The Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is making a major move that signals its continued growth and commitment to the city’s vibrant culinary scene. After years of calling Historic Fourth Ward Park home, the beloved annual celebration will relocate to The Home Depot Backyard at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for its 2025 edition, running September 11-14.
A New Chapter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
The festival’s new venue, The Home Depot Backyard, offers an expansive 11-acre greenspace that promises to enhance every aspect of the event experience. Located at 1 Backyard Way in downtown Atlanta, the venue provides significantly more space than the previous location, allowing for improved layout and dedicated areas for various festival activities.
Enhanced Festival Experience
The new location brings several practical advantages that will elevate the festival experience. The venue offers enhanced special areas including a culinary demonstration stage, VIP lounge, and sponsored activation spaces, along with improved parking and transportation options, including convenient access to MARTA.
For 2025, the festival is expanding to four full days of programming, with Thursday night kicking off the long weekend as a brand-new addition. Each day will feature the signature Tasting Tents presented by Goya Foods, where attendees can flow through unlimited bites from over 50 restaurants and sips from more than 40 purveyors of wine, spirits, and other beverages.
Star-Studded Culinary Lineup
This year’s four-day festival will bring together over 200 of the region’s most celebrated chefs, creating an unprecedented gathering of culinary talent. The impressive roster includes Food Network personalities and James Beard Award winners:
- Andrew Zimmern – Travel Channel host and cookbook author
- Marcus Samuelsson – Award-winning chef and restaurateur
- Scott Conant – Chef behind The Americano
- Rodney Scott – Pitmaster and James Beard Award winner
- Charmain Ware-Jason and Joshua Wetshtein – The team behind Tiny Lou’s
- Gizzy Rawlins – Executive chef at Ela
- Howard and Anita Hsu – Sweet Auburn Barbecue
- Josue Pena – The Iberian Pig
- Davis King – Beetlecat
Attendees will have access to the Publix Culinary Demonstration Stage, where chefs will share recipes and host live Q&A sessions, providing an intimate opportunity to learn from some of the South’s most respected culinary figures.
New Experiences and Collaborations
The 2025 festival introduces several exciting additions to the traditional format. New this year are immersive hands-on experiences that reimagine Southern flavor through bold, sensory surprises. These interactive elements promise to engage attendees beyond simple tasting, creating memorable moments that celebrate the creativity and innovation of Southern cuisine.
For the first time, Whiskey & Fire, a collaboration between Heritage Fire and Whiskies of the World, joins the lineup, adding a dynamic new element that celebrates the South’s rich tradition of whiskey and live-fire cooking.
A Festival with Deep Roots
Since its inception in 2011, the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival has grown from a regional gathering into one of the Southeast’s most prestigious culinary events. The festival has grown into one of the most respected and must-attend food events in the southeast, attracting food enthusiasts, industry professionals, and celebrities from across the country.
The festival’s mission remains focused on spotlighting the incomparable flavors of the region while creating wonderful experiences with the community. Each year, it serves as both a celebration of Southern culinary traditions and a showcase for the innovative chefs who are pushing those traditions forward.
Looking Toward the Future
Festival officials indicated that the move to the Home Depot Backyard was not a one-year arrangement, suggesting this downtown location will serve as the festival’s long-term home. This commitment to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium area aligns with the venue’s growing reputation as a premier destination for major events and reflects the festival’s confidence in its continued growth.
The relocation also positions the festival within Atlanta’s evolving downtown landscape, making it more accessible to both local residents and visitors while taking advantage of the area’s robust infrastructure and transportation network.
Event Details
When: September 11-14, 2025
Where: The Home Depot Backyard at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Address: 1 Backyard Way, Atlanta, GA 30313
Tickets: Available at atlfoodandwinefestival.com
The Atlanta Food & Wine Festival’s move to The Home Depot Backyard represents more than a change of venue—it’s a bold step forward for an event that has become synonymous with Atlanta’s culinary excellence. With expanded programming, an incredible lineup of chefs, and a spectacular new setting, the 2025 festival promises to be the most ambitious and exciting edition yet.