Aceh Culinary Festival 2026 Highlights Gastronomic Heritage

RRI.CO.ID, Banda Aceh - A diverse array of flavors from across Aceh will be featured at the Aceh Culinary Festival (ACF) 2026, taking place from September 11 to 14 at Taman Sulthanah Safiatuddin, Banda Aceh. Bringing together more than 100 culinary micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the festival is no longer merely a bazaar, but has evolved into a platform to explore Aceh’s gastronomy while strengthening its creative ecosystem.

The festival has been included in the Top 10 Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN), an event program organized by Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism, four times. This year, ACF 2026 involves more than 100 culinary MSMEs, over 10 regencies and cities across Aceh, as well as more than 20 creative communities and initiatives from Aceh, Jakarta, and Bali.

Notably, the entire ACF 2026 series is being held without an allocation from the 2026 Aceh Regional Budget (APBA). Support from various MSMEs, communities, and creative initiatives plays an important role in sustaining the festival while encouraging collaboration across regions.

According to a press release received by Voice of Indonesia (VOI) on Monday (September 7), Aceh Culinary Festival Founder and Festival Director Wan Windi Lestari said the ACF 2026 exhibition area will be divided into three main sections. One of them will feature 11 regency and city booths serving as the Aceh Traditional Culinary Pavilion, representing Aceh Besar, South Aceh, Gayo Lues, Central Aceh, West Aceh, Sabang, Aceh Jaya, Nagan Raya, Simeulue, Aceh Tamiang, and East Aceh.

In addition to the Aceh Traditional Culinary Pavilion, the other two areas will provide space for creative entrepreneurs and communities to showcase products, works, and various initiatives related to gastronomy and the creative economy. The division is designed to bring together the region’s culinary heritage with creativity from various communities and business players.

Cross-regional participation in ACF 2026 is also part of efforts to expand networks and introduce the diversity of Acehnese cuisine to the public. The participation of more than 100 culinary MSMEs is expected to create opportunities for promotion, collaboration, and direct interaction between businesses and visitors.

Through a combination of traditional cuisine, gastronomy, MSMEs, and creative communities, Aceh Culinary Festival 2026 is expected to serve as a platform to celebrate and introduce Aceh’s rich culinary heritage. The festival also provides a space for collaboration, encouraging local cuisine to continue developing as part of Aceh’s cultural identity and creative economy ecosystem.