Shanghai to launch year-long global food festival in 2026

Shanghai unveiled its flagship culinary initiative Global Taste, a year-round food festival series that aims to transform the city into an international dining destination, local officials announced Friday.

"Shanghai stands at the forefront of restaurant internationalization and market influence," said Shen Weihua, Party secretary of Shanghai municipal commission of commerce. He highlighted the city's nearly 10,000 international restaurants representing cuisines from 43 countries and regions across five continents.

The festival will showcase diverse global cuisines through four seasonal themes in 2026. The first quarter will celebrate European flavors, coinciding with Spring Festival and Lantern Festival celebrations, with dedicated months spotlighting Italian, Spanish and French cuisines. The second quarter will focus on flavors from the Americas, featuring Mexican, Brazilian, and Caribbean culinary traditions.

Asian flavors will dominate the third quarter during the summer season, celebrating Chinese cuisine alongside Southeast and South Asian specialties. The final quarter, themed on flavors without borders, will coincide with major events including the China International Import Expo, Shanghai Fashion Week and Shanghai International Marathon, featuring specialized festivals dedicated to baking, desserts, wines and spices.

During Spring Festival, the program will launch global new year flavors-themed activities, including global family reunion feasts and a food carnival, connecting international cuisines with tourist attractions and shopping districts.

"We're creating new pathways to stimulate consumption by bridging food with tourism," said Jin Lei, deputy director of Shanghai municipal administration of culture and tourism, who emphasized the synergy between culinary experiences and tourism.

The initiative will integrate festival activities into city tours and establish "Food+" consumption clusters within three kilometers of festival venues, he noted.

The celebration will extend beyond traditional restaurants, incorporating hotels, museums, performance venues, and digital cultural experience centers, offering seasonal menus and joint promotions.

In addition, Shanghai will implement a global food market promotion mechanism, according to Shen. The Shanghai commercial association will establish a specific committee to facilitate global food culture exchange and resource integration, fostering innovative consumption scenarios and diverse business activities.

The city will also introduce supporting initiatives, covering the introduction of global food brands, development of international food streets, and enhancement of food safety supervision measures. Guidelines for establishing global food streets will be formulated to ensure consistent standards.