Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or simply curious about the vibrant world of plant-based cuisine, attending a vegan food festival should be on every foodie’s bucket list. From the sizzling strip of Las Vegas to the bustling streets of Tokyo, these 21 exciting vegan food festivals in 2023 will feast your taste buds, eyes, and Instagram feeds.
#1. Vegan Gourmet Festival Japan
When: July 23rd & October 1st, 2023
Where: Tokyo
Visit the website here.
Japan isn’t exactly known for being among the vegan-friendly travel destinations. Nevertheless, the Vegan Gourmet Festival offers an impressive selection of vegan food vendors, attracting over 24 000 annual visitors.
The festival takes place five times a year in three Japanese cities: Kyoto, Nagoya, and Tokyo.
Expect to find veganized versions of traditional Japanese dishes, including as ramen, sushi, takoyaki, and everything in between. Besides Japanese cuisine, food stalls offering vegan burgers, burritos, and indulgent desserts are also easy to find.
For the complete guide to the Vegan Gourmet Festival in Tokyo, check out I Travel For Vegan Food’s mouth-watering report ( Warning: Don’t read when hungry ).
#2. Vegan Life Festival
When: September 30th – October 1st, 2023
Where: Athens, Greece
Visit the website here.
Vegan Life is a Greek NGO that hosts several vegan festivals in Athens, Thessaloniki, and Chania throughout the year. The Vegan Life Festival in Athens is among the largest vegan festivals in all of Europe, with visitor counts north of 35,000 people.
Plant-based food is a major focus of the festival, but by far not the only thing that the event has to offer. Expect a sunny weekend full of vegan talks, workshops, art events, and kids’ activities. The Vegan Life Festival in Athens also boasts the largest exhibition of vegan products and services in Greece.
#3. Vegan Camp Out UK
When: July 28th – July 31st, 2023
Where: Bicester Heritage, Oxfordshire
Visit the website here.
Officially voted the UK’s best vegan festival, Vegan Camp Out is an international four-day event of delicious eats, camping, live music acts, talks, yoga and meditation classes, and workshops.
The world’s largest vegan camping festival is back in 2023 with a plethora plant-based food vendors offering everything from vegan kebab to Chinese and Ethiopian.
The festival’s guest line-up speaks for itself; At Vegan Camp Out, you have the opportunity to listen to inspiring talks from vegan celebrities including vegan activist Joey Carbstrong, food content creators So vegan and BOSH!, and pro Strongman Patrik Baboumian (to name a few).
#4. Vegan Street Fair
When: July 29th, August 26th, September 23rd, October 7th, November 4th & 18th
Where: Seattle, Oakland, Denver, Austin, Las Vegas, Miami
Visit the website here.
Vegan Street Fair events are the vegan foodie dream. With its mission to showcase the best of plant-based cuisine, the dozens of food stalls at the fair have something for everyone, from health-nuts to fast food gourmets.
The festival’s food concept revolves around smaller bite-sized portions (for $4 or less). The idea is that that way, you can try more without getting full too fast. But for those with a big stomach, vendors offer big portions too!
And the best part: The festival is absolutely FREE to enter!
#5. Las Vegas VegFest
When: October 21st, 2023
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
Visit the website here.
Need a break from slots and black jack? Luckily, you can spend some of your jackpot money on the best vegan grub Sin City has to offer.
As the largest vegan festival in all of Nevada, Las Vegas VegFest serves up all types of vegan comfort food, from cheesy garlic pasta to french toast and decadent burgers. Talk about a jack pot!
#6. Vegandale
When: September 16th & 23rd, October 14th & 28th, December 2nd, 2023
Where: New York City, Toronto, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami
Visit the website here.
North America’s fastest growing vegan festival is back!
Regardless of which of the four major locations you visit, the festival is an full-course experience that offers everything from visual art to, music, food, and drinks.
From your favorite vegan comfort food (loaded fries, anyone?) to tasty craft brews and cider, Vegandale has got all of your foodie desires covered.
#7. SoCal VegFest
When: September 23rd – 24th, 2023
Where: Orange County, California
Visit the website here.
SoCal VegFest is run by Simply Vegan, a Californian non-profit organization. And as far as vegan festivals go, SoCal VegFest has it all.
The annual festival boasts a cruelty-free marketplace, food demos, inspirational speakers, live music from famous artists, appearances from celebrity chefs and vegan food influencers, and much more!
