Summer is wining down. Raise a glass this weekend at the Galveston Island Wine Festival. Kicking off this Friday, the three-day festival will feature aquarium tastings, pool parties, celebrity chefs, and more.
The 2026 Galveston Island Wine Festival takes place from Friday through Sunday, September 4 – 6. Presented by Yaga’s Entertainment and Moody Gardens, the three-day festival will kick off at 6 pm this Friday with a Welcome Reception at the Moody Gardens Hotel Lobby Bar, featuring complimentary libations courtesy of Freakshow Wine, Hornitos Tequila, Corona, and Southside Gin.
Following which, the White Linen Seafood Extravaganza will be hosted at the Shearn’s/Viewfinders Terrace. Running until 8 pm, the event will allow ticketholders to enjoy seafood tastings and pairings curated by renowned chefs.
Friday’s festivities will conclude with Wine’d Down at the Moody Gardens Hotel Lobby Bar, featuring live entertainment in a relaxed atmosphere.
Saturday’s programming includes the Penguins & Pinot Grand Tasting, Beck Brunch & Bubbles, Shucks & Shiner (sold out), and the Tini’s & Bikinis Pool Party. Most notably, the Penguins & Pinot Grand Tasting allows ticketholders to enjoy wine and spirit tastings and Gulf Coast bites alongside marine animal encounters inside The Aquarium Pyramid. Penguins & Pinot takes place from 5 pm to 8 pm.
The festival’s signature Grand Finale: Wine Dinner will take place Sunday, September 6. From 5 pm to 7 pm, the event will feature a multi-course, chef-driven dinner with paired wines. To conclude the festival, Moody Gardens will host a Sunday Night Drone Show at 9 pm Sunday night featuring hundreds of drones in an illuminated, choreographed spectacle.
Participating chefs at the Galveston Island Wine Festival include:
- Chef Brian Duffy
- Concetta Maceo-Sims
- Chef Machete
- Chef David Cordua
- Paul Miller
- Chef Sal Vera
- Chef Chris Lopez
- Chef William Pickavance
- Chef Bobby Lee Ross
- Andres Castaneda
- Chef Aaron Sekula
- Chef Kristy Riley
- Chef Bethany Boedicker
- Executive Chef Rico Caminos
Tickets to the Galveston Island Wine Festival are available on a day-to-day basis, with multi-day and hotel packages available. Friday & Saturday tickets are priced at $272.13; where Saturday-only tickets are priced at $163.88. Sunday tickets appear to be part of a multi-day/hotel package.
