Wine tastings, beach views, live music, and artist booths take over the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk on Sunday, May 17 for the Pensacola Beach Art & Wine Festival.

The event combines waterfront scenery with wine, cocktails, local art, and food vendors, making it one of the bigger spring festivals on Pensacola Beach before the summer season fully ramps up.

If you’re looking for wine festivals in Pensacola or things to do on Pensacola Beach in May, here’s what to know before you go.

Pensacola Beach Art & Wine Festival 2026

Sunday, May 17, 2026
Festival Hours: 12 PM – 5 PM
Grand Tasting Hours: 2 PM – 5 PM
Pensacola Beach Boardwalk

Concerts take place outdoors at the park, with open space for chairs, blankets, and groups.

What to Expect at the Festival

The festival stretches across the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk and Gulfside Pavilion with more than 60 artist, tasting, and retail tents expected throughout the event area.

Visitors can expect:

Wine tastings from regional distributors
Ready-to-drink cocktails and seltzers
Artist booths and local vendors
Live music on two stages
Food vendors and restaurant offerings
Waterfront views throughout the festival grounds

The setup is intentionally walkable and relaxed, making it easy to spend several hours moving between tastings, shopping, music, and the beach.

Because the festival sits directly on Pensacola Beach, many people turn the event into a full beach day before the tastings begin later in the afternoon.

Grand Tasting Tickets

The Grand Tasting experience runs from 2 PM through 5 PM and is the centerpiece of the event.

Grand Tasting Ticket – $75

Tickets include:

Unlimited tastings at 25 tasting tents
More than 100 wines, spirits, seltzers, and ready-to-drink beverages
A commemorative wine glass
Exclusive event tote bag
Light bites from local restaurants
Access to the festival photo booth

Ticket prices increase to $90 beginning May 16.

Tickets are non-refundable.

Live Music, Art, and Beach Atmosphere

While the wine tastings are the headline attraction, the festival has grown into a much larger beachside arts and entertainment event over the years.

Artist booths throughout the Boardwalk will feature:

Coastal artwork
Handmade goods
Jewelry and gifts
Local retail vendors and businesses

Live music performances will run throughout the afternoon on two stages around the festival grounds, helping create a relaxed Pensacola Beach atmosphere instead of a formal tasting event.

The combination of live music, beach scenery, and open-air tasting areas is part of what makes this festival stand out from more traditional wine events.

Transportation and Parking

Pensacola Beach traffic is expected to increase throughout the afternoon and evening during the festival.

Transportation options around the beach include:

Island Breeze Carts
Gopher Carts

Using local cart transportation can make getting around the beach area easier during busy festival hours.

Arriving earlier in the day is also recommended if you plan to park near the Boardwalk.

Commemorative Wine Carrier Bags

Festival organizers will also offer commemorative leather wine carrier bags during the event.

Leather Wine Carrier Bag – $15

The bags are designed as a souvenir and are being promoted as a popular Mother’s Day weekend gift option.

Why People Like This Festival

Pensacola Beach hosts plenty of events throughout the year, but this one has become popular because it combines:

Waterfront wine tastings
Local artists and shopping
Live music
Beach scenery
A casual, walkable setup

It feels more like a relaxed coastal festival than a traditional wine expo, which makes it approachable even for people who are not heavily into wine culture.

For many locals, it also marks the unofficial start of the busier summer event season on Pensacola Beach.

More Pensacola Beach Events

Looking for more things to do around Pensacola Beach this spring and summer?

See more local guides here:
https://www.mustdopensacola.com

If this guide helped you plan your trip, you can support Must Do Pensacola by grabbing a sticker.

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Pensacola Beach Art & Wine Festival 2026 Guide (Tickets, Tastings & Event Info)