Lima to host 2026 World’s 50 Best Restaurants, boosting Peru tourism
Lima will host the 2026 World’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremony, a first for Latin America that Peru’s trade and tourism bodies are leveraging to cement gastronomic travel as an economic pillar.
Lima will host the World’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremony on November 4, 2026, replacing the previously announced host city of Abu Dhabi. It marks the first time in the ranking’s 24-year history that the flagship event will be held in Peru or anywhere in Latin America.
Peru’s trade and tourism ministry is partnering on the programme to maximise the commercial impact. The government views the week-long series of talks, tastings, and chef gatherings as a direct investment in the country's travel infrastructure. For the Peruvian economy, gastronomic tourism has evolved into a critical revenue stream, standing alongside Machu Picchu as a primary driver of international visitor spending.
The selection reflects Lima’s current dominance in the global dining sector, which serves as the foundation for this tourism strategy. Maido, a Lima restaurant serving Nikkei cuisine, was crowned the world’s best in 2025, while Central held the title in 2023. Both kitchens, along with Kjolle, Mérito and Mayta, featured on the 2025 global list. This concentration of highly ranked establishments is a market asset that few cities can match.
The economic dynamics of Lima’s dining scene also support broader tourism growth. The city pairs world-topping tasting menus with cheap set lunches, creating a pricing structure that appeals to both high-net-worth travellers and budget-conscious visitors. This accessibility broadens the base of potential spending during the ceremony week, which historically fills host city hotels and top tables months in advance.
The strategic payoff for Peru extends well beyond a single week of hospitality bookings. Hosting the award functions as a targeted form of economic soft power, converting a temporary media spotlight into a lasting draw for future travellers. For a country leveraging its food exports and culinary reputation on the global stage, the ceremony offers a rare, concentrated marketing platform.
Maido will now move into the ranking’s "Best of the Best" group, making it ineligible for future editions. However, the depth of Lima’s restaurant sector ensures the city retains its appeal. The 2026 event gives Peru a controlled environment to showcase its agricultural range—from Pacific coast to high Andes to Amazon—to the exact demographic of global professionals who dictate international food trends.
