Indonesia is expanding its food tourism offering with Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026, a nationwide programme designed to connect regional dishes, local ingredients and cultural traditions with travellers from around the world. The initiative will begin in Solo and Yogyakarta in September 2026 before continuing through culinary events, restaurant promotions and shopping-centre festivals until the end of December.
Announced by Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana during a briefing in Jakarta, the programme carries the theme “From Local Roots to Global Recognition”. Unlike earlier editions, Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026 will not focus mainly on premium dining. It will also highlight everyday meals, local eateries, traditional cooking methods and the communities behind Indonesia’s diverse food culture.
What travellers can expect from Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026
Visitors will have opportunities to explore Indonesian cuisine through tasting sessions, artisan demonstrations, workshops and cultural experiences. The emphasis is on explaining the history and meaning behind dishes rather than presenting food as an isolated tourism product.
Solo and Yogyakarta will serve as the main locations for the opening programme. Travellers visiting either destination can expect access to activities linked to regional recipes, heritage ingredients and traditional culinary knowledge.
One of the key events will be the Artisan Market at the Grand Hotel De Djokja in Yogyakarta, running from October 2 to October 4, 2026. Thirteen collaborators will host interactive workshops and tasting sessions, with organisers expecting the programme to welcome more than 1,300 members of the public.
Important dates
- September 25, 2026: Educational workshops and masterclasses at the Politeknik Pariwisata Bali.
- September 26, 2026: Official opening ceremony at Pura Mangkunegaran in Solo.
- September 29, 2026: Further workshops and masterclasses at the Politeknik Pariwisata Medan.
- October 2–4, 2026: Artisan Market at the Grand Hotel De Djokja in Yogyakarta.
- October 7–November 1, 2026: Culinary Festival across 32 shopping centres.
- October 7–December 31, 2026: Indonesia Restaurant Months, themed “Beyond the Plate”.
National Culinary Festival will reach 32 shopping centres
The Culinary Festival, organised with the Asosiasi Pengelola Pusat Belanja Indonesia, will run from October 7 to November 1. Events are scheduled across 32 shopping centres in cities and regions including Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Tangerang Selatan, Bekasi, Surakarta, Sukoharjo, Bandung, Semarang, Magelang, Pontianak, Palembang, Denpasar and Kendari.
This wider geographical reach means international visitors will not need to travel only to the principal festival locations to encounter the programme. Travellers staying in major urban areas may be able to find participating restaurants, food demonstrations and themed events through local shopping-centre schedules.
The programme is intended to link culinary discovery with wider travel experiences. For visitors, that could mean combining food activities with heritage sites, markets, cultural attractions and regional sightseeing. Exact event times, participating venues and booking arrangements may vary by location, so travellers should check information with the relevant organiser before attending.
Restaurant promotions continue through December
Indonesia Restaurant Months will extend the initiative beyond the main festival period. Running from October 7 through December 31, the programme will involve themed promotions at restaurants and dining venues across the country in partnership with Priceless by Mastercard.
The long duration gives travellers more flexibility than a single-week event. Visitors arriving in Indonesia during the final quarter of 2026 may encounter participating restaurants even if they are not travelling to Solo or Yogyakarta during the opening celebrations.
However, the programme is not a replacement for ordinary travel planning. Restaurant availability, menus, promotional terms and participation will depend on individual venues. Travellers should confirm details directly before making a special journey or booking a dining experience.
Training and industry events support local businesses
Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026 also includes a professional programme for chefs, restaurateurs, hospitality workers and tourism stakeholders. WIG Talks will feature 22 expert speakers across five seminar blocks, alongside a book review session. Organisers are targeting participation from approximately 300 industry delegates.
Additional culinary education will be delivered through cooperation with the Institut Français d’Indonésie. Demonstrations and workshops are planned at the Politeknik Pariwisata Bali and the Politeknik Pariwisata Medan, creating opportunities for skills development and international knowledge exchange.
The initiative will also introduce the Indonesia Gourmet Guide and Indonesia Local Eateries resources. These publications are intended to improve the visibility of local dining businesses and help position Indonesian culinary destinations for a wider international audience.
Why the expanded format matters for visitors
The 2026 edition marks a shift from a narrow focus on upscale gastronomy to a broader interpretation of Indonesian food heritage. Traditional dishes, agricultural origins, local ingredients and everyday eateries will receive attention alongside professional restaurants and formal culinary events.
For travellers, this creates a more representative way to experience Indonesian cuisine. Food tourism will not be limited to tasting menus or hotel dining rooms; it will also include markets, neighbourhood restaurants, workshops and stories connected to local communities.
The approach may be particularly useful for visitors who want cultural experiences that extend beyond well-known attractions. Participating in a workshop or visiting a local eatery can offer context about regional identity, cooking techniques and the relationship between food and place.
What travellers should do before visiting
- Check the official Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy programme for confirmed venues and event times.
- Verify whether workshops or tasting sessions require advance registration.
- Allow extra time for travel between cities, as the programme spans multiple regions.
- Confirm restaurant promotion terms directly with participating venues.
- Consider dietary and allergy requirements before booking culinary activities.
- Use the main festival dates as a guide, but remember that individual events may have separate schedules.
Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026 offers travellers a broader route into Indonesia’s cultural landscape, from heritage cooking and artisan markets to contemporary restaurant partnerships. The key takeaway is that the programme will run well beyond its September opening: visitors travelling across Indonesia between October and December may find opportunities to explore local food traditions in cities and venues nationwide.
