Gambia to Host WAFFEST 2026 as Culinary Tourism Takes Centre Stage
The Gambia will host the West African Food Festival, WAFFEST 2026, from 15 to 21 October, with preparations formally under way following a soft launch held at the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute in Kanifing on 7 August. Organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in collaboration with the Gambia Chefs Association, the week-long event is expected to draw delegates from 35 countries, including government officials, chefs, food producers, tourism stakeholders, investors and exhibitors from across West Africa and beyond.
The festival, which first launched in Accra, Ghana in 2019, is being used by The Gambia to strengthen its positioning as a culinary and cultural tourism destination in the sub-region. The programme will feature culinary competitions, exhibitions, seminars and cultural activities, with organisers highlighting gastronomy as a strategic link between cuisine, culture and tourism development. Permanent Secretary Amie Njie Joof, representing the Minister of Tourism, described the event as an opportunity to showcase West African cuisine while creating pathways for investment, employment and sustainable tourism growth. For the broader African tourism industry, WAFFEST underscores the growing role of food and cultural festivals as drivers of inbound tourism and destination differentiation.
Source: The Point
