#FOOD: TERROIR SYMPOSIUM 2026 EDMONTON

In its 20th anniversary year, Terroir Symposium is expanding its footprint into Edmonton, May 27–31, 2026, where the city proudly welcomes an extraordinary roster of international culinary guests, including an exceptional delegation from Ireland. Edmonton serves as the vibrant first stop for global chefs, producers, and hospitality innovators before travelling south to Calgary for the VIP Opening Reception, hands‑on workshops, and the flagship Symposium Day.

This milestone edition reflects a deepening spirit of collaboration across Alberta, with Edmonton and Calgary jointly hosting a week of immersive programming that celebrates global talent and the richness of local communities coming together across terroir. Guided by the theme The Joy of Food, Terroir 2026 invites visitors from around the world to experience a uniquely Albertan welcome, rooted in generosity, creativity, and the shared pleasure of gathering around the table.

Edmonton Program Highlights

Wednesday, May 27
Streetcar Terroir: A Rolling Celebration of Connection – offers a moving tasting experience aboard the city’s historic Edmonton Radial Railway Society Streetcar, connecting Alberta’s wild landscape with the culinary and distilling traditions of Asia and Ireland. Led by chefs Winnie Chen (Fu’s Repair Shop), Tracy Little (Sauvage), and Liana Robberecht, featuring Irish drinks practitioner Linda O’Flynn and cocktail director Glaziem Garcia, guests will enjoy small plates and cocktails inspired by locally foraged ingredients.

Cocktail Class at Fu’s Repair Shop — Featuring Irish Mixologist Linda O’Flynn
Edmonton opens its doors to Ireland with a lively masterclass on wild fermentation led by guest mixologist Linda O’Flynn of Cask in Cork, Ireland. Guests will explore Irish cocktail sensibilities woven with Edmonton’s playful, modern approach to flavour.

Cocktail Event Evening celebration at Double Dragon with Irish Mixologist Linda O’Flynn – The Irish influence continues with an evening celebration as Cask’s Linda O’Flynn teams up with the crew at Fu’s Repair Shop and Double Dragon for a memorable evening of cocktails and curiosities.

Butchery Workshop with Benedikt Gudgeirsson — RGE RD welcomes special guest Benedikt Gudgeirsson of Iceland’s World Butchery Team for a full bison breakdown, in partnership with Noble Premium Bison. A hands-on experience in the butcher’s lab, small bites and libations, and a take-home package of the bison sausage created.

Thursday, May 28
Signature Dinner at RGE RD — Featuring Galway Chef Jess Murphy, Icelandic Butcher Benedikt Gudgeirsson & Chicago-based rapper BLVCK SVM.

A centrepiece of Edmonton’s international welcome, this rare synesthetic tasting menu brings together RGE RD’s Chef Blair Lebsack, Chef Jared Dunn, and acclaimed Irish chef Jess Murphy, co-owner of Galway’s iconic Kai Restaurant. Chef Murphy, celebrated for her environmentally focused menus and deep relationships with Irish producers, joins Edmonton’s culinary leaders to craft an evening that bridges Irish and Albertan terroir. The dinner also features a performance by Chicago-based rapper BLVCK SVM, known for blending luxury rap with culinary themes.

Friday, May 29
Signature Dinner at Paperbirch in the Old Strathcona Market — Shane Chartrand welcomes international guest chef Ari Miller (Pist Haste & Poi Dog, Philadelphia), alongside Edmonton chefs Victor Hugo Raya (Super Amigos Mexican Street Food) and Lindsay Porter, to curate an exclusive, multi-course menu, sourcing only the freshest ingredients from Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market vendors. Each dish shares the rich history and traditions of Indigenous cuisine from around the world, offering a deeper connection to the food on your plate.

These events form part of a broader, multi-city program that includes thought-provoking talks, hands-on workshops, and community-driven experiences across Calgary and Edmonton. Terroir Symposium continues to evolve as a vital platform for dialogue and discovery—connecting ideas, people, and places through the lens of food and drink.

For full programming details and registration, visit:
https://www.terroirsymposium.com/

About Terroir:

The Canadian Terroir Symposium brings together innovative people from the field of hospitality. The flagship event attracts people who are serious about the business of hospitality and those looking to constantly develop and refine their careers through professional development workshops, presentations, dinners and tastings.

About Food Tourism Strategies:

With over 30 years of culinary, hospitality, and tourism industry experience, Food Tourism Strategies is invested in growing culinary tourism in Canada. From strategic development to signature events to industry workshops and beyond, FTS works to enhance the visitor experience through the taste of place.

