Summary (tl;dr)

The keyword "epic" is trending across both "Food and Drink" and "Entertainment" due to a surge in activities from Epic Games, including free game offerings and a major Fortnite anniversary event, alongside a general cultural emphasis on "epic" or immersive experiences in cinema and dining.

Essential Background

The term "epic" typically refers to something grand, heroic, or exceptionally impressive. In the context of entertainment, Epic Games has established itself as a major player, particularly with its popular game Fortnite and its digital storefront, the Epic Games Store, known for offering free games to PC users. Simultaneously, the film industry often uses "epic" to describe large-scale productions with significant narratives or visual scope. In the culinary world, "epic" has become associated with immersive and experiential dining trends, where the meal becomes a memorable event rather than just sustenance.

The Full Story

Currently, "epic" is trending due to several converging events in September 2026. In entertainment, Epic Games is celebrating Fortnite's ninth birthday with in-game quests and rewards, drawing significant player engagement. Additionally, the Epic Games Store is offering new free games and hosting sales, generating excitement among PC gamers. The film industry is also contributing, with several "epic" films releasing this month, including the South Korean sci-fi action thriller "Hope" and various historical and action-adventure movies.

Bridging these categories, Epic Entertainment Group is celebrating its tenth anniversary by announcing new immersive seasonal attractions across multiple locations. These attractions, which include Halloween-themed events and winter transformations, often integrate specialized beverage stations and dining options, creating comprehensive "epic" experiences that blend entertainment with food and drink. The broader "Food and Drink" sector is also seeing a trend towards "interactive and shareable dining" and "experience-led dining," where meals are designed to be grand, memorable events, aligning with the "epic" descriptor.

Why It Matters

This trend reflects a broader consumer desire for immersive, high-impact experiences in both digital and real-world settings. For Epic Games, it highlights their continued strategy of engaging users through free content and in-game events, solidifying their market position in the competitive gaming industry. For the film industry, the release of "epic" movies signals a continued investment in large-scale productions designed to draw audiences to cinemas. The "epic" trend in food and drink underscores a shift in consumer expectations, where dining out is increasingly about the full sensory experience and social interaction, pushing restaurants to innovate beyond just cuisine to offer memorable "moments". The activities of Epic Entertainment Group exemplify this convergence, offering elaborate themed attractions that often incorporate food and beverage, demonstrating a successful model for integrating both aspects of the "epic" trend.

Geographic Location

• Cary, Wake County, North Carolina, United States (headquarters of Epic Games)
• Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States (Epic Entertainment Group events at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and Reese's Depot of Doom)
• Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California, United States (Epic Entertainment Group's Funhouse at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier)
• O'ahu, Hawaii, United States (Epic Entertainment Group holiday environments at The Ritz-Carlton O'ahu, Turtle Bay)
• Seoul, South Korea (production and release of the film "Hope")
• Cannes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France (world premiere of the film "Hope")