The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has announced that this year’s Tastes of Culture festival will hold from December 1st to 6th, 2025, at Eagle Square in Abuja. The event, which has grown into one of Nigeria’s biggest cultural gatherings, will be hosting thousands of guests for a special royal-themed dining experience and a major cultural showcase.
According to the organisers, the 2025 edition will highlight the beauty of Nigeria’s different tribes through food, fashion, music, storytelling and traditional performances. NIHOTOUR explained that the goal is to remind Nigerians of the richness of their heritage at a time when cultural pride is becoming even more important.
The week long programme will open with a food and beverage festival featuring local dishes, street food favourites and culinary displays from different regions. The middle of the week will focus on masterclasses for people in hospitality, tourism and the creative industry. The grand finale, tagged ‘Oriki: A Royal Dining Experience’, will bring together regional cuisines, traditional fashion, cultural entertainers, praise singers, drummers, live bands and a unity menu created by respected chefs.
One of the standout parts of this year’s event is its community focus. After the celebration, the large outdoor dining setup will be dismantled and the materials will be used to build desks and chairs for rural schools. NIHOTOUR says this is their way of ensuring that the event leaves a lasting impact beyond the festivities.
The organisers will also be launching a new publication, The 60 National Recipes Book, which compiles iconic dishes from all parts of the country. The book is designed to help preserve culinary knowledge and promote Nigerian food tourism.
Thousands of guests, cultural groups, chefs, tourism players, traditional leaders and entertainers are expected to attend. Entry will be strictly by invitation, and guests are encouraged to show up in their full traditional attire to reflect the theme of cultural pride and unity.
