Chow time! NYC’s 2026 summer food festivals are a tasty trip around the world

Here comes the summer fest foodie quest.

It’s officially the season to eat outdoors in New York City and sample a smorgasbord of food festivals — featuring many cultures and cuisines — across the boroughs.

From beloved staples like Smorgasburg and Taste of Tribeca to newer food events like The Great Nosh and From Sea to SEA, here are some of the best fests that both locals and visitors can take a bite out of.

Saturday, May 16 | Taste of Tribeca

Taste of Tribeca is more than just an outdoor food festival — it’s a fundraiser, founded in 1994 by parents of students at NYC’s PS 234 and 150. The annual event brings in chefs from more than 50 neighborhood restaurants from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Guests can check out the Kids’ Zone for arts and crafts, participate in games at the Sports Zone, and enjoy live music at the festival, which spans Duane Street, from Hudson Street to Greenwich Street, and from Jay Street to Chambers Street. Tickets in advance for six tastings are $65, or $75 day-of.

Visitors not planning to eat can attend the event for free.

Funds raised help support music, science, chess and dance classes, field trips and more at the two schools.

Saturday, May 16 | 11th Annual Crawfish Boil

A long-standing, “no-frills, high-energy” tradition in Harlem, Saturday’s 11th Annual Crawfish Boil will bring a taste of Louisiana to NYC from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. via At The Wallace, 3612 Broadway.

Guests can expect “a mess” of fresh crawfish, corn, potatoes and more at the shindig — a staple for more than a decade — in a setting that gives off the vibe of a backyard feast.

Saturday, May 23 | Rib King NYC

The biggest Rib King NYC yet — an all-inclusive fest featuring over 20 chefs, restaurants and BBQ experts vying for the titular crown — kicks off at noon at Industry City’s Courtyard.

Besides ribs, guests will find award-winning hot sauces, desserts, spirits, wine, hard cider, craft beer and more.

General admission tickets are $55.49; $82.74 VIP tix come with early admission, all-inclusive food and drinks, mixing and mingling with the chefs, and a Rib King NYC T-shirt.

The 2026 competitors’ roster is still being finalized.

Sunday, May 24 | The Cookout Party

The Cookout Party will sizzle Memorial Day Weekend “back to where it belongs” at Brooklyn’s Prospect Park for a day full of music, food, games, drinks and “community vibes.”

“Expect good people, beautiful energy, cookout classics on the grill, lawn games, dancing, blankets on the grass, and the kind of summer day NYC does best,” the event page touts, with free burgers and hot dogs, plus music by DJ Savage, Billy Cheesesteak, Musical Mixx and DJ Franchilla, hosted by Jay Juss Vibes.

The exact park location will be announced a day prior to the event, which will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, May 31 | From Sea to SEA: The NYC Southeast Asian Festival

The second From Sea to SEA: The NYC Southeast Asian Festival will close out AAPI Heritage month at The Chocolate Factory in Brooklyn, in partnership with over a dozen community organizations.

The lineup will feature about 30 vendors and small businesses. Among the many cultural activities, visitors can learn and write greetings in different languages, plus try Ketupat Weaving, an art typically done during Eid in Malaysia; Batik Making, a wax-resist fabric art; and Dreamlink, a Filipino-inspired weaving tapestry.

General admission tickets start at $10.

Sunday, June 7 | The Oxtail Off

The Oxtail Off started as a friendly backyard party in Los Angeles, challenging chefs to make the best meat dish. Now the viral cooking competition is hitting the road to four more cities, with the inaugural New York event bringing together chefs from restaurants, bars and food trucks.

Watch for Caribbean performers, live music and a whole lot of food from 2-7 p.m. at 99 Scott Ave., Brooklyn. General admission and VIP tickets are $20 to $85.

Saturday, June 20 | KokoFest 2026

KokoFest is all about culture, flavor and rhythm.

NYC’s premier Caribbean celebration, back for its fifth year, boasts food, cocktails and rum tastings, live performances and more, all set against the city skyline along the Brooklyn waterfront.

Tickets for the event, from noon to 10 p.m. at Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Building 77, start at $33.28 and level off at $179.93 for a VIP experience.

Sunday, June 21 | The Great Nosh

The Great Nosh is returning for its celebration of Jewish culinary heritage at Governors Island next month.

Presented by the non-profit Jewish Food Society, the day-long picnic will feature immersive art, live music and “unexpected Jew-ish cultural connections.”

Watch for demonstrations of traditional family recipes featuring inter-generational pairs of cooks at “The Grandmas Tent,” plus once-in-a-lifetime collaborations, including Bonnie’s x Russ & Daughters serving steamed turnip cakes with everything bagel seasoning and smoked salmon; NARO x Thea Bakery cooking up a Korean fried chicken sandwich on challah; and Santo Taco x Katz’s Deli combining Katz’s pastrami, pickles escabeche, habanero, and avocado salsa on an heirloom corn tortilla.

Tickets are $36.

Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28 | Taste the Caribbean

ONSA Foundation’s two-day Taste the Caribbean celebration at Brooklyn’s Restoration Plaza will feature over 50 vendors cooking up roti, jerk chicken, chicharrón, mofongo and much more.

Admission is free, and it will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. both days.

Sunday, June 28 | Toñita Fest

Toñita Fest returns for its third year as Brooklyn-based host Caribbean Social Club — which, owned by 2026 Super Bowl “star” Maria Antonia “Toñita” Cay, counts Bad Bunny as one of its biggest fans — celebrates its 52nd anniversary. The annual festival honoring Toñitas NY celebrates Puerto Rican roots and highlights the role the cultural space holds in New York City.

The event, open to the public, will run from noon to 6 p.m. at Grand Street between Driggs Avenue and Roebling Street in Brooklyn.

Saturday, Aug. 15 | Blues BBQ Festival

A Hudson River Park staple and one of NYC’s longest-running free festivals, the Blues BBQ Festival will feature plenty of food and two stages with both popular locals and accomplished artists alike, curated by the Jazz Foundation of America.

The event is slated for 1-9 p.m. at Pier 76.

Through October | Smorgasburg

It wouldn’t be a New York City summer food roundup without Smorgasburg.

The beloved market is officially back for its 16th season across multiple locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan, featuring over 70 vendors and global bites. Admission is free at every location.

Central Park

For the first time, Smorgasburg is in Central Park this summer, bringing more than 25 vendors to Manhattan’s backyard. Having kicked off on Thursday, May 14, the open-air food market will operate from noon to 8 p.m. near the park’s Columbus Circle entrance every Thursday, Friday and Saturday through Sept. 8.

Prospect Park

In partnership with Prospect Park Alliance, the outpost is 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 25. Head to Breeze Hill near the park’s Lincoln Road Entrance for a variety of food options.

Williamsburg

The popular fest’s original location — “Smorgasburg” being a portmanteau of “smorgasbord” and “Williamsburg” — is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays at Marsha P. Johnson State Park. No pets are allowed.

World Trade Center

The fan-favorite outdoor market opened its World Trade Center location — on Fulton Street between Church and Greenwich streets — last month, operating from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and it will remain open through Sept. 4.

Eco-friendly vendors and customers can use two compost stations for service ware and food scraps.