For five days in late October, Cable Beach turns into a giant open kitchen. Baha Mar hosts the 5th Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival from October 21 to 25, 2026, bringing together world-famous chefs, Caribbean artists, and a headline concert on the lawn. For anyone wondering what to do in nassau during the last full week of October, this festival sits at the top of the calendar.
Five Days at Baha Mar
The festival runs across the Baha Mar resort on Cable Beach, home to Rosewood Baha Mar, SLS Baha Mar, and Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. According to the official festival site, the 2026 edition marks its fifth anniversary and features interactive chef demos, intimate master classes, and the 4th annual FUZE Art Expo. Visitors new to this side of the island can get oriented with the Cable Beach guide, which covers the stretch of sand the resort sits on. Open to hotel guests and locals alike, it ranks among the most accessible nassau attractions of the season.
The Chef Lineup
The 2026 special guests list reads like a who’s who of modern cooking. Daniel Boulud, Marcus Samuelsson, Scott Conant, Nina Compton, Maneet Chauhan, Dario Cecchini, and Buddy Valastro all appear on the festival roster. Bahamian chef Simeon Hall Jr. joins them, bringing the islands’ own flavors into the conversation. For travelers building a bahamas travel guide around food, few weekends in the year gather this many names in one place.
OneRepublic Live at A Taste of Baha Mar
The festival’s signature party, A Taste of Baha Mar, takes place on Friday, October 23 at 7:00 PM on the Jasmine Lawn. Baha Mar’s signature restaurants and bars serve bites and handcrafted cocktails side by side. This year’s live performance comes from OneRepublic, announced by Baha Mar in an official press release as the headliner of the evening. It stands among the best things to do in nassau for anyone who wants food, cocktails, and a concert in a single night.
Culinary Expo and FUZE Art Fair
The weekend closes with the Culinary Expo and FUZE Art Fair on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25 at the Baha Mar Convention Center. The Expo combines local vendors and artisans, curated wine tastings, and live demonstrations from celebrity chefs, including Marcus Samuelsson and Maneet Chauhan. A one-day pass starts at $195 and includes all-inclusive food and beverage inside the Expo. Alongside it, the FUZE Art Fair brings together galleries and artists from across the Caribbean. FUZE first launched at Baha Mar during the 2023 festival, and art lovers can continue the experience at The Current, Baha Mar’s gallery, any day of the year.
Passes, Packages, and Single Events
A Weekend Pass bundles access to flagship events, while hotel packages pair a pass with special rates at Rosewood, SLS, or Grand Hyatt. Master classes, tastings, and art events are also sold à la carte, so visitors can choose a single experience instead of the full weekend. Travelers deciding between resort areas can compare options in the Nassau two sides guidebefore choosing where to stay.
Planning Around the Festival
Cruise passengers docking downtown can still reach the festival, since Cable Beach sits a short drive west of the port, and travelers with a free evening before sailing can grab dinner at Lukka Kairi on the waterfront. Anyone weighing things to do near nassau cruise port during festival week should check event start times against the ship’s departure, especially for the Friday night party. For a nassau travel guide built around October, the festival pairs well with the beaches, galleries, and nassau excursions that fill the rest of the week. Few things to do in bahamas combine this much talent in one weekend, and few things to do in nassau show off the island’s growing food scene so clearly, giving nassau tourism one of its brightest weeks of the year.
FAQ
When is the Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival 2026?
The festival runs from October 21 to 25, 2026 at Baha Mar on Cable Beach in Nassau.
Who is performing at the Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival?
OneRepublic headlines A Taste of Baha Mar on Friday, October 23, on the Jasmine Lawn.
Which chefs are at the Baha Mar culinary festival?
The lineup includes Daniel Boulud, Marcus Samuelsson, Nina Compton, Buddy Valastro, Maneet Chauhan, and Bahamian chef Simeon Hall Jr., among others.
Can you buy single tickets for the Baha Mar festival?
Yes. Master classes, tastings, and art events are sold à la carte on the official site.
How much is a Culinary Expo pass at Baha Mar?
A one-day Culinary Expo pass starts at $195 and includes all-inclusive food and beverage inside the Expo.
