The Chefs Beyond Borders initiative will debut in Castelldefels, Spain, during the The Food Capitals Summit 2026 from May 18 to 21. Created and organised by The Food Capitals, this curated initiative brings together chefs from member cities to collaborate with local culinary professionals and create unique dishes blending their cultural traditions and gastronomic expertise.
Chefs Beyond Borders is a new international chef exchange initiative created by The Food Capitals network, which will launch for the first time during the 2026 Summit thanks to support from the City of Castelldefels.
Bringing together chefs from different cities, culinary traditions, and professional backgrounds, these collaborations will translate into co-creations of unique dishes, exchange of techniques, and knowledge sharing, while celebrating gastronomy as a powerful driver of culture, creativity, and international dialogue.
With this ambitious program, The Food Capitals aims to strengthen cooperation between its member cities and encourage greater collaborations between public institutions, local restaurants, and the culinary training sector. At a time when food can serve as a bridge between cultures, the program highlights gastronomy’s potential as a tool for diplomacy, innovation, and cultural understanding.
The participating chefs will play a key role throughout the Summit. Beyond contributing to the meals shared during the event, they will actively engage with Summit participants, students, producers, and food professionals from the region.
Their presence will bring an experiential dimension to the Summit, combining education, storytelling, and hands-on collaboration. For The Food Capitals, integrating Chefs Beyond Borders into the annual Summit represents a new way to showcase the strength of the network: through real culinary exchanges that translate the collaboration between member cities into tangible gastronomic experiences.
Find out more about The Food Capitals Summit here
During their stay in Castelldefels, guest chefs will participate in a series of professional and cultural activities designed to foster learning and collaboration.
Among these highlights, they will lead masterclasses and training sessions for students at the Castelldefels Culinary and Hospitality School, offering young professionals an opportunity to learn directly from international chefs. They will also work alongside local chefs to discover and reinterpret the city’s signature dish, Arroz de Castelldefels, exploring how different culinary traditions can inspire new interpretations of a local classic.
To learn more about Arroz de Castelldefels, listen to our podcast Cities at the Table
The program will also immerse visiting chefs in the region’s food ecosystem. They will visit a local farm, explore restaurants and markets, and meet local producers and food professionals. These encounters will provide valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, discover different approaches to gastronomy, and deepen their understanding of Castelldefels’ culinary identity.
Throughout the Summit, they will also participate directly in events with members of the network, contributing to discussions, tastings, and collaborative moments that celebrate the diversity of global food cultures.
International chefs are being announced regularly. Check out The Food Capitals website for updates.
We are thrilled to welcome talented chefs to Castelldefels to showcase inspiring culinary diversity and co-create delicious dishes with local chefs! More chefs will be announced soon. Check back regularly here.
Food Capitals member cities are invited to nominate a chef to join the Chefs Beyond Borders culinary exchange during the Summit.
To learn more about participation, please contact: contact@thefoodcapitals.com
The Food Capitals is the international network of cities committed to using food and gastronomy as powerful tools for economic and sustainable urban development, cultural identity, urban well-being, and city attractiveness.
Founded and headquartered in Lyon since 2007, this non-profit organisation gathers cities working together on food culture, food sector, food policies, and food scene development.
Photo credits: ©Castelldefels Capital Gastronómica, ©Oscar Rodbag, ©Consorci de Turisme del Baix Llobregat, ©Patricia Dianda, ©Sofia Sada
