Alimentarte 2026 Medellín: A Free Gastronomy Forum with Leonor Espinosa

Published July 16, 2026

For the first time, Alimentarte 2026 Medellín is bringing Colombia’s most prominent international gastronomy forum to the city — and admission is free. On July 15, organizers announced that the Foro Gastronómico Internacional Alimentarte will be held in Medellín on October 14 and 15, 2026, at the auditorium of Universidad Católica Luis Amigó, gathering more than 15 chefs, researchers, and industry leaders. Headlining the lineup are two of the biggest names in Colombian cooking: Leonor Espinosa and Harry Sasson.

What Alimentarte 2026 Medellín Is

Alimentarte’s International Gastronomic Forum is a two-day conference — not a food festival — built around talks and panels on where cooking is headed. The 2026 edition is organized by the Fundación Corazón Verde in alliance with Spain’s Basque Culinary Center, the influential gastronomic university, and it is the first time the forum has run in Medellín rather than Bogotá.

According to Publimetro, the program brings together more than 15 chefs, researchers, academics, journalists, and industry leaders to dig into the challenges, trends, and innovations reshaping cuisine worldwide. Announced themes include culinary education, community building, biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability, and a rethinking of “gastronomic luxury” through the lens of social responsibility.

The Chefs: Leonor Espinosa, Harry Sasson, and More

The marquee name is Leonor Espinosa, chef-owner of the Bogotá restaurant Leo, who was named the World’s Best Female Chef in 2022 by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Espinosa has built an international reputation on cooking rooted in Colombian territory, science, and social impact, and her restaurant Leo has been recognized as Colombia’s best at the World Culinary Awards. If you follow the region’s highest-rated fine dining, her name will be familiar.

Alongside her is Harry Sasson, one of the chefs most associated with putting Colombian gastronomy on the international map, per Publimetro. Organizers say the full roster of 15-plus speakers will be confirmed on the official forum site — worth checking directly rather than relying on early press, since lineups for events this size often shift.

Why Medellín, and Why It Matters

Bringing the forum to Medellín is, as organizers frame it, a step toward decentralizing Colombia’s gastronomic conversation — moving the country’s most serious food-industry dialogue out of the capital and into a city whose dining scene has been on a sharp upward curve. Medellín has spent the last few years earning that attention, from its place on Time Out’s ranking of the world’s best food cities to a steady run of high-profile openings we track in our monthly restaurant news.

For English-speaking residents and visitors, a forum is a different kind of access than a tasting menu. You do not need a reservation or a big budget — you need a free registration and a seat. The tradeoff is that sessions are conducted in Spanish; there is no announced English interpretation, so intermediate Spanish will help you get the most from the panels.

How to Register (It’s Free) and What to Know

Here is what has been confirmed as of July 16, 2026:

• Dates: October 14–15, 2026
• Venue: Auditorium of Universidad Católica Luis Amigó, Medellín
• Cost: Free in-person registration with limited seats — the forum runs in a hybrid format with an online stream as well
• Register: Through the official Alimentarte forum site; seats are capped, so sign up early
• Language: Spanish, with no confirmed English interpretation

Because in-person capacity is limited and this is the forum’s Medellín debut, expect the free seats to move quickly once registration opens fully. If you cannot get an in-person spot, the virtual transmission is the fallback.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alimentarte 2026 Medellín

When and where is Alimentarte 2026 in Medellín?
October 14–15, 2026, at the auditorium of Universidad Católica Luis Amigó. It is the first time the forum has been held in Medellín.

How much does it cost?
In-person registration is free with limited seats, and sessions are streamed online. Register via the official forum site.

Which chefs are coming?
More than 15 speakers, headlined by Leonor Espinosa and Harry Sasson. Confirm the full lineup on the official site before you go.

Is it in English?
No English interpretation has been announced; plan for Spanish-language sessions.

The Takeaway

Alimentarte 2026 Medellín is a rare chance to hear world-class chefs and food researchers think out loud — for free — in a city that has quietly become one of Latin America’s most interesting places to eat. Register early through the official site, because the seats are limited and the names are big.