Macao goes big on food
Macao launched the Global Food Fiesta that unites 38 UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy and features Macanese staples, tacos and laksa as part of a 10‑day International Gastronomy Promenade that started Friday (x.com). The program is explicitly curated to showcase global cuisine alongside local culinary culture across events this week (x.com).
The festival’s opening ceremony took place at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf on 20 March 2026 and was officiated by Secretary for Economy and Finance Tai Kin Ip alongside MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, with UNESCO UCCN Secretary Denise Bax and Cities of Gastronomy coordinator Claudio Cecchinelli also delivering remarks and UN Tourism ambassador Khaby Lame appearing at the event. (dst.gov.mo) The International Gastronomy Promenade at the main venue is presenting roughly 100 food booths, with organisers specifying 28 booths from Chinese mainland cities and 32 from overseas cities among the lineup. (gov.mo) The City of Gastronomy Showcase features 25 invited chefs performing 53 live cooking demonstrations, and includes three young chefs—two working in Macao and one from South Africa—selected for the FAO Young Chefs programme. (macaotourism.gov.mo) Two new zones— the World Wines Lounge and the Global Goodies Market—debut at this edition; the wine lounge is slated to showcase wines, beers, whiskies and spirits from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Australia and France. (fishermanswharf.com.mo) Organisers say the programme includes participating cities and delegations drawn from 22 countries and also incorporates ten Creative Cities from other fields such as Music, Film and Design alongside the gastronomy participants. (dst.gov.mo) MGTO positions the Fest as an expanded platform combining a culinary promenade, the City of Gastronomy Showcase and an International Gastronomy Forum to promote gastronomic preservation, cross-sector exchange and links to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. (gov.mo)
