If your travel plans revolve around local flavors and culinary adventure, then street food festivals are the perfect way to explore a city’s culture through its cuisine. Across the globe, vibrant street food events are drawing foodies with promises of sizzling snacks, aromatic spices, and unforgettable experiences. From night markets in Asia to Latin American gastronomic fiestas, there are must-visit street food festivals happening this year that will leave your taste buds tingling and your passport well-stamped.
1. Singapore Food Festival – Singapore
When: August 2025
Where: Various venues across Singapore
Singapore’s culinary diversity is legendary, and its annual food festival is a celebration of this rich fusion. From Michelin-starred hawker stalls to traditional Peranakan dishes, the festival offers cooking workshops, pop-ups, and immersive food tours. Don’t miss iconic bites like Hainanese chicken rice, chilli crab, and laksa served with a contemporary twist. For adventurous eaters, this is a paradise.
2. Smorgasburg – New York City, USA
When: Every weekend, April through October
Where: Williamsburg (Brooklyn) and Prospect Park
The largest open-air food market in the U.S., Smorgasburg is a staple for food lovers in New York. Featuring over 100 local vendors, it’s where global street food gets an artisanal upgrade. Whether you’re craving Filipino ube treats, Korean fried chicken, or vegan Jamaican patties, Smorgasburg combines international street eats with Brooklyn’s trendy food scene.
3. Night Noodle Markets – Melbourne & Sydney, Australia
When: Melbourne – November 2025, Sydney – October 2025
Where: City parks and harborside venues
These atmospheric markets channel the energy of Asian night bazaars. Lantern-lit and aromatic, the Night Noodle Markets showcase Thai, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Malaysian cuisine with modern Aussie flair. Expect bao burgers, ramen burritos, and spicy skewers, accompanied by live music and local brews. It’s a feast for all senses.
4. Gijón International Street Food Festival – Gijón, Spain
When: Late July 2025
Where: Poniente Beach
Set along the Asturian coast, this festival offers more than churros and tapas. Food trucks line the beach promenade, offering gourmet interpretations of global street food – from Argentine empanadas to bao buns and gourmet burgers. With the sea breeze and live music in the background, it’s a street food event with a coastal twist.
5. World Street Food Congress – Various Locations
When: Dates TBC for 2025
Where: Rotates – Past editions in Manila, Singapore, and Bangkok
This roving event blends street food with culinary diplomacy. With chefs, hawkers, and food scholars gathering to share recipes and stories, the WSFC is part festival, part symposium. Sample globally renowned dishes like Indonesian rendang, Malaysian satay, and Filipino adobo while learning about the cultures behind them. It’s the ultimate pilgrimage for foodies with a taste for knowledge.
6. PoutineFest – Ottawa, Canada
When: September 2025
Where: Sparks Street, Ottawa
Canada’s iconic comfort food gets the royal treatment at PoutineFest. Classic cheese curds and gravy meet quirky innovations like butter chicken poutine and pulled pork-topped fries. The festival also includes food trucks, street performers, and live music, making it an all-around fun (and indulgent) street food bash.
7. Savour the Flavour – Cape Town, South Africa
When: October 2025
Where: V&A Waterfront
Cape Town’s vibrant street food scene shines at this flavorful festival. Local favorites like bunny chow, boerewors rolls, and samoosas are served alongside Cape Malay delicacies. With a backdrop of Table Mountain and Afro-jazz performances, the experience is immersive, diverse, and deeply local.
Time To Take To The Streets
Street food festivals aren’t just about food—they’re immersive experiences that reflect the soul of a city and its people. Whether you’re savoring grilled seafood on a Spanish beach or slurping noodles under lantern lights in Melbourne, these events serve up both tradition and innovation on a plate. Pack your appetite and your curiosity—2025’s street food trail is one you don’t want to miss.