2026 Paradise Island Food and Wine Festival: Featuring Rachael Ray and More!
For the fourth consecutive year, the Nassau Paradise Island Wine and Food Festival at Atlantis Paradise Island is uniting the world’s leading chefs with celebrities, influencers, and culinary enthusiasts.
Nassau Paradise Island Wine and Food Festival is a five-day event held at the Atlantis resort. This year’s celebrations, taking place from March 11-15, feature new headliners Rachael Ray, Tom Colicchio, Antonia Lofaso, and Ian Kittichai, along with returning chefs José Andrés, Aaron Sánchez, JJ Johnson, Michael Symon, and Michael White.
Rachael Ray will host a sunset wine dinner on March 13, while Tom Colicchio will oversee A Taste of Paradise, the festival’s signature tasting event, showcasing offerings from local Bahamian restaurateurs and the Top Chef star himself.
Among the annual celebration’s standout events are the Jerk Jam and Tacos and Tequila, both featuring live music. This year, Tacos and Tequila will be led by Symon and Sánchez, showcasing entertainment from DJ Pauly D on March 12. Jerk Jam, previously attended by The Bachelor’s Matt James, will be hosted by Johnson and Lofaso, featuring a performance by Sugar Ray on March 14.
If past festivals are any guide, Mark McGrath and his band will deliver an unforgettable experience. At the 2025 festival, Shaggy took the stage at Jerk Jam, performing various hits, including “It Wasn’t Me,” “Angel,” and “Boombastic.”
“This is the Bahamas, my home away from home. All the energy and music created here forms the soundtracks of everyone’s lives. It’s easy to agree to perform,” he told Us Weekly at the time. “Caribbean culture embodies a relaxed way of life. Wake up, go to the beach, fish, indulge in carnival vibes — it’s a lifestyle.”
Wyclef Jean, who performed during the 2023 and 2024 festivals, brought his own distinct flair.
“The secret to my performance is rooted in my upbringing in the church. In Black churches, improvisation is key. James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder — it’s all about improvisation. Hence, I don’t follow a set list. I simply ride the wave of energy,” the “Hips Don’t Lie” artist explained to Us in 2024. “At a Wyclef show, while you’re not at karaoke, you will sing your heart out like you’re experiencing the best concert of your life.”
Both Shaggy and Jean could be seen enjoying the culinary delights before and after their performances — and they wholeheartedly endorse trying the conch.
“I’m a sucker for conch salad,” Shaggy mentioned to Us, while Jean previously remarked, “The conch here — that conch salad is undeniably addictive. … The jerk chicken was outstanding, but the conch … this is the world’s best conch.”
Other highlights of the 2026 festival include a cocktail clinic with Tony Abou-Ganim, Paella on the Beach with Andrés, and a fishing adventure with Colicchio, which will naturally evolve into a chance to cook and savor your catch.
For further details and reservations — including information about how festival proceeds support the nonprofit Atlantis Blue Project Foundation, dedicated to protecting and preserving marine wildlife and its endangered habitats throughout the Bahamas and Caribbean seas — visit atlantisbahamas.com.
