Chiang Mai International Food Festival 2026

January 17

Opening day of Chiang Mai International Food Festival 2026
January 17 – 18 Chiang Mai International Food Festival at Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center – From Lanna Roots to the Global Plate.
“Bringing the World to the Plate” — When Food Becomes Culture, Knowledge, and the Future of the City
Chiang Mai — The province of Chiang Mai is set to welcome the return of the Chiang Mai International Food Festival 2026, an international food festival taking place on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January 2026, from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, at the Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center.
The festival is held under the theme “Glocalization: Bringing the World to the Plate.”
Now in its third consecutive year, the Chiang Mai International Food Festival aims to elevate “food” beyond what is served on a plate, positioning it as a shared space for public dialogue—connecting local cuisine, ethnic food cultures, and international gastronomy with contemporary issues such as sustainability, food innovation, the creative economy, and the future of food systems.
Food as a Common Language of a Multicultural City
Chiang Mai is a city shaped by diverse cultural roots—Lanna heritage, ethnic communities, people from across regions, and long-established international communities. The Chiang Mai International Food Festival is therefore designed as a cultural meeting ground, where food serves as a language through which the city tells its stories.
Festival visitors will experience food in multiple dimensions, ranging from real-market encounters with small-scale food entrepreneurs to academic and policy-oriented forums that raise critical questions about the future of eating and food production.
Key Highlights and Festival Zones
Glocal Food Market
A gathering of over 150 local and international food vendors, showcasing cultural narratives through ingredients, recipes, and flavors from diverse regions.
Ethnic Food Village
A dedicated space presenting the cuisines of Chiang Mai’s ethnic communities, where food represents identity, memory, and ways of life.
Chiang Mai International Food Forum 2026
“Glocalization in Action: Food, Culture, and the Future We Eat”
A dialogue platform bringing together chefs, academics, and thought leaders from Thailand and abroad to exchange perspectives—from traditional food knowledge to the future of food cities.
Spice Route Exhibition & Lost Recipe Showcase
An exhibition exploring spice routes, trade history, and disappearing recipes, reflecting the deep connections between food, people, and regions.
Food & Art Pavilion
Contemporary interpretations of food through art, exhibitions, photography, and performances that question the meaning of eating in today’s world.
Zero Waste & Future Food
A learning space focused on food and the environment, covering food waste reduction, food innovation, and future food system concepts.
Workshops & Live Demonstrations
Hands-on learning activities and live demonstrations led by chefs, communities, and experts, inviting participants to actively engage and create.
A Festival for All
The 2026 edition continues to uphold the principle of “A Festival for All,” opening space for citizens, communities, entrepreneurs, academics, and partners from various sectors to participate—not merely as spectators, but as co-creators of shared conversations.
The organizers envision the Chiang Mai International Food Festival 2026 as a key driver in positioning Chiang Mai as an international creative food city, and as a model food festival that meaningfully connects culture, economy, and sustainability.