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Food and drink are playing an increasingly important role in how travellers experience South Africa, from exceptional restaurants and chefs to innovative producers, wine brands, cultural experiences and destinations that bring the country’s rich heritage, creativity and culinary excellence to life.

Now, the search is on for the people, places and businesses turning gastronomy into compelling tourism experiences and strengthening South Africa’s position as a global destination.

Nominations are officially open for the third annual Gastronomy Tourism Awards 2026, presented by Gastronomy Africa. The awards recognise those helping to grow gastronomy tourism by creating food and drink experiences that attract visitors, encourage them to explore destinations and connect with South Africa’s distinctive culinary identity.

At their heart, the awards are about recognising the people and places giving travellers another reason to choose South Africa, and another reason to explore beyond the usual tourism hotspots.

Members of the public and the industry are invited to nominate themselves or an individual, business, brand, establishment or destination in one of five categories:

• Best in Gastronomy Tourism: Fine & Casual Dining
• Best in Gastronomy Tourism: Cultural Dining
• Best in Gastronomy Tourism: Sustainability
• Best in Gastronomy Tourism: Immersive Experience
• Best in Gastronomy Tourism: Wine Brand

The awards recognise a broad spectrum of gastronomy tourism: from restaurants that give visitors a compelling reason to visit a destination, to producers championing sustainable local food systems; from cultural dining experiences that preserve and share culinary heritage, to immersive experiences that bring food, storytelling and entertainment together.

What connects them is their ability to turn food and drink into a reason to travel, explore and engage with a place.

Previous winners include Chef Wandile Mabaso and his Les Creatifs restaurant, Chef Johannes Richter’s The LivingRoom at Summerhill Estate, ABALOBI, Veld & Sea, as well as Chef Nolu Dube-Cele’s Seven Colours Eatery.

There is no limit to the number of nominations that can be submitted. If you know of a person, place, business or experience making an outstanding contribution to gastronomy tourism, Gastronomy Africa wants to hear about it.

Every nomination will be considered by an esteemed judging panel, with the winners announced at the Gastronomy Tourism Awards & Networking Dinner on 19 October 2026 in Durban.

The awards form part of the broader Gastronomy Africa Conference & Expo, taking place at Breakers Resort in Umhlanga, Durban, from 19 to 20 October 2026.

The B2B conference brings together chefs, restaurateurs, producers, foodservice suppliers, tourism professionals and industry leaders to examine the business of restaurants, trends and innovation in the professional kitchen, and the opportunities for growing gastronomy tourism in South Africa and across the continent.

Tickets for the conference are available on Quicket.

While the conference will explore where the industry is heading, the Gastronomy Tourism Awards will recognise those already putting gastronomy to work, creating experiences that attract visitors, support local economies and strengthen the appeal of South African destinations.

Nominate an outstanding gastronomy tourism experience today.

Submit your nomination here: https://tally.so/r/lbka7X

Nominations close on 30 September 2026.