Minas Gerais is chosen as the Gastronomic Destination of the Year 2026 at WTM Latin America

During WTM Latin America 2026, Minas Gerais was recognized as the 2026 Gastronomic Destination of the Year at the M&E Awards – Destinations of the Year, organized by Mercado & Eventos. The award was based on a vote that garnered more than 84,000 votes from industry professionals and readers across the country.

The award consolidates Minas Gerais as one of the main references of Brazilian gastronomic tourism, highlighting its cuisine as cultural heritage, a differentiating attraction and a strategic tool for the promotion of destinations.

Governor Mateus Simões emphasized the significance of the award: “This prize confirms that Minas Gerais has successfully transformed its cultural heritage into opportunities for development and national recognition. Our gastronomy is a living legacy that generates employment, stimulates production chains, and strengthens the state's image as a destination of excellence.”

For his part, the Secretary of State for Culture and Tourism, Leônidas Oliveira, highlighted the award's territorial impact: “Minas transforms culture into belonging, memory into experience, and gastronomy into a destination. This recognition reflects the work of our producers, our kitchens, and our people, who turn local identity into an authentic tourism offering.”

The award, presented at one of Latin America's most prestigious tourism events, helps strengthen the state's international reputation and boost the hospitality economy. The increased visibility fosters interest in the destination, encourages visitor arrivals, and stimulates sectors such as gastronomy, local markets, regional production, and tourism entrepreneurship.

During its participation in WTM Latin America, Minas Gerais also developed an active agenda of institutional and commercial promotion, bringing together destinations, municipalities, and representatives of its culinary offerings. Among them, Paracatu stood out, showcasing the state's rich culinary and cultural heritage in a space geared towards generating business and strengthening its tourism positioning.

With this recognition, Minas Gerais reaffirms its leadership in gastronomic tourism and strengthens its projection as a key destination within the Brazilian and international tourism scene.