International Culinary Congress Heading to ICC Wales
International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales) recently hosted one of the largest global events ever held at the venue.
The Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2026 takes place from May 16-19, bringing together around 800 chefs from across five continents for four days of networking, education, competition and cultural immersion.
ICC Wales becomes the first venue in the UK to host the event in its 98-year history and a Team Wales bid including the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW), Welsh Government and Celtic Manor Resort held off strong competition from Italy to land the congress back in 2023.
With a theme of ‘Passion, Pasture, Plate’, the event will serve as a platform to showcase Wales’ world-class produce, rich culinary heritage, and vibrant food and drink industry to an international audience.
ICC Wales Chief Executive Julie Hammond said: “This is undoubtedly one of the most important international events taking place in Wales and the UK this year and we look forward to welcoming chefs and delegates from all over the world to our incredible facilities at ICC Wales.
“Our culinary philosophy is a huge part of what we do at ICC Wales and hosting this prestigious event will provide a brilliant opportunity to showcase Wales’ amazing wealth of produce, as well as our growing food and drink industry to a global audience.”
The event includes the Global Chef Challenge Final in four categories — pastry, senior chef, vegan chef and junior chef — with Wales having a chef in each final. Another highlight will see Welsh classical singer Katherine Jenkins perform an anthem especially composed for the congress.
CAW President Arwyn Watkins described the event as “a once in a generation opportunity” for Welsh and UK businesses to place their products in front of the culinary world and engage with influential chefs from around the globe.
“A positive legacy of this massive event, which has taken all our focus in recent years, will be the next generation of chefs that take over from us,” he said. “Hopefully, they will lead senior and junior teams from Wales back into the Culinary Olympics and Culinary World Cup.”
ICC Wales has taken further steps to increase its international profile by establishing partnerships in 2026 with two leading industry bodies: Business, Events, Accommodation and Meetings Industry (BEAM), and the International Association of Professional Congress Organizers (IAPCO).
