JXN Food & Wine Festival 2027

Returning to Jackson March 11-13, 2027, the three-day celebration will be led by Chef Chair Hunter Evans and feature local, regional and national culinary talent for a Chef Chair Dinner and two Grand Tastings. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Aarón Sánchez, an award-winning chef, restaurateur and longtime judge on FOX’s MasterChef and MasterChef Junior, is the chef and owner of Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans. He will participate in Thursday’s Chef Chair Dinner and co-host the festival’s cooking demonstration stage on Friday and Saturday.

The festival will kick off Thursday, March 11, with the Chef Chair Dinner at the Capital Club, hosted by Evans, chef and owner of Elvie’s and Mayflower Cafe in Jackson, alongside co-host Sánchez and guest Chef Meg Bickford of Commander’s Palace in New Orleans. The evening will begin with a rooftop cocktail reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Additional participating chefs will be announced at a later date.

New this year, the Chef Chair will select a charity to receive a portion of ticket revenue from the dinner. Evans has selected Children’s of Mississippi, with $10 from every $185 Chef Chair Dinner ticket donated to the state’s only children’s hospital.

Amanda FitzGerald, director of business development for The Local Palate, commented: “Four years in, JXN Food & Wine keeps growing bigger and better. We’re proud to bring guests even more of the elevated, delicious experiences they’ve loved each year. What we’re sharing today is a sneak peek, and there is so much more in the works ahead of March 2027.”

On Friday, March 12, and Saturday, March 13, JXNFW will return to the Mississippi Museum of Art for its signature Grand Tastings. VIP admission will begin at 5 p.m., followed by general admission at 6 p.m.

The 2027 festival will also introduce a second VIP location at the Jackson Convention Complex, expanding the experience with additional chefs, all-inclusive bars, indoor restrooms and a dedicated lounge and gathering area.

The first group of confirmed chefs for the 2027 JXN Food & Wine Festival includes:

• Aarón Sánchez, Johnny Sánchez – New Orleans, LA
• Austin Sumrall, White Pillars Restaurant and Lounge – Biloxi, MS
• Chaz Lindsay, Pulito Osteria; Rowan’s – Jackson, MS
• Eddie Wright, Eddie Wright BBQ – Jackson, MS
• Enrika Williams, Fauna Foodworks – Jackson, MS
• Geno Lee, Big Apple Inn – Jackson, MS
• Guillermo Salinas, Just Vanilla Bake Shop – Jackson, MS
• Hunter Evans, Elvie’s; Mayflower Cafe – Jackson, MS
• Jason Brumm, Oxbow American Grill – Ridgeland, MS
• Jon Davis, City Grocery – Oxford, MS
• Meg Bickford, Commander’s Palace – New Orleans, LA
• Nick Wallace, Hen and Egg – Jackson, MS
• Pierre Pryer Sr., Iron Horse Grill – Jackson, MS

Additional participating chefs and programming will be announced in the months leading up to the festival.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Oct. 21, with early bird pricing available through Nov. 1. General admission tickets will be $80 during the early bird window and $95 thereafter, while VIP tickets will be $160 during the early bird window and $175 thereafter. Chef Chair Dinner tickets are $185.

A portion of festival proceeds will also benefit the Mississippi Restaurant Association Education Foundation, which provides scholarships to students pursuing postsecondary degrees in restaurant management or culinary arts.

The Westin Jackson will serve as the festival’s host hotel, offering a special festival rate of $179 per night. Hotel booking will open Oct. 21, allowing festivalgoers to reserve accommodations when purchasing tickets.

Current sponsors for the 2027 JXN Food & Wine Festival include City With Soul, The Local Palate, MWB, The Westin, Brown-Forman, Brown Bottling, Cathead Distilling, Rivulet Artisan Pecan Liqueur, Renegade Lemonade, North Shore Specialty Coffee, Stella Artois, PartySmart, Wölfe Cutlery, Visit Mississippi, Visit Oxford, Explore Ridgeland and Coastal Mississippi.

For more information and to purchase tickets beginning Oct. 21, visit jxnfoodandwine.com.

About The Local Palate

THE LOCAL PALATE is a Southern food culture magazine that tells the stories behind the people, places, and foodways that make up this diverse and dynamic culinary region. Here, food and drink are more than sustenance—they’re a way of life. We invite readers to join us and our team of experts as we explore Southern recipes, traditions, artisanal products, makers, chefs, getaways, and communities and use food as a lens to better understand this rich, storied region. Through our magazine, digital channels, events, and online shop, the Local Palate Marketplace, we connect our audience to the people and products we cover, giving them the opportunity to experience these stories first-hand. 

About Visit Jackson

Visit Jackson is the official destination marketing organization for the city of Jackson dedicated to promoting Jackson as a premier travel destination. With a focus on the city’s rich cultural heritage, vibrant arts scene, and diverse culinary offerings, Visit Jackson provides visitors with the resources they need to explore and enjoy all that the city has to offer. From historic landmarks and outdoor adventures to local festivals and events, Visit Jackson showcases the unique experiences that make the city a must-visit destination. For more information, visit visitjackson.com and follow us on social media.

Food enthusiasts are encouraged to visit the website jxnfoodandwine.com and follow on Instagram @jxnfoodandwine to keep abreast of chef announcements and festival updates.