The third UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa will take place in Lungi, Sierra Leone, from 2–4 December 2026. The registration deadline has been extended to 15 November 2026.

Jointly organised by UN Tourism and the Government of Sierra Leone, the forum will bring together destination representatives and international experts to explore how culinary heritage can support tourism development, benefit local communities and strengthen regional cooperation.

Sessions at the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre on 2–3 December will address tourism policy, women’s participation in the gastronomy economy, agritourism, cultural heritage and creative industries. The programme also includes discussions on intellectual property tools for local food products, alongside live cooking demonstrations. Participation in the technical workshops is by invitation only.

On 4 December, international delegates will join technical tours in Freetown, with scheduled visits including the Sierra Leone Peace Museum and a street food tasting festival. The event follows earlier editions held in Zimbabwe in 2024 and Tanzania in 2025.

To register, prospective participants should email gastronomyforum@untourism.int with a brief description of their professional background and reasons for attending. After receiving a registration code, they can complete the online registration process.

The programme and registration link are available on the official UN Tourism event page.