SOBEWFF® 2026 Centers the Culture From Las’ Lap to The Cookout, Chicken Coupe and Overtown Brunch, Black Culinary Excellence Takes the Spotlight
By Julia Franklin
SOBEWFF® 2026 Centers the Culture From Las’ Lap to The Cookout, Chicken Coupe and Overtown Brunch, Black Culinary Excellence Takes the Spotlight
The 2026 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF®), taking place February 19–22, 2026, once again transforms Miami Beach into a global culinary stage. But beyond celebrity chefs and luxury tastings, several standout events this year intentionally spotlight Black chefs, Afro-Caribbean influence, and the foundational role of Black foodways in American cuisine.
Friday, February 20, 2026, 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Las’ Lap Link Up: A Celebration of Afro-Caribbean Cuisine
The cultural celebration begins Friday night with Las’ Lap Link Up, hosted by Kwame Onwuachi and Nina Compton.
Inspired by the Caribbean “last lap” tradition — that final burst of joy before the night ends — this late-night event honors Afro-Caribbean cuisine through bold flavors, island seafood, vibrant cocktails, and music reflective of Miami’s deep Caribbean roots.
Las’ Lap is more than a tasting — it is diaspora storytelling through food.
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Overtown Brunch hosted by Marcus Samuelsson bring the festival to Historic Overtown
Festival favorite Overtown Brunch hosted by Marcus Samuelsson returns at Red Rooster Overtown, shining a spotlight on the neighborhood’s deep cultural legacy and the flavors that have shaped Miami.
Set in Miami’s historic Overtown neighborhood — once known as the “Harlem of the South” — this brunch is a celebration of community, culture, and culinary reverence. Samuelsson’s menu blends Southern comfort with global influence, reflecting both heritage and innovation.
Live music, layered flavors, and neighborhood pride define this closing cultural moment of the festival.
Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The Cookout with JJ Johnson doubles down on African American culinary tradition — with Fat Joe live
Saturday afternoon, the beach becomes a celebration of heritage with The Cookout, hosted by JJ Johnson and presented by Sonrisa Rum.
Guests gather for an open-air experience rooted in African American culinary tradition — smoky flavors, communal energy, and recipes that echo backyard gatherings and family reunions.
The cultural moment crescendos with a live performance by hip-hop icon Fat Joe, blending food, music, and memory into one unforgettable afternoon.
Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, 8 p.m. –11 p.m.
Chicken Coupe” brings fried chicken competition energy (and bubbles) to South Beach
Chicken Coupe: Fried Chicken and Champagne, presented by Capital One, pairs crispy creativity with pours from renowned Champagne houses. Hosted by Kardea Brown and Esther Choi, the event plays like a playful culinary face-off—Southern-style versus Southeast Asian-inspired—designed for guests who want big flavors, big personality, and a festive night out.
This high-spirited culinary showdown features Southern-style fried chicken facing off against Southeast Asian-inspired interpretations — each paired with exceptional Champagnes from renowned houses.
The featured fried chicken for the best of Southern Style is Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley, the elevated comfort food concept founded by Kevin Kelley which recently opened it’s Miami location in Wynwood. Today, Kitchen + Kocktails also operates in Dallas, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Charlotte, and Philadelphia.
Chicken Coupe blends culinary competition with ownership legacy — flavor elevated with finesse.
A Festival Within the Festival
While SOBEWFF® spans dozens of venues and global names, these four events tell a deeper story. They reflect how Black chefs and the Afro-diasporic traditions are not peripheral to American cuisine — they are central to it. We are American History.
