Banorte ÉPICO 2026: Monterrey’s Two-Day Gastronomic Festival

Mexico · Food

The northern city’s biggest food weekend returns for a second edition. With live cooking, big-name chefs and a river-country setting in San Pedro.

Monterrey at night, the northern Mexican city that hosts the Banorte ÉPICO gastronomic festival on 2–3 October 2026. Illustrative photo. (Photo: Rick González, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.)

Banorte ÉPICO is coming back to Monterrey. And for anyone living in or visiting northern Mexico it is one of the tastiest weekends of the year.

The gastronomic festival returns for its second edition on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 October 2026 at Club de Polo in San Pedro Garza García. It brings together some of the country’s best-known chefs for two days of live cooking.

So if food is your thing, this is a date worth blocking off now.

What Banorte ÉPICO actually is

At its heart, this is a live-cooking festival rather than a sit-down dinner. Chefs work in front of the crowd, so you watch dishes come together instead of just reading a menu.

The idea, spelled out when the event first launched, is direct contact between cooks and guests. As a result, it feels closer to a food fair than a formal restaurant night.

For a first-timer, think of it as a walk-around weekend of tastings, demonstrations and conversation. Because the format is casual, it suits both serious food lovers and curious newcomers.

When it happens in 2026

The 2026 edition runs on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 October. That is a two-day weekend event, so you can pick one day or make a longer plan of it.

This is the festival’s second edition. In fact, it debuted in Monterrey back in November 2025, and organizers have moved it to early October for this year.

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Where it takes place

The venue is Club de Polo, in San Pedro Garza García. That municipality sits inside the Monterrey metropolitan area, in the state of Nuevo León.

San Pedro is one of the greener, more upmarket corners of the metro, tucked against the mountains. So the setting is part of the appeal, especially in early-October weather.

The chefs and the food

Organizers have promised some of Mexico’s best-known chefs and restaurants for this edition. Still, at the time of writing the full lineup and program had not been released.

Rather than name cooks who are not yet confirmed, it is safer to watch the official channels for the roster. Because programs like this fill in over the weeks before the gates open, expect announcements to land closer to October.

How tickets and the Banorte presale work

Access is sold by edition, and the first window was a bank presale. A Banorte presale ran from 4 to 7 August 2026, with a 20% discount for Banorte cardholders.

At press time, though, the general ticket prices, tiers and the full list of experiences had not been published. So rather than guess at figures, the honest advice is to check the official announcement for exact prices before you buy.

If you hold a Banorte card, presales like this are usually the cheapest way in. Even so, general-sale tickets typically follow, so missing the presale does not lock you out.

Getting there and around

Club de Polo is inside the Monterrey metro, so reaching it is straightforward once you are in the city. Ride-hailing apps and taxis are the simplest option for a festival day.

Parking around big events in San Pedro can be tight, so an app ride saves the hassle. Because you may want to sample drinks as well as food, leaving the car at home is the sensible call.

Where to stay for the weekend

If you are travelling in, San Pedro Garza García itself has the closest hotels to the venue. That keeps your ride to the festival short on both days.

Alternatively, central Monterrey and the San Jerónimo area put you within an easy drive. Either way, book early, since an early-October weekend draws visitors to the city.

Making a food trip of it

Monterrey is a serious eating city in its own right, so the festival pairs well with a broader food weekend. Cabrito, carne asada and northern-style grilling are the local signatures.

For example, you can build a day around the festival and spend the evening at the city’s restaurants. Because the region takes its meat seriously, even a casual taquería is worth the stop.

Beyond the plate, Monterrey rewards a slower visit. In addition to eating well, you can walk the Paseo Santa Lucía riverwalk or ride up Chipinque for mountain views.

So a food weekend easily turns into a proper city break.

Why the festival is worth it for expats

For newcomers, an event like this is a shortcut into the local food scene. In one weekend you meet chefs, taste widely and get a feel for what the north does best.

It is also a relaxed way to be around people. Because the format encourages conversation, it is easier to strike up a chat here than in a quiet restaurant.

So it doubles as a soft landing into the city.

Tips before you go

First, confirm the exact prices and hours on the official channels once they publish, since details were still rolling out. That way you avoid any surprises at the gate.

Second, go hungry and pace yourself, because tastings add up fast across a day. Finally, bring cash and a card, as festival vendors can vary in what they accept.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Banorte ÉPICO 2026?

It runs on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 October 2026. It is a two-day weekend event.

Where is the festival held?

At Club de Polo in San Pedro Garza García, inside the Monterrey metropolitan area of Nuevo León, Mexico.

How do I get tickets?

Tickets are sold by edition. A Banorte presale ran 4–7 August 2026 with a 20% cardholder discount.

What is the festival like?

It is a live-cooking gastronomic festival where well-known Mexican chefs and restaurants prepare food in front of guests. With tastings and demonstrations across the day.

Sources: PLAYERS of Life (Banorte ÉPICO 2026 coverage); HEINEKEN México launch announcement; 2025 Monterrey festival coverage.