La Fête du Champagne 2026 Chicago BYOB Gala Dinner

A magnum saved for the right table rarely gets a better invitation than this. On October 24, 2026, La Fête du Champagne brings guests and Champagne producers to Avec River North for a two-chef gala dinner, with sommeliers serving both the producers’ wines and the bottles guests choose from their own cellars.

La Fête du Champagne 2026 Chicago BYOB Gala Dinner

Chicago Magnum Package member discount

Members attending both the Chicago Grand Tasting and the Gala Dinner can book the Chicago Magnum Package with code PEARL. If you want the full La Fête du Champagne Chicago day, choose this package: the Grand Tasting inside it is sold out as a standalone ticket, so the package is how members get in.

• 11% discount on the Chicago Magnum Package, Grand Tasting + Gala Dinner
• Members price: $795 + tax (regular package price: $895 + tax). Save $100 per package.
• What you get: One ticket to the Chicago Grand Tasting and one ticket to the Gala Dinner.
• Discount code: PEARL. The booking link includes the code.
• How to book: Chicago Magnum Package reservations are here: Book the Chicago Magnum Package.

This offer is for guests attending both the Chicago Grand Tasting and the Gala Dinner. It applies to the Grand Tasting + Gala Dinner package only; other events are ticketed separately, with availability and applicable fees shown at checkout.

That BYOB tradition is central to the gala. An older vintage, a magnum saved for a gathering or a favorite grower Champagne can become part of the evening. Choose a bottle you would happily pour for strangers who may become tasting companions by the second course.

The gala takes place at Avec River North, 141 W Erie St, Chicago, IL 60654, at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, October 24, 2026. It closes the three-day Chicago edition of La Fête du Champagne, with tickets costing $795 plus tax through La Fête du Champagne.

BYOB Champagne dinner at La Fête du Champagne Chicago

The gala closes La Fête’s October 22 to 24 Chicago program with a seated, multi-course meal. It brings the festival’s attending producers together with Chicago chefs and wine lovers, giving guests time to follow Champagne through food rather than taste it in quick succession.

The wines guests contribute make each gala different. Someone might bring a vintage they have followed for years; another might choose a bottle from a recent visit to a grower. Those are possibilities, not promised pours. The guest selections are personal, and the conversations around them are part of the event’s appeal.

A shared bottle also gives people a reason to meet. Its owner may know how it has been stored, remember an earlier release or have visited the vineyard. If you value provenance and the stories behind cellar bottles, lean into the BYOB format and bring a Champagne you can introduce at the table.

Chablis reception and Champagne service

The reception will feature Chablis from Domaine William Fèvre. Chablis is a still Chardonnay wine from northern Burgundy, a crisp opening note before an evening devoted to Champagne. Guests then move to the multi-course dinner and the Champagne service.

Attending producers will provide wines for the meal, and guests are invited to bring Champagne from their own cellars to share throughout the room. The BYOB bottles will depend on what guests choose to bring, so arrive with a bottle that can stand in conversation as well as in the glass.

Sommeliers will conduct wine service throughout the evening. At a dinner where many bottles and formats may be opened, that lets you spend more time talking, tasting and enjoying the meal.

Avec River North and the five-chef menu

Paul Kahan and Dylan Patel of Avec will host three fellow Chicago chefs for the dinner. Together, the five will prepare a multi-course menu designed to accompany Champagne. Joining the Avec chefs are:

• John Manion of Brasero
• Tayler Ploshehanski of Creepies
• Oliver Poilevey of Obélix

The dinner gives guests a one-night menu from the teams behind Avec, Brasero, Creepies and Obélix while wines move across producers and vintages as people open their cellar selections.

Champagne’s range suits this kind of meal. A Blanc de Blancs made from Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir-based blend and a mature vintage Champagne can offer different textures and flavors. Tasting them with several courses gives those differences more room to emerge. Book for the chef collaboration and let the final menu shape the pairings on the night.

How to choose a bottle for the BYOB Champagne gala

Bring a Champagne you would be pleased to share and talk about. A bottle with personal significance is a good choice: a producer you follow, a vintage you have been saving or a wine that changed how you think about the region. The gala is an occasion to open it with people who will appreciate the story as well as the wine.

Large formats can be particularly enjoyable to share, while an older bottle can offer a comparison with more recent releases. There is no need to build a complete tasting flight yourself. The evening already includes producer wines, and each guest’s contribution adds another possibility to the table.

If your bottle needs special handling, check arrangements with the organizers beforehand. Keep it protected from heat on the way to Avec. For dietary accommodations, contact the event team before booking so they can advise on the collaborative menu.

Tickets, timing and booking details

The Chicago Gala Dinner is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. CT at Avec River North, 141 W Erie St, Chicago, IL 60654. Tickets for the individual gala dinner cost $795 plus tax through La Fête du Champagne. Booking and current event details are available through the official event page.

The gala suits guests who want a full dinner and the social pleasure of sharing cellar wines. If you are also attending the Chicago Grand Tasting (sold out as a standalone ticket; members attend through the package), use the afternoon to explore the producer lineup, then return to Avec for the evening celebration.