JXN Food & Wine Festival 2027
JXN Food & Wine Festival is a three-day culinary festival in downtown Jackson, Mississippi, running March 11–13, 2027, with chef dinners, large-scale tastings, demonstrations, drinks, and live entertainment. The fourth annual edition puts Jackson’s food culture alongside prominent chefs from across Mississippi and the broader South.
Featured chefs
The 2027 program is led by Chef Chair Hunter Evans, the Jackson chef behind Elvie’s and Mayflower Cafe, with chef and MasterChef judge Aarón Sánchez serving as co-host.
How the weekend works
Thursday, March 11 opens with the Chef Chair Dinner at the Capital Club, featuring Evans, Sánchez and Commander’s Palace chef Meg Bickford. Friday and Saturday shift to the Mississippi Museum of Art for the signature Grand Tastings; the festival FAQ describes these as walk-around events with tastings from 30+ chefs, wine, beer and spirits, cooking demonstrations, and live entertainment.
What’s new in 2027
A major addition is a second VIP location at the Jackson Convention Complex, providing more chef experiences, all-inclusive bars, indoor restrooms and lounge space. The announced lineup also includes Austin Sumrall, Chaz Lindsay, Eddie Wright, Enrika Williams, Geno Lee, Guillermo Salinas, Jason Brumm, Jon Davis and Pierre Pryer Sr., with further participants still to be announced.
Tickets and practical details
Grand Tasting general admission is $95 after the early-bird period, VIP is $175, and the Chef Chair Dinner is $185; all festival events are 21+. The Grand Tastings are primarily outdoors and take place around the Mississippi Museum of Art at 380 S. Lamar St., with VIP entry at 5 p.m. and general admission at 6 p.m.
Community connection
The festival is designed as a showcase for Jackson and Southern culinary culture, rather than simply a tasting event. A portion of overall proceeds supports the Mississippi Restaurant Association Education Foundation and its hospitality-education work, while $10 from each 2027 Chef Chair Dinner ticket is designated for Children’s of Mississippi.