2026 Submissions

Submit Your Digital Platform for Top Foodie Websites 2026

Gain international recognition and support local communities through innovation and sustainability.

Be Part of a Global Initiative

The International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts, and Tourism (IGCAT) invites digital platforms to participate in the 2026 edition of the Top Websites for Foodie Travelers.

This initiative celebrates and promotes platforms offering unique cultural and gastronomical experiences while empowering local communities and promoting sustainability.

Learn How to Participate
Learn How to Participate

Who  Can Apply?

  • Legally established websites, apps, or blogs.
  • Platforms advertising creative and bookable experiences throughout the year.
  • Suitable for domestic and international visitors.
  • Supporting local businesses, craftspeople, and producers.
  • Promoting cross-sectorial collaboration and sustainability.
Open Call
Open Call

How Does the Competition Work?

Step 1
Nomination & Submission
Websites and apps are nominated or submit entries.
1
Step 1
Step 2
Evaluation by Experts
An international jury evaluates entries based on criteria like creativity, sustainability, and cultural impact.
2
Step 2
Step 3
Winners Announcement
The winning platforms are announced and promoted on IGCAT’s website and social media, with global visibility in international media.
3
Step 3

Why Participate?

Winning platforms gain global recognition, increased visibility, and the opportunity to connect with a network of cultural and gastronomic leaders.

  • Featured on IGCAT’s website and social media.
  • Coverage in international media.
  • Networking opportunities with global experts and communities.
  • Official certificate and recognition as a top platform.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Usability of the Portal 
(Technical Aspects)
  • Interface clarity and accessibility.
  • Multilingual support.
2. Portal Offer 
(Content)
  • Sustainability principles.
  • Cross-sectoral approach and creativity.
  • Connection to regional heritage.
3. Booking Experience 
(Operative Aspects)
  • Clear descriptions and booking process.
  • Information on transport and accessibility.

Ready to Join the Movement?

Be part of a global initiative that celebrates gastronomy, culture, and sustainability.

Open Call Criteria

OPEN CALL FOR WEBSITES PROVIDING CULTURAL AND GASTRONOMICAL EXPERIENCES

  • Organised by IGCAT
  • Deadline to submit registrations: December 2025
Download Open Call
PDF

The TopWebsites for Foodie TravelersAward is a recognition given by IGCAT for the best websites providing unique creative, cultural and gastronomical experiences across the globe. By means of this project, IGCAT hopes to encourage creative, artistic and sensory experimentation to build new and unique food experiences.

By publishing an annual list of Top Foodie Websites, IGCAT aims to:

  • Increase international visitors access to quality food and cultural experiences
  • Give international visibility to niche food and culture experiences
  • Reward portals and apps that support local businesses and contribute to sustainable territorial development

In doing so, IGCAT hopes to encourage:

  • The development of new and unique food experiences initiatives or start-ups
  • Provide inspiration to build innovative, creative and positive food experiences
  • Improve the quality of services provided to ensure suitability for international visitors to enjoy

WEBSITE/DIGITAL PLATFORMS DESCRIPTION

Nominations are open for exemplary digital platforms dedicated to Foodie Travelers. Eligible platforms may include websites, apps, blogs, or other digital tools from both public and private entities. Nominated platforms should:

  • Be legally constituted and encapsulate an inclusive governance structure;
  • Advertise creative experiences available for online bookings throughout the year;
  • Be appropriate for both domestic and international visitor markets;
  • Support local businesses, craftspeople and local producers;
  • Provide cross-sectorial and participatory experiences;
  • Contribute to sustainable territorial development;

The digital platforms (websites, apps, blogs, or other) may provide a variety of unique experiences including (but not exclusive to):

  • Food/wine tastings
  • Farm/factory visits
  • Cookery classes
  • Craft-related experience
  • Food/wine route
  • Food/wine markets or fairs
  • Museum/heritage sites related to food

Websites for Foodie Travelers that encourage cross-sectoral collaboration to create exceptional experiences will be favoured along with those that include unusual or emblematic venues, a theme or story, revalorization of heritage and educational tools; participatory or sensory experiences and/or provide enchanting and original experiences.

