Gastronomy Africa Conference & Expo will take place at the CSIR International Convention Centre (CSIR ICC) in Tshwane from 3-4 August 2026, it was announced on the trade floor at Meetings Africa 2026.
The joint announcement was made by Lance Gibbons, CEO of Gastronomy Africa; Bronwen Cadle de Ponte, General Manager of the CSIR ICC; Nonhlanhla Seoe, Deputy Director of Business Tourism for the City of Tshwane, and Eyal Halevy, CEO of Paragon Africa, the Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) and partner for the conference. The announcement took place on 24 February 2026 at the CSIR ICC stand, where the four organisations commemorated their partnership.
Formerly known as the SA Chef Conference and Expo, the Gastronomy Africa Conference & Expo is a groundbreaking B2B event dedicated exclusively to “the business of gastronomy.” The programme focuses on promoting sustainable growth within Africa’s culinary sector, fostering creativity and innovation in professional kitchens, and leveraging gastronomy tourism to attract both local and international visitors. The expo features suppliers and food service companies from across the culinary and hospitality value chain.
Lance Gibbons said: “The CSIR International Convention Centre in Tshwane responded to our call for bids with a clear understanding of the unique requirements of our conference, which spans both the business and creative sides of gastronomy. This third edition forms part of our rebrand to Gastronomy Africa and our expansion into the rest of Africa. We required a globally accessible venue capable of welcoming culinary and hospitality professionals from across the continent with ease.
“A further advantage is that the CSIR ICC is already prioritising one of our key content pillars: Gastronomy Tourism and how countries can leverage their unique culinary offerings to attract tourists, whether leisure, business or MICE travellers.”
Bronwen Cadle de Ponte welcomed the announcement, highlighting the broader industry impact of hosting the event at the CSIR ICC.
“We are excited that Gastronomy Africa is hosting the third edition of its conference and expo at the CSIR International Convention Centre. We believe this conference is important for the South African business events industry, enabling collaboration, learning and innovation around sustainability practices in event catering, as well as enhancing conference delegate experiences authentically through food and beverages.
“We look forward to the conference unpacking how food, culture and indigenous ingredients, recipes and traditions can be leveraged as a value-add in attracting conferences to the destination,” she said.
Soza Simango, Divisional Head: Tourism for the City of Tshwane said that securing the Gastronomy Africa conference bid was more than a calendar win. “It is a strategic milestone in positioning Tshwane as a leading business events and gastronomy destination on the African continent.
“As a city of embassies, innovation, heritage, and academic excellence, Tshwane is uniquely placed to host a gathering that celebrates culinary mastery, skills development, and industry advancement. Tshwane is ready to host, ready to collaborate, and ready to demonstrate that food is not only sustenance, but strategy – a driver of tourism growth, inclusivity, and economic resilience,” Simango added.
Further details regarding the 2026 Gastronomy Africa Conference & Expo will be announced in the coming months. The organisers look forward to welcoming delegates to the CSIR ICC in August 2026.
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For more information, please contact: Heidi Kuyper at heidi@sachefmagazine.co.za
