It’s Our Turn

Wales to host the Worldchefs Congress & Expo in 2026

The Culinary Association of Wales (CAW) has won the bid to host the prestigious Worldchefs Congress & Expo in 2026. This is a major coup for the Welsh food industry and its culinary professionals who will be given the opportunity to showcase their talent alongside amazing Welsh produce to an international audience. The event will take place at the International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales) in May 2026 and is expected to attract up to 1,000 chefs and more than 5,000 visitors.

The ICC Wales is ideally situated just off the M4 in Newport, South Wales and is a purpose-built conference and exhibition venue located within the grounds of the Celtic Manor Resort. Along with other hotels in the local area, the Celtic Manor will provide the accommodation for delegates and visitors to the event.

Ian Edwards, CEO of ICC Wales, explained: “Securing the World Chefs Congress in 2026 is an incredible feat not just for our venue but for Wales. The event is testament to the country’s wealth of produce and its growing food and drink industry, which contributes to gross sales of £17.3bn per year. With a warm Welsh welcome, we’re hoping this event will see delegates return and explore more of what the country has to offer.”

The Worldchefs Congress & Expo has been bringing together chefs, culinary professionals and industry experts from around the world since 1928, giving them a platform to exchange ideas, showcase their skills and explore the latest trends and innovations in the culinary field.

The event is held every two years and organised by the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (Worldchefs), a global network of chefs and culinary associations that aims to promote culinary arts, support culinary education and advocate for sustainability and social responsibility in the food industry.

The event has been designed to encourage food industry professionals across the world to connect and collaborate with their peers from different countries and cultures, which can lead to new ideas, techniques and culinary innovations. Worldchefs Congress & Expo also offers a range of educational and professional development opportunities, including workshops, seminars and cooking demonstrations, that can help enhance skills and knowledge.

The event also plays an important role in promoting the culinary arts as a profession and raising awareness about the importance of sustainability and social responsibility in the food industry.

Wales beat Italy with 28 votes to 24 to win the bid to host the Worldchefs Congress & Expo in 2026 based on the strength of its proposal, which highlighted the country’s culinary expertise, infrastructure, geographic location and the potential economic impact. It also proved how well Wales can handle such events as the Celtic Manor Resort, in partnership with the CAW and Welsh Government, successfully hosted Worldchefs meetings in 2017 and 2019.

Arwyn Watkins, OBE, CAW president, said: “This is a significant landmark event for Wales. It’s the culinary equivalent of Wales hosting the football World Cup finals. We are delighted to have received the support of 28 countries around the world, including all the home nations. The hard work starts now to maximise this huge opportunity that has been awarded to Wales.”

The 2026 Worldchefs Congress & Expo theme will be ‘Pasture, Passion, Plate’ and how the event benefits future generations. “Pasture, Passion, Plate” is a slogan used by the CAW to promote the use of high-quality, locally sourced ingredients in Welsh cuisine.

“Pasture,” refers to the importance of using ingredients that come from Welsh farms. By supporting local farmers and producers, the CAW aims to promote sustainable agriculture and preserve the traditional food culture of Wales.

“Passion,” emphasises the importance of chefs and culinary professionals who are passionate about their craft and committed to using the best possible ingredients in their cooking. By promoting passion and dedication in the culinary arts, the CAW hopes to raise the profile of Welsh cuisine and inspire others to pursue careers in the food industry.

Finally, “plate” refers to the end result of all this effort: a beautifully prepared and delicious meal that celebrates the best of Welsh ingredients and culinary traditions. By focusing on the plate, the CAW aims to showcase the diversity and richness of Welsh cuisine and encourage people to explore and enjoy the many flavours and textures of this unique food culture. The event is all about bringing together industry experts and enthusiasts from all over the world to share knowledge, exchange ideas and celebrate the art of cuisine. Expect there to be plenty of cooking demonstrations and workshops featuring some of the world’s most renowned chefs, as well as plenty of seminars, panel discussions, networking opportunities and food and drink tastings.

But with this event being held in Wales, it’s a perfect time to showcase the exceptional talent we have in Welsh kitchens from North to South Wales and every village and valley in between. As well as being a great opportunity for professional development it’s a chance to give Welsh chefs and other organisations the opportunity to showcase their talents and products to an international audience.

Minister for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths said: “This is great news and I’m very pleased Wales will be hosting the Worldchefs Congress in 2026. It will be a tremendous opportunity to showcase Welsh produce to the world.”

As a result of winning the bid, Wales will receive automatic finalists for the Global Chefs Challenge, Global Young Chefs Challenge, Global Pastry Chef Challenge and Global Vegan Chef Challenge all taking place at the Worldchefs Congress and Expo 2026.

So, whilst those chefs are yet to be finalised, one rising star is Sion Hughes, 25, head chef at The Spa at Carden Park, near Chester. Supported by his commis Calum Smith, a pastry chef at Shrewsbury School and captain of Junior Culinary Team Wales, he will be competing in the Global Chefs Challenge final at the Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2024 in Singapore. “I’m really buzzing to qualify for the global final,” said Sion. Calum added: “Representing your country on the international stage is the highest point you can reach.”

The hospitality and tourism industry has been greatly affected by the global events of the past two years. Hosting the Worldchefs Congress & Expo in Wales in 2026 can have a significant legacy for the country. It can help to boost tourism, not just when the thousands of visitors arrive to visit the congress but also helping to generate revenue for local businesses beyond by showing them Wales is a great country to visit.

Hosting the Worldchefs Congress & Expo in Wales is going to have a positive impact on the Welsh economy, food industry and tourism sector, while also providing opportunities for professional development and collaboration, alongside heaps of good food, wine and fun. It will also leave a lasting legacy as the infrastructure and facilities put in place to host the congress can be used to host other events and activities in the future.