The early-bird registration deadline is December 31. Advanced registration ends February 28. All registration closes on April 15 or earlier, when tickets are sold out. If you want to guarantee your spot and get the best registration rate, we encourage you to register as early as possible. For pricing, or to register for Food is Life, Food is Health, click here.

Registration for experiential breakout sessions open a few months before the summit.

The summit begins on Wednesday, May 6 at 8:30 AM and concludes on Friday, May 8 at 1:30 PM. Click here to view the 2026 At-a-Glance program schedule. Session subject matter and titles will be confirmed soon.

We prefer that you pay for your full summit registration with a credit card. If you need to pay by check or purchase order, please reach out to us at foodleadership@culinary.edu.  If in need of a detailed receipt for reimbursement, please reach out to let us know and we would be happy to send you a copy.   

• Cancellations on or before February 28, 2026: Receive your registration fee refund minus a $150 cancellation fee.

• Cancellations made between March 1 and April 5, 2026: Receive a 50% refund on your registration fee.

• Cancellations made on or after April 6, 2026: No refunds or substitutions available.

Unfortunately, there are no refunds or substitutions possible within 30 or fewer days (on or after April 6, 2026) before the start date of the summit. This is due to the complex nature and planning for your participation in the summit, experiential sessions, meals, networking events, and activities that must take place in advance. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in this matter. Cancellation policies are "for any and all reasons”.

Transfer Policy: Your registration may be transferred to a colleague within the same registration category for a $150 administrative transfer fee.

Suggested dress code is business casual attire; chef’s uniforms are not necessary. Food is Life, Food is Health activities involve sitting for general sessions in the theater, walking around to explore the receptions, and experiential field trips, kitchen sessions, and workshops that require standing for longer time periods. Northern California sometimes experiences showers in May, so you may want to bring an umbrella to protect yourself from the elements. We recommend coming prepared with layers for warmer and cooler environments so that you can adjust your own temperature accordingly. Comfortable, closed-toe, low-heeled shoes are suggested for those participating in the kitchen workshops and field trips.

Unfortunately, additional guests cannot be accommodated for meals or any summit sessions; a full pass is required to enjoy the summit meal functions. 

Breakout session and workshop registration will open a few months before the conference. An email will be sent to registered attendees a week prior to breakouts with more information and instructions, including the date and time when breakout registration will begin.

You can check the online registration to see if any spots have recently opened for that session. Waitlists are not available, but you are welcome to try to attend the workshop on standby in case someone doesn’t show up for the session. Simply proceed to the session room at the workshop time, and wait until all registered attendees have been admitted. Once all registered attendees have been seated, and the session time is underway, our team can check to see if there are open seats and admit you into the session if so. You may end up a few minutes late for your original session or your desired sold-out session in this case, so please be patient, we’ll do our best to get you seated as quickly as possible. 

Our campus has a free wireless network available for attendees. To access our network, select the “Food Is Life” network. Your device will then connect automatically. If you experience trouble, please visit the hospitality desk. 

There are a wide variety of hotels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts available in the Napa Valley. Summit attendees should book their hotel accommodations as early as possible. More information on housing options is available here.

Demonstration recipes are available by session in the CIA Summits app during the summit. All recipes, including those from receptions, will be available for download about a month after the summit. Attendees will receive an email with access details once recipes are compiled. For password assistance, please contact foodleadership@culinary.edu to confirm your registration.

Yes - complete information on continuing education credits is available here.

The Culinary Institute of America offers continuing education units for registrants who attend all sessions at the Food is Life, Food is Health Summit. More information on receiving credit is available here.

Explore more programs and resources from The Culinary Institute of America here.

If you find something, please bring it directly to the summit hospitality desk and we will ensure it is received by security.  If you’ve lost something, please contact our security department by mobile phone at 707-299-0347.