Oluchi Chibuzor
The My Tasty Naija Food Festival is set to return bigger in 2026, expanding to two major cities in the United Kingdom following the success of its inaugural edition held in London last year.
The second edition of the festival, which celebrates Nigerian food, culture and community, will hold in London on July 5, 2026, at Eutopia Warehouse, Barking, while the Manchester edition is scheduled for July 11, 2026, at Nigerian House Manchester.
Convener of the festival, Mr. Abass Tijani, popularly known as DJ Abass, said the vision behind My Tasty Naija was to showcase Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage and promote cultural exchange across the UK and beyond.
According to him, the festival has grown from a successful London event in 2025 into a broader platform aimed at taking Nigerian cuisine and culture to different cities across the UK, with plans to eventually extend the experience to Nigeria and other parts of the world.
“Our YouTube show features Nigerian restaurants from London and across the UK. The goal is to take the festival experience to different cities each year and eventually to Nigeria and other parts of the world,” Tijani said.
He disclosed that this year’s edition is expected to attract about 3,000 participants in London and another 1,500 attendees in Manchester, reflecting growing interest in Nigerian cuisine and cultural experiences among diverse communities in the UK.
Visitors to the festival are expected to enjoy a variety of Nigerian delicacies, live entertainment, cultural displays, exhibitions and networking opportunities. Organisers also announced the return of the popular My Tasty Naija Junior Chef Competition and Food Competition, which featured prominently in the maiden edition.
The 2026 festival is being sponsored by Nigerian Eats UK and GeeftMe, a digital fundraising platform designed to facilitate secure and transparent donations to verified causes in Nigeria.
Organisers have opened registration for vendors, competition participants and attendees, noting that spaces are limited and urging interested participants to register early.
The festival, themed around celebrating Nigerian food, culture and community across the UK, is expected to bring together food enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, cultural groups and members of the Nigerian diaspora for what promises to be a vibrant showcase of Nigeria’s culinary diversity and heritage.
Details on tickets, vendor applications and participation are available on the festival’s website.