Feta. Gold in Appetizer and Side Dish went to Dine-In Hawaiian for their Ono Hash, and gold Dessert was awarded to Sugarsnap! Sweet Treats for their Salted Caramel Brownie Sundae. 

And while you might need to bring a big appetite, you don’t need to spend big money. Traditionally each food truck or restaurant has up to 4 different offerings, with prices ranging from around $5 - $12. Beer, wine, and spirits will also be available for purchase throughout the event. 

Live music and entertainment at Taste of Cincinnati

When you need a break in between dishes, Taste of Cincinnati has you covered with some fantastic local musicians and musical acts. The musical lineup at Taste of Cincinnati has something for everyone. The 2026 festival has three stages and over 30 musical acts throughout the weekend, all for free!

Helpful tips for visiting Taste of Cincinnati

Explore parking information, how to get around, and other helpful tips to make the most out of your experience at Taste of Cincinnati.

Getting Here

Several downtown streets are closed for this event and will reopen at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26. Taste of Cincinnati parking is available in several nearby parking garages and parking lots on Third, Fourth, and Sixth Streets are available. Street closures and parking info will be updated throughout the weekend. Hotels in downtown Cincy have historically offered parking for the event as well. 

The downtown streetcar, Cincinnati Connector, makes a 3.6-mile loop through the city. It can easily connect you to Taste of Cincinnati and it’s free! Cincy Red Bikes has 52 stations between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with more than 400 bikes available.  Ride sharing with Uber or Lyft is always available–although prices can rise during peak hours of this event. Parking in Northern Kentucky is another option. To walk over The Taylor Southgate Bridge from Newport, or the Roebling Bridge from Covington is no more than 1.5 miles to the event; the Purple People Bridge and Roebling Suspension Bridge are other pedestrian-friendly options that connect Northern Kentucky to Cincy.

Check out Taste of Cincinnati's website, Facebook, or Instagram for the latest updates on parking, road closures, restaurants, entertainment, and other info. Event guides and maps are also available.

Taste of Cincinnati 2026 Hours & Schedule

Friday, May 22, 2026 - 4 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Saturday, May 23, 2026 –11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Sunday, May 24, 2026 – 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Monday, May 25, 2026 – 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Mark your calendars now and don’t miss out on this fabulous weekend of food, fun, and entertainment in the Cincy Region. To start planning your trip order a free copy of our Official Visitors Guide, sign up for our email newsletter, and check out some of our great places to stay!

Other things to do Memorial Day Weekend in Cincy: