What makes the Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta one of the city’s most anticipated events?
The 35th annual Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta features programming beginning Tuesday, September 22, with the main Fiesta running Wednesday, September 23 through Sunday, September 27, 2026.
Throughout the week, Santa Fe restaurants, wineries, chefs, sommeliers, and food lovers come together for tastings, winery dinners, seminars, demonstrations, special lunches, and other culinary events across the city. The Fiesta has grown from a small one-day gathering into one of Santa Fe’s signature culinary celebrations. Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta
Why the Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta Is So Special
If you have ever wondered what makes Santa Fe come alive in late September, this is one of those weeks that captures it.
The Wine & Chile Fiesta is much more than a food event. It brings together so many things our city does well: incredible cuisine, wine, New Mexico chile, fall weather, and a strong sense of community.
I was born and raised in Santa Fe, and this time of year has always had a special feeling. The smell of roasting chile starts showing up around town, the weather begins to shift, and there is a different energy as fall settles in.
For food lovers, Wine & Chile week is one of the best times of the year to experience Santa Fe.
The Grand Tasting
The Grand Tasting is the Fiesta’s signature event and takes place Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Midtown, 1600 St. Michaels Drive.
More than 80 wineries and over 60 Santa Fe restaurants come together for an afternoon of wine, food, live music, and Fiesta atmosphere. General admission begins at noon, with Gold Pass entry beginning earlier. Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta
The 2026 Grand Tasting is currently sold out, so if you are still planning your Fiesta week, check the official schedule for other tastings, dinners, seminars, and Sunday events that may still have availability. Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta
Even if the Grand Tasting is no longer an option this year, there are plenty of other ways to experience Wine & Chile throughout the week.
Winery Dinners: A More Intimate Experience
Winery dinners are one of the most memorable parts of the Fiesta.
Participating Santa Fe restaurants create special menus paired with wines from featured wineries, often with a winery representative on hand to talk through the pairings and share more about the wines.
Because every restaurant creates its own experience, no two dinners are exactly alike.
These smaller events offer something different from the large tastings: a chance to slow down, enjoy each course, and spend more time with the food and wine in front of you.
Reservations are generally made through the participating restaurants, and availability varies by dinner. Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta
Special Events for 2026
The 2026 schedule includes plenty beyond the Grand Tasting.
The Terrace Social: A Bougie Brunch
The Terrace Social brings brunch, wine, and a more relaxed social setting into the Fiesta lineup.
It is one of several events designed for people who want something smaller and more focused than the larger walk-around tastings.
Chile Friday
Chile Friday celebrates one of New Mexico’s most recognizable culinary traditions.
More than 30 Santa Fe restaurants participate in the walk-around event, showcasing their own interpretations of New Mexico chile alongside cocktails, beer, wine, cider, live music, demonstrations, and local vendors. The 2026 event is currently sold out. Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta
It feels especially appropriate during chile-roasting season, when that unmistakable smell seems to show up everywhere around Santa Fe.
Reserve Wine Tasting & Silent Auction
The Reserve Wine Tasting takes place Thursday, September 24, at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.
More than 80 wineries pour reserve and special selections, while the silent auction includes rare and collectible wines. As of this week, general admission still shows availability, while the Gold Pass is sold out. Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta
The larger schedule also includes seminars, lunches, winery dinners, demonstrations, and Sunday events.
Because availability can change quickly during Fiesta week, check the official schedule before making plans.
How to Plan Your Fiesta Week
Wine & Chile offers a lot, but trying to fit everything into a few days can take some of the fun out of it.
For a first visit, I would choose one larger event and then add one smaller dinner, seminar, tasting, or lunch that genuinely interests you.
Leave some time between events to enjoy Santa Fe itself.
Walk through the Plaza. Spend some time on Canyon Road. Stop into a gallery or shop. Sit outside if the weather cooperates.
The Fiesta is best enjoyed when you have enough breathing room to appreciate the city along with the food and wine.
Each event has its own ticket or reservation process, and prices and availability vary, so always check the official Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta schedule before making plans. Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta
Why Late September Is One of Santa Fe’s Best Seasons
The timing is part of what makes Wine & Chile week feel so distinctly Santa Fe.
Late September is chile season in New Mexico. Roasting drums are running outside markets, restaurants are using fresh green chile, and that familiar roasted aroma becomes part of everyday life around town.
At the same time, the weather begins shifting toward fall, with warm days, cooler evenings, and changing color in the mountains.
As someone who grew up here, I think this season captures Santa Fe especially well.
Food, tradition, cooler evenings, chile, and the beginning of fall all seem to come together at once.
Practical Tips for the Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta
- Check ticket availability before making plans. Several major 2026 events are already sold out.
- Make dinner reservations early. Winery dinners and smaller specialty events can fill quickly.
- Dress in layers. Santa Fe afternoons may still feel warm, while evenings can cool down quickly.
- Arrange safe transportation. If you plan to taste wine, use a designated driver, rideshare, taxi, or another safe transportation option.
- Pace yourself and stay hydrated. There is plenty to taste throughout the week.
- Leave time for Santa Fe itself. The Plaza, Canyon Road, shops, galleries, and restaurants are part of what makes Fiesta week enjoyable.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta?
Programming begins Tuesday, September 22, with the main Fiesta running Wednesday, September 23 through Sunday, September 27, 2026. Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta
Where is the 2026 Grand Tasting held?
The current official Grand Tasting event listing places it at Midtown, 1600 St. Michaels Drive, on Saturday, September 26. Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta
Is the Grand Tasting still available?
No. The 2026 Grand Tasting is currently listed as sold out. Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta
How many wineries and restaurants participate?
The Grand Tasting features more than 80 wineries and over 60 Santa Fe restaurants. Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta
Do I need separate tickets for each event?
Yes. Fiesta events are generally ticketed separately, and winery dinners typically require reservations through the participating restaurant.
Are there events besides the Grand Tasting?
Absolutely.
The schedule includes winery dinners, reserve tastings, seminars, special lunches, brunch events, chile-focused programming, and other culinary experiences throughout the week. Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta
Is the Fiesta good for first-time visitors?
Yes.
It is a great way to experience Santa Fe’s food scene while also spending time downtown, visiting galleries, exploring neighborhoods, and enjoying the beginning of fall.
How long has the Fiesta been running?
The 2026 event marks the 35th annual Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta. The event began in 1991 as a one-day gathering involving 20 restaurants and 20 wineries and has grown substantially since then. Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta
The Heart of the Fiesta
The Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta is more than a week of meals and wine.
It brings together restaurants, chefs, winemakers, residents, visitors, and the traditions that make Santa Fe’s food culture distinctive.
Whether you have lived here for years or are visiting for the first time, Fiesta week is another way to experience the city through its flavors, people, and hospitality.
As a Santa Fe native and local real estate broker, I love sharing the traditions and experiences that make this city feel like home.
If you ever have questions about living in Santa Fe, I am always happy to help.