Baha Mar Unveils Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival With Daniel Boulud, Marcus Samuelsson, Scott Conant, Dario Cecchini, Nina Compton, Buddy Valastro, Tristen Epps and More for Star-Studded October Return in Nassau

Baha Mar’s signature food and culture celebration is coming back this fall.

The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival will return to the Nassau resort from Oct. 21 to 25, marking the fifth edition of the event, Caribbean Journal has learned.

The festival has grown into one of the Caribbean’s leading culinary gatherings, bringing together a roster of internationally known chefs for a long weekend of tasting events, dinners and art programming across the property.

This year’s lineup includes returning names like Daniel Boulud of Café Boulud The Bahamas, Marcus Samuelsson of Marcus Fish + Chop House, Scott Conant of Leola and Dario Cecchini of Carna, along with Simeon Hall Jr., Amanda Freitag, Maneet Chauhan and Alfredo Villanueva. New to the festival this year are Buddy Valastro, Esther Choi, Claudette Zepeda, Tristen Epps, Nina Compton and Lisa and Chris Binns. On the beverage side, the festival will feature mixologist Marv “Mr. Mixx” Cunningham and writer Noah Rothbaum.

A through-line this year is a deeper focus on Caribbean culinary voices. Bahamian chef Simeon Hall Jr. will spotlight the island’s cuisine and hospitality across the weekend. Saint Lucia-born Nina Compton, long celebrated for blending Caribbean tradition with French and Italian technique, joins the lineup, as does Tristen Epps, who draws on his Trinidadian heritage to build bold Afro-Caribbean flavors. Rounding out the group are Lisa and Chris Binns, the husband-and-wife team behind the acclaimed Jamaica farm-to-table experience Stush in the Bush, known for sustainable organic farming and gourmet vegan dining.

“As we celebrate five years of the Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival, it’s incredibly rewarding to see how the event has grown into a true reflection of who we are at Baha Mar — a place where global talent and local culture come together in meaningful ways,” said Graeme Davis, President of Baha Mar. “This year, we’re especially proud to deepen our focus on Caribbean culinary voices, creating space for both emerging and established chefs to share their stories alongside some of the world’s most celebrated names.”

The weekend’s marquee event is Taste of Baha Mar, the walk-around tasting that returns to the Jasmine Lawn on Friday, October 23, with offerings from all of the resort’s signature restaurants, live-action chef stations, cocktails and a live musical performance by an artist to be announced. The following evening brings the Art of the Plate Foundation Dinner on Saturday, October 24, a multi-course experience built around the work of Caribbean artists, with each plate composed and plated like a piece of art.

The Gold Weekend Pass includes admission to Taste of Baha Mar on October 23, two-day access to the FUZE Art & Culinary Expo on October 24 and 25, a seat at the Art of the Plate Foundation Dinner and a curated welcome gift bag. The Platinum Weekend Pass adds one hour of early admission and platinum access to Taste of Baha Mar, early admission and two-day access to the FUZE Art & Culinary Expo, the Art of the Plate dinner and a premium welcome gift bag.

The resort said additional programming will be announced in the months ahead, including more on the fourth annual FUZE Art Expo, the festival’s Caribbean art showcase.