Oyster Riot: The Old Ebbitt Grill Tradition is Back for 2026
Washington D.C. is not known as a particularly sexy town. But once a year, this city throws a party to celebrate one of the world’s sexiest foods. And this party has a reputation as an event not to be missed!
Fast forward to 2026, and the Oyster Riot is back for its 29th year. The event will take place November 20 and 21, with three oyster-packed sessions. As always, expect live music, celebration and, most importantly, the pairing of oysters and wine. Tickets tend to sell out early, so be prepared to join the waiting list.
What is the Oyster Riot?
What happens at an oyster riot? The cost of admission includes all-you-can-eat oysters paired with award-winning wines. (If you ever wondered whether or not oysters are an aphrodisiac, this is the perfect chance to find out for yourself.)
The event was designed to promote the Old Ebbitt Grill’s oyster bar, which features over 15 varieties of delicious, briny oysters. But in addition to supping on oysters and sipping the wines, the party includes live music and dancing is all but required. (If the aphrodisiac effects work, think of it as a sultry prelude to the horizontal chacha.)
The event also represents the Old Ebbitt Grill’s commitment to Chesapeake Bay sustainability with a portion of proceeds going to the Oyster Recovery Partnership.
I feel a particular affinity for this event, not because of the chance for all-you-can-eat oysters, although I do like the sound of it. But my bond to this event is the fact that the inspiration for the Oyster Riot was the Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition created in Seattle by the late Jon Rowley, a competition for which I served as a judge for many years.
Ticket information
Tickets and FAQ information are available on the Old Ebbitt Grill website. To make sure you’re notified each year the minute Oyster Riot tickets go on sale, get on the Old Ebbitt Grill mailing list now. For additional information, you can contact the restaurant at 202-347-4800.
This article was written in 2019 and updated in 2026 with new event information.
Amy is considered a leading authority on aphrodisiacs. Her work in aphrodisiacs is quoted in publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, Epicurious, Wine Enthusiast, Health and Playboy magazines. She speaks internationally on aphrodisiac foods and has brought her knowledge of aphrodisiac history and science to national television shows including The Today Show and CBS Early Show. She is a frequent guest on relationship and lifestyle radio and podcast shows and has been interviewed by BBC and NPR radio, Cosmopolitan radio and popular podcasts including My Dad Wrote a Porno.
Amy is also a freelance food, wine and health researcher and writer as well as a wine competition judge. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Variety to The Daily Meal. She is an MSN content provider. And she is also a former wine editor for Gayot.com and wine & spirits editor of Las Vegas magazine.
Fun fact: Amy was the creator of the first ever comprehensive food and wine apps, Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet and Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard for Palm.
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Sorry for any confusion. They just released more tickets but the previous information sent out was that they were totally sold out for this year.
Tickets aren’t sold out though, I just got my email notification and bought my tickets tonight. It was sent directly from Old Ebbitts