Columbia Food & Wine Festival returns April 22-26, 2026, and launches new Tastemakers patron program

Columbia Food & Wine Festival (CFWF), which returns to the Midlands April 22-26, 2026, is pleased to launch Tastemakers, a patron giving circle that offers insider access to festival experiences while supporting the region’s hospitality community. Tastemakers will help expand the festival’s charitable impact, including a new scholarship program for hospitality students.

Membership is $500 per person, with $250 of that contribution considered tax-deductible. Tastemakers helps build early momentum for the festival and support initiatives that highlight local chefs, beverage professionals and food-focused businesses. The program will be open to a limited number of supporters each year, with memberships available on a first-come basis.

The festival is proud to introduce the CFWF Hospitality Scholarship, designed to invest in the rising leaders of Columbia’s hospitality industry. This new program awards two $2,500 scholarships to University of South Carolina students enrolled in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM) who demonstrate passion, community engagement and a commitment to building their careers in the hospitality and events professions.

Now in its ninth year, the five-day festival will host more than 10 events featuring over 100 chefs and beverage professionals across the greater Columbia region. For more information — or to purchase a Tastemakers membership or apply for a Hospitality Scholarship — please visit columbiafoodandwinefestival.com.

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