Celebrating African Gastronomy in Agadir
From September 22 to 24, 2026, Morocco will proudly host an extraordinary culinary event, TOC Africa 2026, at the La Dune d’Or Congress Palace in Agadir. Under the esteemed patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, this event will feature three prestigious competitions that highlight the richness of African cuisine: the Bocuse d’Or Africa, the African Pastry Cup, and La Liste Africa. For three thrilling days, chefs, pastry chefs, national teams, juries, and industry professionals will converge to showcase their skills, creativity, and culinary traditions. The primary goal is to illuminate the continent's culinary talents while enhancing the global visibility of African gastronomy.
A Platform for Culinary Exchange
Organized by Rahal Event, TOC Africa 2026 aims to transcend mere competition; it seeks to establish a vibrant platform for networking and knowledge sharing among culinary professionals from across the continent. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange experiences, promote their products, and celebrate the diversity of their culinary cultures. This initiative aligns with the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, which emphasizes the importance of preserving and promoting the intangible heritage of the Kingdom while fostering South-South cooperation. By hosting this significant event, Agadir solidifies its reputation as an open destination for Africa and as a locale capable of hosting international gastronomic gatherings.
The Bocuse d’Or Africa will focus on haute cuisine, where participating teams must demonstrate their technical mastery, creativity, and ability to express their culinary identity under conditions similar to the global finals held in Lyon. The African Pastry Cup will bring together the continent's finest pastry chefs to compete in various contemporary pastry disciplines, serving as a qualifying round for the World Pastry Cup, which will take place in January 2027 in Lyon. La Liste Africa expands the scope of recognition to chefs, restaurants, and industry players who contribute to the growth and prominence of African gastronomy. Together, these three initiatives share a common ambition: to uncover talent, celebrate craftsmanship, and elevate African gastronomy to match its diversity.
Morocco will be well represented in both competitions. In the Bocuse d’Or Africa, the Kingdom's representative will be Abdessamad Dandani, accompanied by team members Ahmed El Hilali, a commis, Issam Rhachi, a coach, and Rachid Maftouh, the president. The African Pastry Cup will feature El Mehdi Benbiga competing in the chocolate category and Mourad Msour in the sugar category, under the presidency of Mohamed El Yazidi. This participation continues the legacy of TOC Morocco, held biennially as part of the CREMAI show, which serves as a national stepping stone toward continental competitions.
The competitions in Agadir are not just about winning titles; they represent a crucial stepping stone for African candidates on their journey to the international stage. The challenges replicate the technical demands and pressure of major international finals. For the African Pastry Cup, the top three teams will qualify for the global finals in January 2027, with additional invitations potentially awarded by the international committee, in accordance with competition regulations. Similarly, the Bocuse d’Or Africa serves as an essential part of the international pathway for the continent's best chefs.
As the event unfolds, the schedule will kick off on Tuesday, September 22, with the official opening of TOC Africa and a highlight segment dedicated to La Liste Africa. The following day, Wednesday, September 23, will showcase the African Pastry Cup, leading into the Bocuse d’Or Africa competition on Thursday, September 24, which will also mark the conclusion of this edition. Over these three days, Agadir will welcome delegations from various African nations, united by a shared passion for gastronomy.
“With TOC Africa, our ambition is to provide chefs and pastry chefs from the continent with a platform that matches their talent, to inspire new vocations, and to ensure that African excellence is sustainably integrated into the global gastronomic landscape. Agadir embodies this promise of hospitality, openness, and knowledge transfer,” emphasizes Kamal Rahal, president of TOC Africa. By bringing together high cuisine competitions, pastry contests, and La Liste Africa, TOC Africa 2026 aims to establish a lasting event dedicated to the excellence and global impact of African gastronomy.
As reported by lobservateur.info.
