Gozo, 15th February – The island of Gozo has been recommended for the prestigious Award of European Region of Gastronomy 2026 by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts, and Tourism (IGCAT). This momentous achievement marks a significant milestone in Gozo’s culinary journey and reaffirms its status as a vibrant island destination at the heart of the Mediterranean.
The culmination of months of diligent effort and collaboration between various key Gozitan stakeholders spearheaded by the Gozo Regional Council, Gozo’s successful bid for the European Region of Gastronomy Award is a testament to the island’s rich eclectic gastronomic heritage, innovative culinary scene, and unwavering commitment to sustainability.
Gozo underwent a rigorous evaluation process this week conducted by the IGCAT Jury, following the submission of a Bid Book in December 2023, which highlighted Gozo’s distinctive gastronomic identity and its vision for sustainable growth. The jury members observed Gozitan life with its cultural and food identities; they experienced food traditions from small-scale goat milk farming, ġbejniet and Gozitan ftira-making, to large-scale tomato processing and innovation technologies, also for international export. The 5 international judges also explored the intrinsic link between food and religion through the transition from Carnival to Lent and Holy Week gastronomic traditions. They also explored Gozo’s unique cultural heritage sites such as the Ġgantija Temples and the Ta’ Pinu National Shrine. The island’s vibrant food culture and evident strong social cohesion, coupled with its stunning landscapes and warm hospitality, captured the hearts and palates of the evaluation panel. The process undertaken for this Award augurs well for Gozo’s upcoming bid later this year for the European Capital of Culture 2031.
The jury commented that “The exceptional food and hospitality found in Gozo, the quality of local products, commitment to traditional methods of food production, the culture and indeed harmony of cultures, arts and crafts make Gozo’s application extremely strong.”
Dr Samuel Azzopardi, President of the Gozo Region, expressed his delight at the news, stating, “Gozo has long been known for its rich gastronomic and cultural heritage. This prestigious Award is a testament to our dedication to preserving our culinary traditions, promoting innovation while remaining authentic, and fostering sustainable growth within the gastronomy sector. We are immensely proud to be recommended for the European Region of Gastronomy Award 2026. We have every expectation and will continue to persevere in our journey to obtain the Award in June 2024″
The awarding of the European Region of Gastronomy title to Gozo will be a cause for celebration not only for the island’s residents but will also shine a spotlight on the island for gastronomy enthusiasts and travellers worldwide. As Gozo prepares to embark on this exciting gastronomic journey, stakeholders, communities, and visitors alike, are invited to join in the celebration and experience the island’s culinary treasures. 23 projects and programmes designed to cultivate, celebrate and elevate Gozo’s gastronomic identity will be implemented in the years leading up to 2026, promising a strong legacy beyond the Award year.
For more information about Gozo’s designation as the European Region of Gastronomy 2026, please visit regjunghawdex.com/european-region-of-gastronomy-2026-bid/
About the World/European Region of Gastronomy Award
The International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT) is the operative institute that oversees the management and coordination of the World and European Region of Gastronomy Award. IGCAT believes that cross-sectoral collaboration will help regions find solutions to current-day challenges and thus, the Award is not only given because a region has great gastronomy but because the whole region is working together to create a more sustainable food future. IGCAT encourages not only hospitality industries to participate but everyone across the whole eco-system including public, private, NGO and academic institutions.
Candidate and awarded Regions of Gastronomy, guided by IGCAT, are working together to strengthen food security through the celebration of distinctive food cultures; create employment by stimulating creativity and gastronomic innovation; nourish children and adults through culinary and cultural education; drive environmental sustainability in tourism, hospitality and agricultural sectors; support balance and sustainable tourism practices; highlight and support expertise from within rural and urban communities, creating connections and sharing good practices; and ultimately they contribute to community health and well-being.
Il-Gżira t’Għawdex Rakkomandata għat-titlu ta’ Reġjun tal-Gastronomija Ewropew 2026
Għawdex – 15 ta’ Frar 2024 – Il-Gżira ta’ Għawdex ġiet irrakkomandata biex tingħata t-titlu prestiġjuż ta’ Reġjun Ewropew tal-Gastronomija 2026. Din il-kisba hija paġna importanti fl-istorja tal-iżvilupp tal-gżira Għawdxija għaliex tikkonferma l-identità vibranti ta’ din il-gżira djamant f’nofs il-Mediterran.
Is-suċċess fil-kisba ta’ dan it-titlu huwa il-qofol ta’ xhur ta’ ħidma minn wara l-kwinti bejn diversi stakeholders Għawdxin, immexxija b’reqqa mill-Kunsill Reġjonali ta’ Għawdex. Huwa wkoll xhieda ċara li l-gżira ta’ Għawdex hija mgħonija b’identità gastronomika rikka, industrija kulinarja innovattiva u hija kommessa għal-iktar sostenibbilita.
L-ewwel fażi tal-applikazzjoni kienet is-sottomissjoni tal-Bid Book f’Diċembru 2023. Dan il-Bid Book preżenta stampa ċara tal-identità gastronomika Għawdxija u l-viżjoni tal-gżira għall-iżvilupp sostennibbli. It-tieni fażi involviet li ġurija internazzjonali u speċjalizzata fil-gastronomija jiġu sa Għawdex sabiex jevalwaw jekk il-gżira timmeritax dan it-titlu prestiġjuż. Il-hames membri tal-ġurija esperjenzaw ftit mil-ħajja Għawdxija – dik tradizzjonali u kif ukoll kontemporanja. Huma osservaw u pparteċipaw fi tradizzjoniet bħat-taħlib tal-mogħoż, il-produzzjoni tal-ġbejna u tisjir tal-ftira Għawdxija. Il-ħames membri tal-Ġurija esploraw ukoll il-konnessjoni bejn ir-reliġjon u l-gastronimija billi osservaw id-differenza fl-ikel tradizzjonali, dak tat-transizzjoni mill-ikel sinonimu ma’ żmien il-Karnival għal dak ta’ żmien ir-Randan.