#FOOD: TERROIR SYMPOSIUM RETURNS MAY 27-31, 2026

Terroir Symposium returns to Alberta May 27–31, 2026, for its 20th anniversary, marking two decades as Canada’s most influential gathering of chefs, creators, producers, and food-world thinkers. This milestone edition invites the industry and its community to come together under the theme The Joy of Food — a celebration of the flavours, traditions, and voices that have shaped how we cook, eat, and connect.

For the first time, the 2026 program expands across two cities, beginning with workshops and dining events in Edmonton (May 27–29) before continuing in Calgary (May 28–31) with signature dinners, a VIP opening reception, and the main Symposium Day at the Calgary Central Library.

For 20 years, Terroir Symposium has been where ideas launch, collaborations spark, and lasting relationships are built. If you want to be part of the conversations defining the future of hospitality, this is the room to be in. Tickets available HERE.

Since its inaugural gathering in 2006, Terroir has been the launchpad for culinary visionaries and cultural storytellers. Past participants include Fergus Henderson, Daniel Boulud, Albert Adrià, and David Chang, alongside Canada’s own Matty Matheson and many other luminaries who have come together to exchange ideas, experiment with flavours, and share the stories behind their craft.

“These gatherings spark collaborations and influence Canada’s food and hospitality scene for years afterward,” says Arlene Stein, founder of Terroir Hospitality.

“Terroir Symposium convenes the people who move the industry forward — global icons you recognize instantly, and the quiet leaders whose influence is deep, decisive, and impossible to ignore. We don’t just spotlight fame — we celebrate visionaries and the creative leaders whose work is reshaping the industry from the ground up.”

Featured Symposium Speakers

Sunday, May 31, 2026
Calgary Central Library
This year’s lineup brings together a thoughtful mix of longtime collaborators and new voices spanning generations, geographies, and disciplines within the food world.

Confirmed speakers include:

Alex Chen – Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, Vancouver
Amanda Cohen – Dirt Candy, New York
Benedikt Gudgeirsson – Iceland Butcher Team
Bettina Schormann – Bardō, Hamilton
BLVCK SVM – Culinary-inspired rapper and creator, Chicago
Chet Sharma – BiBi, London
Daniele Uditi – Pizzana, Los Angeles
Jason Bangerter – Langdon Hall, Ontario
JP McMahon – Aniar, Ireland
Kate Colley – Hospitality PR professional, Vancouver
Ned Bell – Culinary Director of Planetary Health; Ocean Wise ambassador
Peter McKenna – The Gannet, Glasgow
Peter Pilarski – Digital strategist, Alberta
Shane Harper – Chef de Farm, Pearl Morissette
Warren Barr & Lily Verney-Downey – Pluvio Restaurant + Rooms, Ucluelet

Additional presenters and guests will be announced in the coming weeks, with a special focus on voices from Calgary and Edmonton’s restaurant communities.

Signature Experiences Across Alberta
Beyond the stage, Terroir 2026 will feature immersive culinary programming designed to connect, inspire, and celebrate the hospitality community.

Highlights include:
Signature Dining Series across Calgary and Edmonton restaurants including
River Café, Rouge, Teatro, Oxbow, Pizza Letty, SAIT, Paperbirch, and RGE RD.

VIP Opening Reception

May 29, 2026

Safari Lodge at the Calgary Zoo’s Wilder Institute.

Once Upon a Brunch
A celebratory gathering bringing chefs, producers, and guests together in a relaxed setting.

Hands-On Workshops
Interactive sessions designed to explore craft, storytelling, and innovation across food, beverage, and hospitality.

The flagship Symposium Day takes place May 31 at the Calgary Central Library, bringing together chefs, restaurateurs, writers, producers, and industry leaders for a full day of talks, panels, and discussion.

Tickets On Sale Now
Tickets for Terroir Symposium 2026 — including Symposium passes, VIP experiences, and select events — are now available HERE.

Why Terroir 2026

• Learn directly from global leaders and innovators
• Build meaningful connections across hospitality, media, and food culture
• Experience unforgettable dinners, workshops, and curated events
• Celebrate 20 years of culinary creativity and influence

ABOUT TERROIR
The Canadian Terroir Symposium brings together innovative people from the field of hospitality. The flagship event attracts professionals who are serious about the business of hospitality and those looking to constantly develop and refine their careers through professional development workshops, presentations, dinners, and tastings.

About Food Tourism Strategies
With more than 30 years of culinary, hospitality, and tourism industry experience, Food Tourism Strategies is invested in growing culinary tourism in Canada. From strategic development to signature events and industry workshops, FTS works to enhance the visitor experience through the taste of place.