Taste Indonesia: Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy Returns in 2026

Indonesia is putting gastronomy at the center of its tourism story as Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy (WIG) 2026 returns with a bigger program designed to showcase the country’s culinary heritage, local communities, and food traditions to an international audience.

Taking place from September 26 to October 4, 2026, in Solo and Yogyakarta, the second edition of WIG carries the theme “From Local Roots to Global Recognition.”

The event brings together chefs, artisans, food producers, tourism stakeholders, media representatives, and local communities to demonstrate how food can offer travelers a deeper connection to Indonesian culture.

Discover Indonesia Through Its Food

Indonesia’s culinary identity reflects the country’s immense geographic and cultural diversity.

With more than 17,000 islands, the country has developed food traditions shaped by local agriculture, geography, indigenous customs, migration, and centuries of cultural exchange.

Behind every traditional dish is a network of people who help preserve Indonesia’s culinary heritage. Farmers grow the ingredients, fishermen supply seafood, producers create local specialties, and chefs and food entrepreneurs transform these products into dishes that represent their communities.

WIG 2026 aims to bring these stories closer to travelers by presenting Indonesian gastronomy as an integral part of the tourism experience.

“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 travelers choose Indonesia as their destination,” said Hafiz Agung Rifai, Acting Deputy for Events Organizer Development, Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia.

Solo and Yogyakarta Take Center Stage

For nine days, Solo and Yogyakarta will serve as the setting for WIG 2026.

Both destinations have long been associated with Javanese culture, heritage, arts, and traditional cuisine, making them natural locations for an event focused on the relationship between food, culture, and travel.

The program will bring international guests into the region’s culinary landscape while giving travelers opportunities to experience local food traditions, producers, and communities.

International Food Experts and Tastemakers Join WIG 2026

WIG 2026 will welcome 18 international media representatives and tastemakers for a culinary journey through Solo and Yogyakarta.

Participants include voices associated with Forbes Travel Guide, La Liste, The World’s 50 Best, and CNN International.

Their participation gives the event an international platform while highlighting Indonesian culinary destinations and food experiences to audiences beyond the country.

Royal Heritage Dinner at Pura Mangkunegaran

One of the featured experiences is the Royal Heritage Dinner at Pura Mangkunegaran, offering guests an opportunity to experience Indonesian gastronomy within a historic royal setting.

The event combines food, heritage, and place, reflecting WIG’s broader approach to presenting gastronomy as part of a destination’s cultural identity.

For travelers, experiences such as this can provide context behind the food, connecting dishes with the history, traditions, and communities that shaped them.

WIG Artisan Market Brings Local Producers Together

The WIG Artisan Market will take place at Grand Hotel De Djokja from October 2 to 4.

The market will feature 21 local producers, with workshops and tastings giving visitors opportunities to discover Indonesian food products and meet the people behind them.

Organizers expect the market to welcome up to 1,300 visitors.

The program provides an accessible way for travelers and local residents to discover regional ingredients, specialty products, and culinary traditions in one location.

Free Walking Tours Explore Yogyakarta’s Food Culture

Food discovery will also extend beyond formal event venues.

Visitors can join free walking tours with Jogja Good Guide to explore Yogyakarta’s streets and living culinary traditions.

Walking tours offer travelers another way to understand how food fits into everyday life, from traditional eateries and street food to neighborhood businesses and local food practices.

Gastronomy Tourism Creates Opportunities for Local Businesses

The first edition of WIG demonstrated the potential economic impact of gastronomy-focused tourism.

According to organizers, WIG 2025 generated 38 international media stories and IDR 16.5 billion in media value.

Its Artisan Food Market brought together 25 local food and beverage tenants, welcomed more than 600 visitors, and generated IDR 1.01 billion in business opportunities.

WIG 2026 aims to build on these results by expanding its international reach and creating more opportunities for local culinary businesses and producers.

Food as a Reason to Travel

For many travelers, discovering local cuisine is already an important part of choosing and experiencing a destination.

WIG 2026 takes that idea further by presenting Indonesian food as a lens for understanding the country’s people, history, agriculture, traditions, and regional identities.

A meal can introduce travelers to local ingredients. A market can reveal traditional food production. A walking tour can show how cuisine fits into everyday life. A heritage dinner can connect food with centuries of history.

Through Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026, Solo and Yogyakarta will showcase these connections while giving international travelers another reason to explore Indonesia through its food.

The event runs from September 26 to October 4, 2026, with public highlights including the Royal Heritage Dinner, WIG Talks, Artisan Market, workshops, tastings, and culinary walking tours.

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