Taste of Cincinnati is back on Fifth Street this Memorial Day weekend, and it is free to attend. The festival runs May 22 through May 25, 2026 in downtown Cincinnati, with more than 60 food and beverage vendors spread across four blocks between Main Street and Sentinel Street.
The event has been held annually since 1979, and this year’s lineup includes both returning Cincinnati staples and newer vendors covering a wide range of cuisines. Three stages run entertainment across all four days.
What Families Will Find to Eat
The vendor list this year spans a lot of ground. Families looking for familiar options will find LaRosa’s Family Pizzeria (pizza slices starting at $5), Izzy’s with its classic Reuben, and Glier’s Goetta serving goetta sliders, grilled cheese and bites. Most items are priced between $5 and $10.
For families interested in trying something less familiar, the lineup includes Bridges Nepali Cuisine (momo and samosa), Lasang Pinoy Filipino Eats (lumpia, chicken adobo), Mama Afrique Nigerian Cuisine (jollof rice, suya), Red Sesame Korean BBQ, Fusako Japanese Street Fusion and Gee’s Caribbean Kitchen. Vegetarian and vegan items are marked throughout the vendor menus on the official site.
A separate Taste of Findlay Market section features vendors from Cincinnati’s historic public market, including a handful that rotate by day — some are Friday and Saturday only, others Sunday and Monday only, so it’s worth checking the vendor page before you go if there’s something specific you want to catch.
On the dessert end: Little Trolley Donuts has a Cincinnati-themed donut for 2026, Davis Cookie Collection is doing cookie sundae bowls, and Dreamy’s Ice Cream is there for the basics. The festival’s “Best of Taste” awards, called Cingourmand, Gold, Silver and Bronze, are noted on each vendor’s listing for past winners — a useful shorthand if you’re trying to narrow down where to spend your appetite.
Entertainment Across Three Stages
The Main Stage, Food Truck Zone Stage and Findlay Market Stage all run programming each day. Gym Class Heroes headline Friday night at 8:30 p.m. on the Main Stage. Saturday’s Main Stage closes with Naked Karate Girls at 8 p.m. Sunday brings Soul Pocket at 8 p.m., and Monday wraps with 2nd Wind Band at 5 p.m.
Entertainment starts at 4 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday through Monday. The full schedule is on the entertainment page.
Getting There and Getting Around
The festival site runs along Fifth Street between Main Street and just east of Sentinel Street. Several streets in the area are closed through Tuesday, May 26 — Fifth Street itself is closed between Walnut Street and Columbia Parkway, and Columbia Parkway is closed between downtown and the Sixth Street ramp. If you’re driving, the official site has a parking reservation link through LAZ Parking and a printable event map.
From I-75 north or south, take the Fifth Street exit and proceed straight to the event site. From I-71 south, take the Reading Road exit and follow Gilbert Avenue, which becomes Eighth Street; the festival is three blocks south. A marked detour is in place for motorists heading to I-71 and I-471.
Admission is free all four days. Individual food and drink items are purchased directly from vendors — most food items run $5 to $10, with a few higher-priced plates.
Plan Your Visit
Taste of Cincinnati 2026
- Location: Fifth Street, Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio
- Dates and Hours:
- Friday, May 22: 4 p.m. – 11 p.m.
- Saturday, May 23: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Sunday, May 24: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Monday, May 25: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Official website: tasteofcincinnati.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/TasteofCincinnati
- Instagram: @tasteofcincinnati
