Beyond the Plate: Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026 Invites the World to Taste Indonesia's Stories

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Indonesia is inviting the world to experience its culture through one of its most distinctive assets: gastronomy. Following a strong first edition, Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy (WIG) returns in 2026 with a bigger ambition, turning Indonesia food into a global storytelling platform

Taking place from 26 September to 4 October 2026 in Solo and Yogyakarta, WIG 2026 carries the theme "From Local Roots to Global Recognition," bringing together culinary heritage, local communities, chefs, artisans, and tourism stakeholders to showcase food as a gateway to experiencing Indonesia more deeply.

With more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia's culinary traditions have evolved through centuries of local customs, agriculture, landscapes, and cultural exchange. Behind every dish is an ecosystem of farmers, fishermen, producers, chefs, entrepreneurs, and communities who preserve these traditions.

"We hope that in the long term, gastronomy can become one of the main pillars of Indonesia's tourism marketing, not merely as a complement to travel, but as one of the reasons travellers choose Indonesia as their destination," said Hafiz Agung Rifai, Acting Deputy for Events' Organizer Development, Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia.

WIG 2026 will host 18 media representatives and tastemakers, including voices from Forbes Travel Guide, La Liste, The World's 50 Best, and CNN International on a journey through Solo and Yogyakarta's culinary landscapes.

For the public, highlights include a Royal Heritage Dinner at Pura Mangkunegaran, WIG Talks, and the WIG Artisan Market at Grand Hotel De Djokja from 2–4 October, featuring 21 local producers and workshops and tastings, expected to welcome up to 1,300 visitors. Visitors can also join free walking tours with Jogja Good Guide, through Yogyakarta's streets and living culinary traditions.

The impact of gastronomy tourism has already been proven. WIG 2025 generated 38 international media stories and IDR 16.5 billion in media value, while its Artisan Food Market brought together 25 local F&B tenants, welcomed more than 600 visitors, and generated IDR 1.01 billion in business opportunities, a benchmark WIG 2026 aims to surpass.

Through WIG 2026, Indonesia invites travellers not just to taste its food, but to discover the people, traditions behind every plate. For more detail https://www.instagram.com/p/DdYOOKtmrC2/?img_index=1

SOURCE Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia