Global Food Calendar for Foodies Anywhere
Some travelers are chasing the landmarks. Others know that to truly understand where you want to taste it.
It's tasty, but local food is also a deep dive into the history and culture of the nation. Sampling It is a sensory experience shaped by transition, tradition, and identity. It's the way culture communicates without words. And more than ever, travelers prioritize their culinary experience when planning their trips.
Did you know?
The Food Festival segment is the only largest contributor to the global culinary tourism market, with a growth rate of 17.4% between now and 2031.
The rise of food-driven travel makes sense. What is a better way to connect with a place than through the most precious flavors? And great news: The world's best food and culture festival offers an enchanting menu of tradition, storytelling and celebrations on and off your plate.
Thanks to the flight centres of South African travel experts, we'll introduce some of the Lipsmack Festivals to add to your 2025 bucket list.
1. AnugaSelect Brazil | Sao Paulo | 8-10 April 2025
What it is known: The largest food and drink fair in the Americas, the event will have a direct impact on the future of food, bringing together global chefs, suppliers and culinary pioneers. Visitors can explore thousands of international and Brazilian specialties, from traditional fayjoda and churasco style meats to cutting-edge food sustainability innovations.
What you're hoping for:
A large expo showcasing global food trends, sustainability initiatives, and the most exciting developments of gastronomy. Street food meets with international pop-ups, along with fine dining restaurants – the best of Brazilian cuisine. Seminars and workshops from famous chefs, bold and bring the local flavours to life.
If you only eat one, let it do it: Churrasco. Brazilian BBQ is world-renowned for reasons – meat skewered with fire, perfectly seasoned and engraved on the tableside. Add Pão de Queijo (cheese bread) and Caipirinha cocktail and you'll get a pure Brazilian meal.
Top Travel Tips:
Visa Requirements: South African passport holders do not require a visa for a maximum of 90 days of visit. Make sure you have at least two empty pages and at least six months of validity remaining. Weather: April in Sao Paulo is calm and comfortable, hovering at about 25°C. Perfect for exploring the city's thriving food scene outside the festival.
“Brazil was one of South Africa's fastest growing flight centres in 2024, and it has grown by 51% thanks to SAA's direct flights to Sao Paulo.” “For South Africans, this is an incredible opportunity to explore Brazil's diverse landscapes. Whether to combine Sao Paulo and Rio beaches or try the Amazon.”
2. London Taste | Regent Park | June 18th-22nd, 2025
London is one of the world's culinary capitals. The taste of London condenses the city's finest gastronomic scene on a 5-day magnificent day when chefs, food lovers and trendsetters unite to celebrate the art of great dining.
What you're hoping for:
Food from top London restaurants, including Michelin-starred heavyweights and cult food favorites. Live cooking demonstrations from famous chefs and upcoming cooking stars. Interactive Tasting Experience – Think whiskey master classes, artisan chocolate pairings, and pasta making workshops. A dedicated champagne garden perfect for rewinding between bites.
If you're eating just one, try beef wellington (with a modern twist). This is a classic dish that represents London's historical love for hearty meats, expert pastries and elegant presentations.
Top Travel Tips:
City Summer: June is the peak of summer. This means long hours of daytime, noisy city life, and fully booked restaurants. If you want to explore the city's food scene beyond the festival, make your booking early (and now is the time if you haven't secured a flight yet). A few days' ticket is worth it. This festival is huge. Don't try to stuff everything into the afternoon. A few days of pass allows for a slower, more immersive approach. London Pass for Hoodies: If you want to extend your stay, get your London Pass and access markets such as the Borough Market, Food Tours and iconic landmarks.
3. Copenhagen Culinary Festival | Copenhagen | 15 – August 24, 2024
What it is known: Copenhagen Cuisine, a 20-year facility for new Scandinavian gastronomy, takes the food festival to another level. Expect boundary flavour experiments, ultra-seasonal ingredients, and cultural culinary meetings. Every year, the festival shines a spotlight on star ingredients, and in 2025, onions will become the centre, celebrating its ability to add depth, richness and complexity to almost any dish.
This year's festival will also feature a special collaboration with a Provence chef, featuring a contrast between the sun-drenched Southern flavour and the crisp, sharp Nordic palate.
What you're hoping for:
An exclusive chef-led dinner that blends Scandinavian and Provincial techniques. “Food Talent of Tomorrow”, budding chefs and food entrepreneurs become day's restaurateurs. Ingredient-driven food pop-ups, humble onions steal the show in countless creative ways. Perfect for those who love for foraging and fermenting workshops and experimental gastronomic food. It brings visitors to citywide tastings and food walks, Copenhagen's best bakeries, markets and sustainable eateries.
If you only eat one, smørrebrød with pickled onions. Danish beloved open-faced sandwiches get a festival-worthy upgrade with high quality rye bread, cured fish, creamy toppings and deep sweet tangs of Nordic pickled onions.
Top Travel Tips:
The best way to get there: There are no direct flights from South Africa to Copenhagen, but the most seamless route is via Dubai, Doha or Istanbul. Consider a multi-city itinerary where you can experience another top food capital. There are several fine dining restaurants. During the festival, visitors can enjoy Michelin-level cuisine at a much lower price, and rarely get into the city's food scene without breaking the bank. The best (and fastest) way to explore the Copenhagen markets, neighborhood bistros and festival pop-ups is the local (and fastest) way.
4. Atlanta Food & Wine Festival | Atlanta, Georgia, USA | 11-14 September 2025
What it is known: Deepening deep into the soulful and diverse food traditions of the American South, the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival brings together barbecue pitmasters, creole chefs and bourbon enthusiasts to showcase flavors that have passed through generations.
What you're hoping for:
A tasting tent featuring southern cuisine icons such as Texan smoked brisket, Louisiana gumbo, Nashville Hot Chicken and butter biscuits from Best Bakery in Charleston. Interactive cooking classes and demonstrations led by Southern chefs and food historians. The unique wine and whiskey pairing shines a spotlight on the growing vineyard scene in the South, along with the world-renowned bourbon culture.
If you're just eating one, it's a slow smoked brisket with homemade cornbread. Pitmasters in Atlanta are known for their perfect smoking skills. Pair with a tangy peach barbecue sauce to add a Georgian-style kick.
Top Travel Tips:
Visa Planning: South Africans require a US visa. This requires the appointment of an interview. These can take months to protect them, so apply early! Extend your trip: Consider pairing Atlanta with foodie hotspots like New Orleans and Charleston to make your Southern culinary tour complete.
“Atlanta was another rising star for the flight center in 2024, with bookings increasing by 14%,” Turner says. “As an international delta hub, it offers seamless access to the US and has a growing appetite for deeper cultural immersion. Travelers want to experience food, music and history in an authentic way.”
5. Nine Emeras God Festival | Thailand | October 2025 (Date TBC)
What it is known: Besides celebrating a plant-based diet, the festival of nine emperor gods is a deep-rooted Taoist tradition focused on self-purification, discipline and dedication. While celebrated throughout Thailand, the Phuket version offers an immersive blend of spiritual rituals and a vibrant food market, all set against the backdrop of one of Thailand's most beautiful cities.
What you're hoping for:
The market stall, filled with plant-based dishes from Thailand and China, is sold in brightly decorated spaces with yellow and red “เจ” (vegetarian) flags. Inflate the dish infused with a tofu base and mushrooms, reflecting the texture of traditional Thai meat. Firework ceremonies, spiritual chants and meditation sessions for those participating in the festival's cleansing rituals. Limitations of strong aromatic ingredients such as meat, alcohol, garlic and chili peppers are thought to destroy mental energy.
If you're eating just one, try pink noodles soup (Yentafo). Usually made from pork bloody, this vegetarian spin features mushrooms, crispy wantons and a naturally pink fermented tofu base.
Top Travel Tips:
Ideal Off-Season Visit: October marks the beginning of Thailand's cool season and is one of the best times to visit without the humidity in the summer. Look for signs of “เจ”: These indicate that the food is strictly vegetarian, following religious guidelines. Not only meat, but there are no stimulating alliums such as eggs, dairy products, garlic and onions. Combine it with Bangkok. Many travelers have chosen to experience the festival in both cities as Bangkok's Chinatown hosts a large version of the event.
According to Turner, Asia has experienced a massive travel boom in 2025, with Thailand leading the charges.
“Attack and cruise-based itineraries are rising sharply here.
It is clear that food is a portal to culture, history and identity. And there are so many delicious and immersive foodie festivals on the menu this year, so there's only one question in the answer. Let your taste lead…
Flight Centre Travel Group South Africa
Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) SA is part of Flight Centre Travel Group, an Australia-based international travel agency listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, and as of March 18, 2025, it has a market capitalization of $3.15 billion and a current stock price of $14.18. FCTG SA is entirely owned and has been recognized as one of Deloitte's best companies to work in South Africa for over a decade.
