MIRI: The World National and World Asia Tapas Competition, Exhibition, Festival and Seminar 2026 is set to take place on Jun 18 to 21, bringing together chefs, exhibitors, industry leaders and culinary enthusiasts from around the world.
The four-day international event is expected to attract 8,000 people and will feature 100 domestic and international exhibitors, 30 Malaysian competitors and 20 competitors from across Asia.
Held at the Meritz Hotel, the event aims to serve as a platform for culinary excellence, industry networking, tourism promotion and international collaboration while showcasing Sarawak’s growing prominence in gastronomy tourism.
Among the key highlights are the World National Tapas Competition and World Asia Tapas Competition, which will take place on Jun 20 and 21 respectively.
Top chefs from Malaysia and across Asia will present their interpretations of tapas, combining traditional food-sharing concepts with local and regional flavours and techniques.
Winners will earn the opportunity to advance to the World Tapas Championship in Spain later this year.
The competitions will be judged by an international panel comprising culinary experts from Malaysia, Hong Kong and New Zealand, with entries assessed based on creativity, presentation, taste and commercial viability.
Apart from the competitions, visitors can explore an international food and beverage exhibition featuring more than 100 exhibitors from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, China, Spain and several other countries.
The exhibition will focus on food innovation, trade opportunities and business matching sessions aimed at connecting producers, suppliers, buyers and industry stakeholders.
The programme will also feature a series of seminars and masterclasses led by international industry experts, covering topics such as artificial intelligence in tourism, food safety, sustainable gastronomy, culinary innovation and food tourism development.
Another major attraction is the “Asia on a Plate” showcase, which celebrates the diversity of Asian cuisine through tasting sessions, networking opportunities and cultural exchanges among chefs and culinary professionals from across the region.
Coffee enthusiasts can look forward to the second edition of the Borneo Barista Art Challenge, where participants will demonstrate their coffee-making and presentation skills, while the WATCEFS Food Festival will offer visitors a variety of local and international food experiences, live cooking demonstrations and entertainment performances.
The event will also feature sustainability-focused seminars that explore eco-conscious cooking practices, responsible food production and innovations aimed at creating a more sustainable future for the culinary industry.
Miri was selected as the host city due to its strategic location, strong tourism infrastructure and reputation as the gateway to northern Sarawak.
The city also serves as the entry point to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Gunung Mulu National Park and Niah National Park, making it an attractive destination for international visitors.
