Caribbean Flavours Take Centre Stage At Beach Food Festival 2026
Hundreds of people flocked to the International Waterfront Centre in Port of Spain on Saturday for a taste of the region’s diverse culinary flavours.
Food, fashion, drinks and music all came together at the Caribbean Beach Food Festival 2026, as patrons sampled dishes from across the region during the one-day showcase on Saturday.
Local artisan and Chief Creator of Bead IT TT, Tekesha Watson, said she has been part of the festival for the past three years and believes it fills an important gap for locals who may not have the opportunity to travel.
« The idea is good because not many Trinidadians travel, nowadays the younger folks are travelling but the more mature folks, not many were able to get to taste different foods from around the Caribbean, so the idea that it’s here that’s good because you get to sample all that the Caribbean islands have to offer. And obviously they bring their best. »
For some patrons, the event was a pleasant surprise.
Nathalia Deokie said although she learned about the festival late, she felt compelled to attend.
« This is my first time at this event. I think it’s amazing. It’s mind-blowing and it definitely exceeded my expectations. There’s a wide variety of food and I only touched the surface. I didn’t even reach Suriname or Guyana or Haiti. There is so much. »
While praising the festival’s growth, Ms Watson said incorporating additional cultural elements could elevate the experience even further.
« This reminds me of Carifesta, because Carifesta has the different Caribbean islands coming together showcasing what they have to offer. So I think this is like a miniature version but with food. I just wish that it would have more culture so if you could get a teaser from different islands, that would be nice. But you could see the growth from the first year to now you could see that they have grown drastically, like the experience, the layout, the artisans, the performance, the food, everything. You could see the growth in it. »
Organisers say the Caribbean Beach Food Festival was aimed at highlighting the region’s culinary arts, agriculture and tourism, while providing a space for cultural exchange and regional appreciation.
