The Jos Food Festival 2026 is set to position Plateau State as a destination for food, culture, tourism and entertainment, with organisers preparing for a three-day event in December.
The festival, themed “This Is Plateau,” will hold from December 18 to 20, 2026, at Nirvana Park & Gardens, Jos.
Produced by the CHEF ELVIS Company, the event is expected to bring together food businesses, chefs, entrepreneurs, creatives, brands, cultural groups and visitors for a programme combining culinary experiences, entertainment, fashion, culture, enterprise and tourism.
The culinary programme will showcase indigenous Plateau dishes, traditional meals, grills, pastries, small chops, contemporary cuisine and modern street-food concepts.
A major attraction will be “The Season,” a proposed 72-hour culinary record attempt centred on the continuous preparation and serving of 3,000 Nigerian-style shawarmas.
According to the organisers, the proposed record attempt will run alongside the festival and involve chefs, production teams, volunteers, partners and guests throughout the three-day event.
Beyond food and entertainment, the festival is expected to provide a platform for Plateau-based restaurants, food entrepreneurs and emerging brands to showcase their products and connect with potential customers.
Organisers said partnership opportunities are being developed across sectors including food and ingredients, financial services, telecommunications, mobility, media, hospitality and health.
They added that the partnerships would include product sampling, consumer engagement, content creation and experiential activities beyond conventional brand visibility.
The festival is also expected to contribute to Jos’ December events calendar while promoting Plateau as a destination for food tourism, cultural experiences and entertainment.
Preparations for the festival have already commenced, with a recent Shawarma Pop-Up attracting 1,304 guests and serving 533 customers.
Another initiative, “Dress Code: Plateau,” is also providing a platform for exploring Plateau identity through fashion, photography, content and storytelling.
With Nirvana Park & Gardens as its host venue, the festival is expected to attract residents, tourists, creators, entrepreneurs, chefs and brands.
The organisers said the broader objective is to showcase Plateau not only as a place to visit, but as an experience to discover.
Event: Jos Food Festival 2026
Theme: This Is Plateau
Date: December 18–20, 2026
Venue: Nirvana Park & Gardens, Jos
Major Experience: The Season — proposed 72-hour Nigerian-style shawarma record attempt
