GastroAntep International Gastronomy Festival

Gaziantep has earned its reputation as Turkey's culinary capital many times over — the region's fertile soil produces the pistachios that make its baklava legendary, and its position along historic trade routes has layered generations of culinary influence into dishes like lahmacun and kofte. Since 2015, Gaziantep has held a place within UNESCO's Creative Cities Network specifically for gastronomy, and each September the city marks that recognition with the GastroAntep International Gastronomy Festival.

Jointly organised by the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, the Gaziantep Governorate and the Gaziantep Development Foundation, the festival draws Michelin-starred chefs, food industry professionals and gastronomy writers from around the world, alongside local producers showcasing the region's specialities. Culinary presentations and cooking competitions run throughout, with dishes hailing not only from across Turkey but from neighbouring Syria, reflecting Gaziantep's position at a genuine culinary crossroads.

For visitors, the festival offers an unusually rich concentration of southeastern Turkish cuisine in one place — an opportunity to taste the full range of what has made Gaziantep the country's most internationally recognised food city.