MIAM Alès 2026: Gard food fair with Japan in the spotlight

MIAM Alès returns to the Parc des Expositions from 20 to 23 November 2026 for its 33rd edition. Organised by the Gard Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it is eastern Occitanie's flagship food event: four days of tastings, regional produce retail and live cooking demonstrations. Japan takes guest-of-honour status in 2026. The venue hosts a Japanese Regional Store, a museum of modern calligraphy, ceramics, daruma and kirie, and a pop-up izakaya restaurant, Izakayan, where chef Yann Bruyere serves rāmen, gyozas, karaage and wagyu-don. The fair's patron is Denis Martin, a newly Michelin-starred chef from Saint-Hilaire-d'Ozilhan, who joins his wife Joana in the programme. The 'Saveurs du MIAM' stage hosts live demos throughout the four days, the Purple Campus apprentice battle and the Chefs' Battle, where two starred cooks face off before the audience. On Monday the Confrérie des Restaurateurs des Métiers du Gard closes the programme with a full menu prepared by its members. With more than 140 exhibitors, local wines and spirits, craft beer, two late openings until 10 pm and a record 24,780 visitors in 2025, MIAM is a key date for foodservice buyers, restaurateurs and gourmet travellers exploring the Gard.