6 Epic African Food and Wine Festivals to Attend in 2025
25-04-2025
Africa is a continent bursting with vibrant cultures, bold flavors, and unforgettable culinary traditions. For food and wine lovers, diving into African food and wine festivals is the best way to experience its rich gastronomic heritage. From sizzling street food celebrations to sophisticated wine tastings, here are six must-visit African food & wine festivals in 2025 that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.
Table of Contents
- 01.GTCO Food & Drink Festival - Lagos, Nigeria
- 02.Franschhoek Bastille Festival – Franschhoek, South Africa
- 03.Abidjan Cocktail Week – Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- 04.Marrakech Food Festival – Morocco
- 05.Bole Festival Port Harcourt, Nigeria
- 06.Soweto Wine & Lifestyle Festival Walter Sisulu Square, Johannesburg, South Africa
GTCO Food & Drink Festival - Lagos, Nigeria
May 2-4, 2025
Lagos is serving. Will you pull up a chair?
Welcome to Africa’s most explosive culinary showdown, where jollof flames, Afrobeat rhythms, and master chefs turn heat into art in a three day celebration of pure magic. This festival is a full-sensory immersion into Africa’s boldest flavors, brightest culinary talents, and most vibrant food culture.
Indulge in the mouthwatering combo of Nigerian Jollof Rice, perfectly grilled chicken, and sweet plantains
Why This Festival Sizzles
- Suya is so amazing: Smoky, spicy, and crackling
- Gourmet pairings that dance on your tongue: Nigerian small chops meets global wine wizardry
- Afrobeat-fueled parties: stretching from lunch ‘til moonlight
- The Diamond Chef Challenge: Watch culinary warriors battle for glory in live fire-kissed showdowns
- Street Food Village: Unearth local bites that you will exclusively find here
Beyond the plates, this festival fuels dreams – serving as a launchpad for food entrepreneurs, a spotlight for celebrity chefs, and GTCO’s love letter to Nigerian culture. Come hungry. Leave obsessed.
Fly Smart: Onboard Ethiopian Airlines, your in-flight meal is a preview of Africa’s soul.
Franschhoek Bastille Festival – Franschhoek, South Africa
July 12 -14, 2025
Oui, the French Winelands are throwing a party, and you’re invited.
Swap berets for sunhats. The Franschhoek Bastille Festival is where Cape Dutch charm collides with Parisian flair in a three-day celebration of wine, haute cuisine, and joie de vivre. Imagine cobbled streets buzzing with accordion tunes, champagne flutes clinking under oak trees, and chefs turning local boerewors into gourmet art. C’est magnifique? Absolutely.
A toast to French heritage, South African wines, and unforgettable moments
Why This Festival is Très Bien
- Wine Wars: Sip your way through Franschhoek’s famed valleys – pinot noirs, crisp chardonnays, and bold blends flow like the Seine.
- Bastille Banquets: Think escargot with a South African twist
- The Great Grape Stomp: Channel your inner I Love Lucy and squash Cabernet Sauvignon barefoot. Santé!
- Pétanque & Pretence: Competitive boules matches where the only rule is ‘rosé must remain upright’
- Le Hidden Lane: Pop-up patisseries slinging koeksisters drizzled in lavender syrup
- Pro tip: Don’t miss the Sabering Ceremony where champagne bottles get opened with swords
- Stay at a vineyard guesthouse, waking up to misty mountains beats any Parisian balcony
More than a festival, it’s a toast to Franschhoek’s Huguenot heritage, where every cork popped supports local vintners. Vive la révolution… of flavor! Can’t make it for the festival? No worries – you can still indulge in the indigenous flavors and drinks year-round by booking our guided culinary and wine tasting tour through South Africa’s vibrant food scene.
Fly Smart: Into Cape Town with Kenya Airways and take a scenic drive to this valley paradise.
Abidjan Cocktail Week – Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Shake, stir, and sip your way through West Africa’s boldest cocktail revolution.
Forget basic mojitos, Abidjan Cocktail Week is where tropical infusions meet urban swagger, and every glass tells a story. This is the Tropical Spirit Showcase, where Ivorian mixologists rewrite global cocktail rules with coconut rums, ginger-laced magic, and a side of Afrobeat swagger.
