Taste of Cincinnati

Taste of Cincinnati: Food and Music Festival in Downtown Cincinnati

Taste of Cincinnati is a food and music festival held every Memorial Day weekend in downtown Cincinnati. It is organized by the Corporate and Community Events division of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. The 2026 edition will take place from May 22 to 25 on Fifth Street in downtown Cincinnati, presented by Trident Seafoods; the group Gym Class Heroes will headline Friday night.

History and Evolution of the Festival

The event began in 1979 as a one-day festival in Piatt Park, then known as Garfield Park, with an approximate attendance of 5,000 people. The idea came from Karen Maier, vice president of marketing for Frisch's Restaurants Inc., who conceived the concept after reading about the Taste of the Big Apple in the trade publication Nation's Restaurant News. In 1981 the festival expanded to two days, and in 1988 it became a three-day event and moved to Central Parkway. In 2007 it moved to Fifth Street to highlight the $42 million renovation of Fountain Square and its underground parking garage, and to bring the event closer to the cluster of downtown hotels, such as The Cincinnatian Hotel, Garfield Suites Hotel, Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Hyatt Regency Cincinnati, Millennium Hotel Cincinnati, The Terrace Hotel, and Westin Hotel Cincinnati.

Attendance and Participation

Today, around 550,000 people attend this culinary celebration annually, making it one of the largest street festivals in the country. The event brings together more than 50 restaurants and food trucks offering a wide variety of dishes. In the weeks leading up to each edition, menus are submitted and evaluated for the prestigious Best of Taste awards.

Music and Entertainment

Taste of Cincinnati is also a music festival, with continuous live entertainment on multiple stages, featuring local and national artists.

Dates and Times for the 2026 Edition

The 2026 edition will be held on Fifth Street in downtown Cincinnati, with the following schedule: Friday, May 22 from 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM; Saturday, May 23 from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM; Sunday, May 24 from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM; and Monday, May 25 from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Vendor, Artist, and Volunteer Participation

The festival opens calls for vendors, artists, and volunteers. Vendor applications for the 2026 edition are closed, but applications for 2027 are now being accepted. Entertainment applications are open for the upcoming edition. Volunteers are also sought for operations, food and beverage, entertainment, merchandise sales, and other areas. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for brands looking to connect with the event's audience.

Location and Contact

Fifth Street, Downtown Cincinnati