Sierra Leone, an African country known for its diverse cultures, pristine beaches, biodiversity and vibrant culinary scene, will host the Africa Gastronomy Tourism Forum in December 2026 in its capital Freetown, a major port on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western part of the country. Founded in 1787 for freed enslaved people, the coastal city is famous for its massive natural harbour, lush mountain backdrop, and beautiful white sand beaches, blending rich history, vibrant markets and tropical nature.
The African country has confirmed its readiness to host the edition of the UN Tourism Gastronomy Forum, scheduled for 2 to 4 December 2026, using the 69th Meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for Africa (CAF) in Seychelles as a platform to consolidate partnerships and demonstrate preparedness.
Led by Minister of Tourism and Culture Affairs Nabeela Farida Tunis, the Sierra Leone delegation joined counterparts from across the continent to advance preparations for the event which follows inaugural editions hosted in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in 2024 and Arusha , Tanzania in 2025.
The UN Toursm Africa Gastronomy Forum highlights indigenous food cultures, culinary erntreprenueuship and sustainable farming. Key features of the event include farm - to - table roundtables, live cooking demonstrations, entrepreneurship workshops, and the Regional Gastronomy Pitch Challenge, which awards innovative solutions in the food - tourism sector.
The forum brings together ministers, international experts, and chefs to integrate local agriculture into national tourism strategies.
The event also focuses heavily on skills development, such as establishing culinary academies and providing online scholarships to nurture local talents as well as it is an outstanding platform to explore the transformative power of gastronomy tourism.
The upcoming forum will also be the first held under the leadership of newly appointed UN Tourism Secretary – General Shaikha Al Nuwais, adding further institutional significance to the occasion.
Minister Tunis outlined Sierra Leone’s vision for the forum as one that moves beyond culinary celebration to focus on the people at the heart of Africa’s tourism economy, including chefs. farmers, youth entrepreneurs and local communities.
The official said that gastronomy sits at the intersection of culture, tourism, agriculture and the creative economy, noting that the forum will emphasize culinary education, women and youth participation, local value chain development and food culture as a destination branding tool.
Broader UN Tourism Commission for Africa discussions in Seychelles, which examined tourism resilience, climate change and evolving traveller preferences that are also themes expected to establish the final programme and partnerships.
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