Updated June 9, 2026. The EAT250 DC food festival 2026 is about to take over the nation’s capital!
A Citywide Feast for the Nation’s Milestone Year
The EAT250 DC food festival 2026 takes place June 14–28, spotlighting how America eats.
Developed with partners including the Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser, RAMW, and TAA|PR, the festival features 100+ regional restaurants with special menus and experiences.
Chefs will collaborate, embassies will open their kitchens, and museums and libraries will host talks on food and identity. Union Market District serves as the main hub, hosting citywide events.
200+ Restaurants and the Industry’s Biggest Names Sign On
The EAT250 DC food festival 2026 has expanded. Presented by RAMW in partnership with the Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser, Events DC, and TAA|PR, the citywide initiative now includes more than 200 participating restaurants across the Washington metropolitan region. Marcus Samuelsson, Bryan Voltaggio, Pierre Thiam, and Paola Velez are among the headline chefs confirmed for the June 14–28 run.
The program has effectively doubled in size since the May announcement. Chef collaborations, neighborhood activations, and embassy dinners will anchor the two-week stretch. The central question stays the same: what is American food? Residents and America250 visitors will find the answer across menus in every corner of DC.
Marquee Chef Collaborations to Book Now
The collaboration dinners are the headlines. The marquee names are confirmed. On June 23, Marcus Samuelsson hosts Diaspora of Flavor at Marcus DC, tracing the movement of ingredients and memory across the African diaspora with Executive Chef Anthony Jones.
On June 19, Rubén García welcomes Bryan Voltaggio at Casa Teresa for From Catalonia to the Chesapeake, a six-course meditation on regional Spanish and Mid-Atlantic cooking.
On June 21, Pierre Thiam joins Hell’s Kitchen winner Rock Harper and storyteller Jessica Nabongo at Manifest 002 for Around the World at the American Table.
Finally, Paola Velez headlines Spice Routes at The Spice Suite on June 28 alongside Tim Ma, Anthony Jones, and founder Angel Gregorio!
International Crossovers and Neighborhood Nights
The lineup keeps building. The international crossovers stack up. June 18 brings Bimi Vita at Masseria, where Nicholas Stefanelli welcomes Katsuya Fukushima for an Italian-Japanese collaboration in six courses.
On June 25, Erik Bruner-Yang hosts Tom Cunanan of the late Bad Saint at Maketto for The New American Table, a Taiwanese, Filipino, and Asian-American conversation across the menu. That same evening, Sébastien Giannini and Andrew Ho present Ode to Escoffier at L’Avant-Garde with the Ambassador of Monaco in attendance. Meanwhile, Stellina‘s Union Market location hosts a Global Pizza Party with Matteo Venini and Elias Taddesse of Doro Soul Food, tracing the shared Italian-Ethiopian story through pizza.
Union Market District and La Cosecha also team up for Tastes of Union Market District on June 25.
Where to Eat, Book, and Celebrate
Programming is anchored in the Union Market District, with chef collaborations, public talks, and special menus rolling out across DC for the full two weeks. Tickets, schedules, and the complete list of 200+ participating restaurants are posted at EAT250.com. Reservations for the marquee dinners are expected to move quickly. Book the dinners. Mark the calendar. Show up hungry.
The Washington Lobbyist proudly champions DC’s vibrant food culture, celebrating the restaurants, chefs, and cultural institutions that make this city unique. Book your seat, enjoy a collaboration dinner, and let us know which ones inspire you. We look forward to celebrating America’s 250th together at the table.