Barra minn hekk huma żaru siti turistiċi Għawdxin bħat-Tempji tal-Ġgantija u s-Santwarju Ta’ Pinu. Il-ġurija esperjenzaw ftit mill-kultura Għawdxija wkoll billi attendew għall-Karnival Reġjonali ta’ Għawdex fil-Belt Victoria u kif ukoll dak spontanja tan-Nadur, fejn innutaw id-differenza bejn it-tnejn.
Is-sottomissjoni ta’ Għawdex spikkat u wriet it-taħlita unika ta’ togħmiet tradizzjonali u innovattivi. Il-ġurija wkoll faħħret l-impenn għall-preservazzjoni tat-tradizzjonijiet kulinari lokali. Il-kultura vibranti tal-gżira, flimkien mal-pajsaġġi idiliċi tagħha u l-ospitalità Għawdxija, messew il-qlub u l-palat tal-ġurija.
Il-ġurija kkummentat li “L-ikel u l-ospitalità eċċezzjonali li sibna f’Għawdex, il-kwalità tal-prodotti lokali, l-impenn lejn metodi tradizzjonali ta’ produzzjoni tal-ikel, il-kultura u l-armonija tal-kulturi, l-arti u s-snajja’ jagħmlu l-applikazzjoni ta’ Għawdex b’saħħitha ħafna.”
Il-President tar-Reġjun ta’ Għawdex, Dr Samuel Azzopardi, laqa’ l-aħbar pożittiva u stqarr li “Ir-Reġjun ta’ Għawdex ilu ħafna magħruf għall-wirt gastronomiku u kulturali għani tiegħu. Dan it-titlu prestiġjuż huwa xhieda għad-dedikazzjoni tagħna biex nippreservaw it-tradizzjonijiet kulinarji tagħna, nippromwovu l-innovazzjoni, u nrawmu tkabbir sostenibbli fis-settur tal-gastronomija. Aħna kburin li qegħdin niġu rakkomandati għat-titlu ta’ Reġjun Ewropew tal-Gastronomija 2026 u ser nkomplu naħdmu sabiex nirċievu uffiċjalment it-titlu f’Ġunju tal-2024.”
L-għoti tat-titlu ta’ Reġjun Ewropew tal-Gastronomija lil Għawdex se jkun kawża ta’ ċelebrazzjoni mhux biss għar-residenti tal-gżira, iżda se jiġbed ukoll attenzjoni ta’ dilettanti tal-gastronomija u vjaġġaturi minn madwar id-dinja fuq il-gżira Għawdxija. Hekk kif Għawdex qed jipprepara biex jibda dan il-vjaġġ gastronomiku eċċitanti, il-pubbliku, l-komunitajiet, u l-viżitaturi huma mistiedna sabiex jingħaqdu fiċ-ċelebrazzjoni u jesperjenzaw it-teżori kulinarji tal-gżira ta’ Għawdex. Total ta’ 23 proġett u programm ġew maħsuba sabiex jikkultivaw, jiċċelebraw u jgħollu l-identità gastronomika ta’ Għawdex u se jiġu implimentati fis-snin li jwasslu għal-2026, li se jħallu legat qawwi, lil hinn mis-sena tal-Premju.
Għal-iktar informazzjoni fuq il-proġett u bid book jistgħu jinkisbu mis-sit tar-reġjun fuq: https://regjunghawdex.com/european-region-of-gastronomy-2026-bid/
Informazzjoni fuq t-Titlu
L-Istitut Internazzjonali tal-Gastronomija, Kultura, Arti u Turiżmu (IGCAT) huwa l-istitut operattiv li jissorvelja t-tmexxija u l-ko-ordinazzjoni tal-Premju Dinji u Reġjun Ewropew tal-Gastronomija. L-IGCAT jemmen li l-kollaborazzjoni bejn is-setturi se tgħin lir-reġjuni jsibu soluzzjonijiet għall-isfidi ta’ llum u għalhekk, il-premju mhux biss jingħata għax reġjun għandu gastronomija kbira iżda għaliex ir-reġjun kollu qed jaħdem flimkien biex jinħoloq futur ta’ ikel aktar sostenibbli. L-IGCAT iħeġġeġ mhux biss lill-industriji tal-ospitalità biex jipparteċipaw iżda lil kulħadd madwar l-ekosistema kollha inklużi istituzzjonijiet pubbliċi, privati, NGOs u akkademiċi.
Ir-Reġjuni tal-Gastronomija Kandidati u ppremjati, immexxija mill-IGCAT, qed jaħdmu flimkien biex jsaħħu s-sigurtà tal-ikel permezz taċ-ċelebrazzjoni ta’ kulturi distinti; żieda fl-impjieg billi jkattru l-kreattività u l-innovazzjoni gastronomika; jrawwmu lit-tfal u lill-adulti permezz ta’ edukazzjoni kulinarja u kulturali; jmexxu s-sostenibbiltà ambjentali ‘il quddiem fis-setturi tat-turiżmu, l-ospitalità u l-agrikoltura; jappoġġaw il-bilanċ u l-prattiċi tat-turiżmu sostenibbli;, joħolqu relazzjonijiet u jaqsmu prattiċi tajba; u fl-aħħar mill-aħħar jikkontribwixxu għas-saħħa u l-benesseri tal-komunità li jgħixu fiha.
