National Cooking Festival 2026: Bas-Sassandra selects its finalists

The Bas-Sassandra district now has its representatives for the national final of Côte d’Ivoire’s 2026 Ivorian Cooking Festival. The regional selection took place on Sept. 2 at a seaside complex in San Pedro, bringing together six contestants under the theme “Ivorian cuisine: cultural heritage and a driver of tourism.”

The competitors were divided equally between professional and amateur categories. The winners stood out through their creativity, command of culinary techniques and commitment to Ivorian gastronomic traditions. They will represent the district at the national final, scheduled for Oct. 16-17 in Kong.

Djibril Traoré, the first secretary-general of the prefecture, attended the ceremony on behalf of the regional prefect. Several regional directors from the public administration also took part.

This regional stage was organized by the Departmental Directorate of Tourism and Leisure in Soubré, with support from its counterpart in San Pedro. Enoukou Koutouan Serge Alain, the departmental director of Tourism and Leisure in Soubré, said the competition contributes to the national strategy for promoting gastronomy. He described Ivorian cuisine as cultural heritage that must be preserved, as well as a powerful tool for attracting tourists.

The festival aims to identify and promote local gastronomic resources while encouraging tourism professionals. The Bas-Sassandra selection is therefore positioned as both a culinary contest and part of a broader effort to give greater visibility to Côte d’Ivoire’s food traditions.