The Jos Food Festival returns from 18 to 20 December 2026 at Nirvana Park & Gardens, Jos. Organisers have announced a proposed world-record attempt to prepare and serve 3,000 Nigerian-style shawarmas continuously over 72 hours.
Themed “This Is Plateau,” the three-day event is produced by the CHEF ELVIS Company. It will showcase indigenous cuisine, culinary displays, music, fashion, cultural storytelling, enterprise and tourism, highlighting Plateau State’s identity and hospitality.
At the heart of this edition is “The Season” — the proposed continuous production of 3,000 shawarmas. Chefs, production teams, partners, volunteers and guests will take part in what organisers describe as a live culinary production, supported by systems for ingredient preparation, food safety, logistics, documentation, staffing and quality control.
Festival Director Chef Elvis Katlong Henry emphasised that the record ambition is secondary to the broader story of Plateau
“The world-record ambition may attract attention, but Plateau is the story. We want people to experience our food, our people, our creativity, our hospitality and the energy that makes Jos different. This Is Plateau is our way of putting all of that in one place.”
The culinary programme will feature indigenous Plateau dishes and traditional meals alongside grills, fried foods, pastries, small chops, contemporary meals and modern street-food concepts.
Beyond food, the festival will include music, games, fashion, entertainment, cultural storytelling, creator experiences and partner activations.
Dedicated spaces are planned for families, young people and visitors to engage with Plateau’s creative economy. Local restaurants, food entrepreneurs and emerging brands are expected to participate, with opportunities for product introduction, customer engagement and commercial visibility.
Organisers note that Nigerian-style shawarma has developed a distinct identity through locally adapted flavours, sauces, proteins and methods. Guests will be able to observe the production and follow its milestones. The attempt remains proposed and is still undergoing technical, operational and professional validation.
Preparations began earlier. At a recent Shawarma Pop-Up in Jos, organisers recorded 1,304 guests and served 533 customers.
Another pre-festival activation, “Dress Code: Plateau,” is planned. It will use fashion, photography, content and storytelling to interpret Plateau identity in both traditional and contemporary styles.
The festival is also positioned as a platform for tourism, enterprise and commercial partnerships spanning food and ingredients, financial services, telecommunications, mobility, media, hospitality, health and other sectors. Partners will have opportunities for product integration, consumer interaction, sampling, content creation and activations.
Event details
Event: Jos Food Festival 2026
Theme: This Is Plateau
Date: 18–20 December 2026
Venue: Nirvana Park & Gardens, Jos, Plateau State
Major experience: The Season – proposed 72-hour Nigerian-style shawarma record bid
