The festival, powered by Invesco QQQ, kicks off its programming with the Dine Around Series starting September 1, where nearly 80 local restaurants will offer exclusive menus. The main event schedule includes high-profile culinary gatherings such as the Global Stage Dinner on the Pritzker Pavilion Stage and the Asian Night Market at the Zhou B Art Center, hosted by Thai Dang and Beverly Kim. Prices for these signature experiences range from $99 for the night market to $250 for the multi-course dinner.

Fans of competitive cooking can attend the Hamburger Hop on September 25, where chefs Joe Flamm and Jeff Mauro oversee a burger battle accompanied by breakdancing. The festival concludes September 27 with the Rise & Shine Gourmet brunch hosted by Art Smith and Erick Williams. Tickets for all events, including the two-session Grand Cru tasting featuring over 30 chefs, are available through the official website at chicagogourmet.org.