February 9, 2026 – (KEY WEST, FL). The Key West Museum of Art & History is proud to announce the opening of FOOD: Celebrating Conch Cuisine, a landmark exhibition debuting on Friday, February 27, 2026, with a free public reception from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The exhibition marks a significant milestone for the museum as a Smithsonian-affiliated project, partially funded and inspired by the Smithsonian Institution, underscoring the national significance of Florida Keys food heritage.
Building on the Smithsonian’s acclaimed Food History initiatives, which explore the powerful connections between food, culture, and identity, this localized exhibition brings the rich culinary heritage of the Florida Keys into focus. FOOD: Celebrating Conch Cuisine traces the history, innovation, and resilience of island foodways, from Indigenous harvesting traditions and Afro-Caribbean influences to Cuban and Bahamian migrations that shaped what is now known as Conch cuisine.
The exhibition offers an immersive, multi-sensory experience featuring interactive displays, original artifacts, and multimedia storytelling. Visitors will discover how the Keys’ unique geography, climate, and cultural diversity influenced ingredient sourcing, food preservation, and evolving recipes, revealing how cuisine became central to both survival and celebration in island life.
More than a regional food exhibition, FOOD: Celebrating Conch Cuisine reflects the Smithsonian’s broader mission of connecting food with memory, identity, and meaning. Drawing on the rich history and cultural legacy of the Florida Keys, the exhibition tells a story of cultural exchange, adaptation, and community resilience, honoring the people and practices that shaped this unique cuisine.
“Conch cuisine is a living record of the Florida Keys,” said Dr. Cori Convertito, curator and historian for the Key West Art & Historical Society, the non-profit organization the operates the museum. “This exhibition honors the Indigenous, Afro-Caribbean, Cuban, and Bahamian influences that shaped island food traditions and highlights how migration, geography, and community created a cuisine found nowhere else in the world.”
Support for the exhibition was provided by Florida Humanities with funds from the Jacarlene Foundation.
The opening reception for FOOD: Celebrating Conch Cuisine will take place on Friday, February 27, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Key West Museum of Art & History. The exhibition will remain on view through January 3, 2027, and the reception is free and open to the public. For more information, visit kwahs.org/food. Media inquiries may be directed to Dr. Cori Convertito at [email protected] or 305-295-6616 ext. 507.
Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island.
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IMAGE 1: The Smithsonian-affiliated exhibition FOOD: Celebrating Conch Cuisine opens Friday, February 27, 2026, at the Key West Museum of Art & History with a free reception from 5:00–8:00 p.m. The display explores the rich culinary traditions and cultural heritage of the Florida Keys. More information is available at kwahs.org/food (Image Credit: Key West Art & Historical Society)
