By Yunus S Saliu
The organising committee of the West African Food Festival (WAFFEST) has declared readiness to host more than 30 countries at the weeklong festival, scheduled for The Gambia from October 15 to 21, 2026.
The committee made the announcement on Monday, October 12, during a final press briefing held at the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI), where organisers outlined preparations and activities for the regional culinary event.
The festival is being hosted by The Gambia through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), in collaboration with the Gambia Chefs Association and other supporting partners.
WAFFEST is a platform that brings together chefs, culinary professionals and food enthusiasts from across West Africa and beyond to showcase their culinary skills, celebrate food heritage and promote cultural exchange through gastronomy.
Speaking at the briefing, the chairperson of the organising committee, Ellen Johnson, provided an overview of the programme, assuring the public that arrangements were in place to welcome participating countries and deliver a successful festival.
The official opening ceremony is scheduled for October 16 at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo, while the closing ceremony will take place at the same venue on October 21, featuring a gala dinner and awards night.
The GTHI in Kanifing will serve as the main venue for the festival’s daily activities, including cooking competitions, which are expected to run from morning until evening throughout the event.
Organisers announced that entry to the activities at GTHI would be free, encouraging members of the public, students, food enthusiasts and tourism stakeholders to attend and experience the festival.
The press briefing brought together members of the media, representatives of the organising committee, students of GTHI, and other stakeholders involved in the preparations.
Members of the Gambia Chefs Association, who are preparing to compete on home soil, expressed optimism about defending the country’s title following their victory at the 2025 edition of the festival held in Accra, Ghana.
They called on Gambians to come out in large numbers to support the national team and participate in the weeklong celebration, describing the festival as an important opportunity to showcase the country’s culinary talent and hospitality to an international audience.
The competition is also expected to provide a platform for participating chefs to exchange knowledge, demonstrate professional expertise and promote the diversity of African cuisine.
For The Gambia, hosting WAFFEST represents an opportunity to strengthen its position as a tourism destination by highlighting food, culture and hospitality as important elements of the visitor experience.
The festival also aligns with efforts to promote gastronomy tourism, which uses local cuisine, traditional food preparation and culinary heritage to attract visitors while creating opportunities for chefs, food businesses and other players in the hospitality industry.
With more than 30 countries expected to participate, WAFFEST 2026 is poised to bring together culinary professionals and cultural representatives for a week of competition, learning, networking and celebration of West African food traditions.
The organisers have urged the public to take advantage of the free-entry activities at GTHI and join the celebrations as The Gambia welcomes the region and beyond for the festival.