Ivorian mixologists shake up the rules of the cocktail world, blending traditional flavors with innovative twists
Why Your Tastebuds Need This
- Mixology Wars: Watch bartenders duel with hibiscus-infused gin and alloco-inspired syrups
- Cocktail Safaris: Crawl through Abidjan’s sleekest rooftop bars and hidden speakeasies
- Master the Craft: Join a masterclass and learn to mix your own Afro-tropical creations
- Hunt for “Gbêlê” shots (local firewater with a citrus twist): at pop-up street bars
Fly Smart: For budget-savvy travelers, Ethiopian Airlines offers great value.
Marrakech Coffee and Tea Festival – Marrakech Expo Park, Morocco
November 1-3, 2025
Set against the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains, prepare your palate for the Marrakech Coffee and Tea Festival – a dazzling celebration of Morocco’s rich culinary heritage, featuring live music, traditional performances, and artisan showcases.
Perfectly spiced, sweet, and crunchy – Chebakia is a crispy, honey-soaked Maghrebi pastry that delights with every bite
Why You Can’t Miss This Feast
- World of Coffee & Tea: Taste premium blends of coffee and tea from around the globe
- National Coffee & Tea Championship: Watch elite baristas and tea sommeliers compete
- Global Culinary Delights: Indulge in gourmet food, artisanal desserts, Moroccan street food, and specialty drinks
- The Sahara Concert: Experience an open-air musical celebration under the stars
- Sweet Temptations: Dive into sticky-sweet baklava,
- Instagram-Worthy: From tea poured from dizzying heights to lantern-lit riad dinners, every corner is camera-ready
Moroccan cuisine is a delightful fusion of Berber, Arab, and Mediterranean culinary traditions. Can’t make it for the festival? No worries – you can still savor the experience by booking our guided food tour any time of year.
Fly Smart: A budget-friendly option for your food journey is to fly Norse to London and then onto Morocco with Air Arabia Maroc.
Bole Festival - Port Harcourt, Nigeria
August/September 2025 (Buy tickets when the dates are announced)
Port Harcourt is sizzling – are you ready for the heat?
Bole Festival is Africa’s biggest street food celebration – a vibrant explosion of flavors, music, and pure Naija energy. Centered around bole (roasted plantain) and fiery pepper sauce, this festival serves up some of Nigeria’s most irresistible bites.
Roasted plantain (bole) captivates the palate with its smoky sweetness and the bold heat of spicy pepper sauce
Why You Can’t Miss This Feast
Bold Flavors: Dive into smoky bole loaded with grilled fish, spicy pepper sauce, coconut flakes, or crunchy peanuts – street food perfection
Vibes All Day: High-energy live music, dance-offs, and a lively crowd keep the energy sky-high from morning till night
Local Culture in Every Corner: Stroll buzzing craft markets filled with handmade art, fashion, and food souvenirs you won’t find anywhere else
Real Port Harcourt Spirit: More than a food fest, it’s a celebration of community, culture, and the soulful street food that defines the city
Fly Smart: A budget-friendly option for your food journey is to fly Norse to London and then onto Morocco with Air Arabia Maroc.
Soweto Wine & Lifestyle Festival - Walter Sisulu Square, Johannesburg, South Africa
September 21-24, 2025
Where township swagger meets world-class wine in a celebration of South Africa’s vibrant spirit.
Get ready to sip, savor, and shosholoza your way through the Soweto Wine & Lifestyle Festival, Africa’s largest consumer wine show. This is where sommeliers in sneakers and winemakers in dashikis rewrite the rules, pairing premium vintages with the electric energy of Vilakazi Street. More than a food and wine event, it’s a toast to South Africa’s new era of accessible luxury.
Experience the vibrant fusion of culture, cuisine, and fine wines at the Soweto Wine & Lifestyle Festival
Why This Food & Wine Festival Pours Different
- Taste your way through 500+ wines: Stellenbosch reds to hidden gem township wineries
- Gourmet Street Bites: Pair your Chenin Blanc with kota (township burgers) or pap-and-wors canapés
- Masterclasses: Learn wine basics from charismatic experts – no pretentious jargon, just pure passion
- Live Kwaito Beats: Dance between tastings as DJs spin the soundtrack of Soweto’s streets
Fly Smart: Choose Ethiopian airlines as a budget-friendly option.
Ready to Feast Your Way Through Africa?
Food & Wine festivals in Africa aren’t just about food, they’re cultural adventures that let you taste, dance, and explore the continent’s diverse traditions. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur, street food fanatic, or cocktail enthusiast, there’s a festival calling your name. Many of these events coincide with peak travel seasons, so book flights and hotels early.
At Flyingcarpet.travel, we make it easy to chase flavors across the globe. With over 300 airline options and competitive fares between the US and African countries, you can start planning your 2025 flavor adventure today!