Note: The digital platforms should offer users the possibility to book experiences directly through the website/app/blog/platform. To facilitate this, the experiences’ description and booking process should be clear, informative, and user-friendly.

SELECTION PROCESS & CRITERIA

Digital Platforms submitted to the Top Foodie Websites 2025 competition will be evaluated by an international jury of experts from IGCAT according to the following macro-area (3) and their subcategories (10):

A. USABILITY OF THE PORTAL – TECHNICAL ASPECT

  1. Interface structure

  2. International and language accessibility

B. PORTAL OFFER – CONTENT ASPECT

  1. Sustainability principles

  2. Cross-sectoral approach

  3. Education tools

  4. Territorial connection

  5. Creativity, uniqueness and appeal

C. BOOKING EXPERIENCE – OPERATIVE ASPECT

  1. Description of experiences

  2. Booking process, information about prices and available dates/ calendar

  3. Transport and other services offered

Websites will be scored from 1 to 5 in each of the above listed categories, where:

5 = Strongly Agree
4 = Agree
3 = Neither Agree nor disagree

2 = Disagree
1 = Strongly Disagree

Each of the 10 subcategories will be evaluated by each jury member with the Evaluation Form reported below.

The jury will then discuss the results and select 10 overall winners (TEN BEST WEBSITES OF FOOD AND CULTURE EXPERIENCES IN THE WORLD). In case of a tiebreak situation, the Chair of the jury will have the final say.

Website for Foodie Travelers 5
(Strongly Agree)		 4
(Agree)		 3
(Neither Agree nor Disagree)		 2
(Disagree)		 1
(Strongly Disagree)
Usability of the portal
(Technical aspect)		 1. It has a well-structured, clear, understandable, and captivating interface
2. It is available in multiple languages, offers international guides and is accessible to tourists from all over the world
Portal offer
(Content aspect)		 3. It offers socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable experiences throughout the year
4. It offers cross-sectoral experiences and that involve different stakeholders in the region
5. It offers educational, inclusive, and family-friendly experiences
6. It offers experiences closely linked to the regional territory, promoting local producers and products
7. It offers creative, unique and appealing experiences
Booking Experience
(Operative Aspects)		 8. It contains enough information, images, and photos to describe the various experiences available
9. It has an intuitive, fast, and understandable booking process
10. Provides adequate services to make the experiences accessible to all (means of transport, services, and assistance for people with disabilities)

PRIZE

Websites for Foodie Travelers that meet IGCAT’s criteria will be promoted on IGCAT’s website and social media. They may also be highlighted in other knowledge-sharing and promotional channels as good practices.

The winning Platforms will also receive an official certificate.

BRANDING

IGCAT will provide the Top Foodie Websites with a logo (button) to use as a link between the winning websites and IGCAT’s websites.

RULES

  1. The Top Foodie Websites 2026 will be announced in February 2025 (exact date and place to be confirmed).

  2. Websites/Platforms that were presented in the past edition can be re-submitted.

  3. Websites/Platforms shall be submitted through the Registration Form provided by

    IGCAT by December 2025.

  4. Submissions will be evaluated by a jury/panel formed from IGCAT Experts.

  5. In case of a tiebreak situation, the Chair of the jury will have the final say.

  6. All rules and regulations are subject to interpretation by the organising body (IGCAT) whose decision shall be final.

     

ORGANISERS

The Top Foodie Websites is organised and coordinated by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT). IGCAT aims to empower local communities by raising awareness of the importance to safeguard and promote distinct food, culture, arts and sustainable tourism assets. This is essential to balance against globalised food trends that are impacting on our planet, health and local economies.

IGCAT is a non-profit institute established in 2012, working with regional stakeholder consortiums in the fields of gastronomy, culture, arts and tourism. It counts on the expertise of a worldwide network of experts and works in partnership with specialised intergovernmental organisations.

IGCAT provides the European/World Region of Gastronomy Award and is the official secretariat for the World and European Regions of Gastronomy Platforms. Furthermore, the Institute has developed the European Young Chef Award, the World Food Gift Challenge and the International Food Film Menu.

www.igcat.org

© 2025 IGCAT. IGCAT retains all the copyrights to the Top Foodie Websites project and its criteria.

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