Atlanta’s longest-running food festival is turning 25, and it’s throwing a party built around the people who made it matter.
Taste of Atlanta, founded by Dale DeSena in 2001, will mark its 25th anniversary on April 16, with a celebration at The Works in Underwood Hills. From 6-10 p.m. that evening, the event will feature Atlanta chefs, restaurateurs, and restaurant regulars who helped shape the city’s food scene and the festival over the last 25 years.
A city’s food scene in one room
When Taste of Atlanta launched, the city’s culinary identity was still consolidating. The festival gave early visibility to chefs who would go on to define what dining in Atlanta looks like today.
The 25th anniversary of Taste of Atlanta leans into that history directly, with a “Culinary Icons Reunion,” bringing together chefs who have participated in the festival over the years. The restaurant lineup for the April event includes restaurants like Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, Kyma, El Super Pan, Tiny Lou’s, Morelli’s Ice Cream, DAS BBQ, Bistro Niko, Il Giallo, and Pricci.
Attendees move through tastings, with live music from Bogey and the Viceroy on the outdoor stage, a DJ inside, and a guest appearance from the Seed and Feed Marching Abominables.
Ticket holders get complimentary entry to an after-party at neighboring Your 3rd Spot, from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Looking back, then forward
Taste of Atlanta is also rolling out a social media series throughout 2026 showcasing archival dishes, recipes, and moments from past festivals — a way of making the anniversary feel less like a single night and more like a year-long retrospective.
The festival’s larger 2026 calendar includes three additional events: Food That Rocks in Sandy Springs, and Grand Tasting editions in Alpharetta and Midtown, each built around those particular dining scenes.
Tickets and details are available at tasteofatlanta.com, with updates on Instagram at @TasteofAtlanta.