LAWineFest

LAWineFest is an annual grand tasting wine festival held each June in the Los Angeles area, California — celebrating its 21st anniversary in 2026 with over 9,000 guests expected across two days. The 2026 edition runs Saturday, June 13 (noon–6pm) and Sunday, June 14 (1–5pm) at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, marking a new venue for the event. Founded in 2005 by Dr. Joel M. Fisher, PhD, LAWineFest has drawn crowds with a format that combines wine sampling from California and international producers with craft beer, gourmet food trucks, live music, and exhibitors featuring cheeses, breads, olive oils, and wine accessories.

The 2026 move to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center brings a notably different setting to the festival. The grounds offer wide-open outdoor space, natural tree shade, and mountain views bordering Griffith Park. The venue — home to dressage, polo, and competition events, and 500 horses — sits between the 5 and 134 Freeways, making it accessible from Los Feliz, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Sherman Oaks, and Pasadena. LAWineFest is described by its organizers as the largest wine festival in Southern California, a claim supported by its 21-year run and consistent annual attendance figures above 9,000.

Ticket pricing for 2026 had not been announced at the time of publication; the festival indicated tickets would go on sale in February 2026. The event is 21+ and structured as a walk-around tasting. Current festival director Scherr Lillico, who served as Fest Director for over 12 years before taking the lead role in 2020, brings more than 30 years of event production experience to the operation.

Southern California's wine scene draws heavily from nearby regions including Paso Robles, Santa Barbara County, and the broader Central Coast, all of which have supplied producers to past editions of LAWineFest alongside international selections. The festival's long-standing focus on accessibility and education makes it a practical entry point for those newer to wine tasting, while the scale and variety attract more experienced attendees as well.