The Festival Gourmet Internacional has published the tentative program for its 31st edition, which runs from Thursday, November 12, to Sunday, November 22, 2026, in Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and Tepic. The organizers list more than 25 host restaurants, more than 50 chefs and 15 special events.
If you haven’t been, the idea is simple and has worked since 1995: local restaurants invite guest chefs from Mexico and abroad, and together they cook special menus for the festival. Thierry Blouet, the festival’s founder, told AF Medios that more than 750 chefs have taken part over those 31 years. This year’s guests include cooks recognized by the Michelin Guide and The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Highlights on the program
It opens on November 12 at 7 pm with the Grand Gourmet Village at TierraLuna Gardens, inside Garza Blanca Preserve. The theme is neon under the sea, and the suggested dress is cocktail. From November 13 to 22, the host restaurants serve their guest chef menus, and you book those directly with each restaurant.
Other dates worth circling: three Gourmet Safaris, which hop between three restaurants in one evening (the South Shore on November 16, downtown Puerto Vallarta on November 18 and Punta de Mita on November 19). Café des Artistes hosts a formal gala dinner with Michelin and 50 Best guest chefs on November 17, and on November 20 Kupuri Beach Club in Punta Mita hosts nine seaside tables pairing Baja California chefs and wineries. The festival closes on November 22 with a picnic under the parota trees in Tepic.
Tickets and planning
Each event is booked separately through the festival’s online store, and the organizers warn that most sell out quickly. The program page lists the Gourmet Safaris at $2,900 each. Lodging is not included, and most host restaurants can offer vegetarian options if you ask ahead. Since the program is still marked tentative, check the official site before you book.
Planning a few dinners out around it? Our Puerto Vallarta restaurant guide and events calendar can help you fill the rest of the week.
