It’s typical of French travelers to be concerned about what’s on their plate. Discovering local cuisine is an integral part of travel. Sharing a meal with local hosts is how you learn more about their customs and beliefs. Tasting local specialties allows you to truly connect with a region and a way of life that can be quite different from your own. And 2026is shaping up to be an exciting year for culinary travel! What are the trends shaping world cuisines in 2026?
Innovations and inspirations for the taste buds
A gastronomic immersion
Today’s culinary explorers understand this well. They are no longer content with simply tasting exotic dishes. They seek to understand the ingredients, appreciate ancestral cooking methods, and absorb the very essence of each dish. Fellow locavores, we also invite you to consume typical products from the regions you visit! Not only does this contribute to the local economy, but it will also give you the opportunity to try delicious traditional recipes. These might, for example, be based on fish in Polynesia, sorghum in West Africa, or tropical fruits in the Indian Ocean.
Culinary traditions are in constant evolution
But a culinary journey also opens up a panorama as diverse as it is surprising to curious tourists. Sustainability, technology, and discovery converge to redefine the dining experience. In Colombia, street food markets are constantly reinventing themselves, adding a touch of modernity to their staples. In Mongolia, kombucha, consumed for centuries, is making a strong comeback! While innovative microbreweries have recently emerged in North America, Australia is making its mark in the coffee world… All over the world, ancient cooking and fermentation techniques are being revisited. From fusion cuisine to the creation of new concepts, culinary exploration becomes an adventure where the past meets innovation.
A culinary journey around the world
In 2026, the focus will be on ethical gastronomy, paying particular attention to the origin of ingredients. Similarly, there will be a demand for more natural foods – and less meat – on the plate. But that doesn’t mean we should forget the pleasure of tasting during a culinary journey! A convivial atmosphere is also essential.
Agritourism in Sicily
As mentioned, dinner provides a wonderful opportunity to connect and share with your hosts. A stay at an agriturismo offers a glimpse into rural life today. Nestled amidst orchards or vineyards, Sicilian farms exude rustic charm and combine overnight stays with meals shared with locals. The food is delicious! Prepared with ingredients mostly grown on-site, caponata, arancini, and cassata are simple yet flavorful dishes. Farmers sometimes invite their guests to join the harvest or lend a hand in the cooking. Everything is done without fuss, but with expertise. A gastronomic journey through the Sicilian countryside allows you to reconnect with the taste of local produce and recharge during your vacation.
Inventive fusions in Peru
For several years now, Peru has held the top spot in the rankings of culinary destinations. In 2026, a Peruvian restaurant was crowned the best in the world. Peruvian cuisine is characterized by the diversity of its terroir: 3,000 kilometers of coastline for fresh fish, the high Andes where quinoa grows, and several tropical zones that yield exotic fruits. Let’s not forget that it was from Peru that Europeans brought back the potato and chocolate. But Peruvian gastronomy never ceases to surprise us, with unusual combinations like Nikkei fusion cuisine or Chifa cuisine, enriched with Chinese flavors. Indigenous ingredients and international influences: could this be the recipe for success?
Epicurean vegetarianism in Bali
Bali is a paradise for travelers seeking a healthier, more spiritual lifestyle centered on respect for nature and all living things. The abundance of vegan pastries and vegetarian cafes in Ubud is a testament to this! But far from simply following a trend, these restaurants are reconnecting with Hindu worship. Their menus thus become a perfect reflection of Balinese society, which is welcoming yet preserves its traditions without letting them fade away. Spices and herbs—galangal, turmeric, ginger, or tamarind—bring incredible depth to the flavors. The balance between sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and spicy is fundamental. The result? Virtuous cuisine and succulent dishes that quickly make you forget about meat, which is usually so prevalent on our plates!
Comfort food in South Korea
For more traditional travelers, for whom a good meal means a hearty and invigorating one, head to South Korea! Rice soups, stir-fried noodle dishes, fried chicken, and kimchi jeon pancakes leave everyone satisfied. The tables, set in a relaxed and informal style, are overflowing with dishes and condiments, a delight to behold. The desserts are playful, with an epicurean explosion of colors and textures. We love the bingsu, made with ice cream, syrups, and red bean paste. For a touch of nostalgia, we opted for a bungeoppang, a fish-shaped cake that delights both children and adults.
South Africa Wine Route
A culinary journey also includes the wine… Wine lovers and those who appreciate breathtaking scenery flock each year to the wine route that winds through Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl. The wineries – some of which have won awards – offer guided tours and wine tastings, sometimes paired with local delicacies. The vineyards tell the story of the country, from the introduction of vines by Dutch settlers to the diversification of grape varieties by locals. The route is, of course, characterized by vast vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see, but also by mountain ranges and verdant valleys. It’s an immersion into the heart of stunning natural beauty and a thriving wine industry that reflects the diversity of the destination.
Dinner’s ready! Or how people eat around the world
The way people eat around the world is deeply influenced by culture, history, available resources… The moment of culinary travel when one joins one’s hosts to eat, then becomes an immersion in the traditions of a country.
The simple act of sitting down to eat is indeed a ritual often laden with meaning. In North America, meals are certainly organized in three courses and around a table, as in Western Europe. Yet, in Asia and the Middle East, everything is shared, and no one has an individual dish! In India and surrounding areas, rice and bread are distributed freely, and everyone uses them as utensils to eat curry, the main dish. Be careful to use your right hand—the pure one! In the Philippines, a spoon and fork suffice. While in Japan, it’s forbidden to stick your chopsticks upright in your rice… In many cultures, it’s common to eat sitting on mats or cushions, around a fire, at a low table, or even on the floor. Finally, in Cuba and Brazil, dinner is eaten from 10 p.m. onwards. Moreover, the evening often ends very late with a glass of alcohol or a hot drink. One last thing: in Senegal, people drink their tea noisily as a sign of appreciation!
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