But let’s not forget the most important part—the vegan eats. Colorful acai bowls? Check. Spicy vegan pad thai? Check. Mushroom jerky and buddha bowls? Check and check. I think you get the point…
#8. BoEtico Vegan Festival
When: September 15th – 17th, 2023
Where: Bologna, Italy
Visit the website here.
Bologna is famous for being one of the world’s foodie capitals…just not so much for vegan food. But between meaty ragú and parmesan, this 100% plant-based festival is a gem amidst Bologna’s animal-heavy cuisine.
In 2023, the Bologna Vegan Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary with three days of vegan cooking shows, a wide range of vegan brand products, educational talks from health specialists and professionals, and yoga —and, of course, lots and lots of vegan food.
#9. Black VegFest Brooklyn
When: August 12th, 2023
Where: Brooklyn, New York City
Visit the website here.
The sixth annual Black VegFest in Brooklyn is so much more than just a food festival.
In homage to Black August, the festival dedicates itself to intersectionality and the collective fight against oppression by giving underrepresented voices in the vegan movement a platform.
According to the hosts, “Black VegFest is the vegfest that addresses cultural influences in our cuisine and the socio-economic and political issues that influence our lives as we advocate for JUST living for animals.”
Besides delicious vegan cuisine from around the world, Black VegFest hosts food demos, informative political education talks, and fun seminars from vegan community leaders.
#10. Bizerkely Food Festival
When: September 3rd – 4th, 2023
Where: Berkeley, California
Visit the website here.
The Bizerkely Food Festival is back, bringing some of the best vegan grub California has to offer to Downtown Berkeley. The festival the city’s first and only vegan food festival.
The over a dozen food vendors serve up plant-based soul food from all types of cuisines, ranging from vegan tamales to fruit bowls and kombucha. The best part: free samples!
What’s more, you enjoy some live music performances from a DJ and other performance artists to provide the soundtrack to an indulgent day of vegan eats. The Bizerkely Food Festival also helps animals in need by raising money for Herd & Flock Animal Sanctuary via a silent auction.
Digging into tasty vegan noms and supporting an animal shelter? Win/win!
#11. Twisted Fork Festival
When: July 30th, 2023
Where: Scottsboro, Alabama
Visit the website here.
The Twisted Fork Festival has already been around for seven years, and after three years it is finally returning to Alabama.
Besides a hand-picked selection of keynote speakers and fun activities and lectures all about the plant-forward, eco-conscious lifestyle, you can sample your way through some delicious plant-based food.
While TFF is officially a vegan and vegetarian festival, all food offered is vegan.
#12. Vegan Picnic Adelaide
When: December 10th, 2023
Where: Adelaide, South Australia
Visit the website here.
Join the hosts of Vegan Festival Adelaide in celebrating a cruelty-free Christmas. The Vegan Picnic is the smaller, more food-focused version of the incredibly successful Vegan Festival Adelaide (which is usually held in October).
But don’t let “picnic” give you the wrong impression—while the Vegan Picnic is an outdoor event, it’s not a potluck. Instead, you can graze your way through various street food stalls and international food vendors. (To give you a taste: Last year’s food stalls included Sri Lankan street food, indulgent vegan doughnuts, and colorful bubble tea. Talk about a 360º vegan foodie experience!)
This year’s picnic takes place in Rundle Park, Adelaide. Profits from the picnic help support charities that embody vegan ideals.
Digging in to delicious vegan food for a good cause = win/win!
#13. Veggie World Germany
When: October 21st – 22nd, November 11th – 12th
Where: Hamburg and Munich
Visit the website here.
Veggie World has many locations. After Shanghai, Berlin, Paris, and Amsterdam last year, the international vegan fair is coming to Germany again in 2023!
An annual vegan event held in multiple European cities, the Veggie World is a vegan expo with numerous vegan fashion brands, cruelty-free cosmetics, animal protection associations, and other exciting vegan products on display.
Vegan eats play an important role at every event—from mouthwatering live cooking shows to vendors selling vegan treats, foodies won’t leave the events hungry. And don’t forget to reward yourself at the Veggie World food court after a successful day of vegan shopping and networking!
#14. VegFest Colorado
When: July 29th – 30th, 2023
Where: Denver, Colorado
Visit the website here.
Regardless of whether you’re vegan, flexitarian, or somewhere in between, VegFest Colorado invites everyone to a weekend full of compassion and inclusion.
The festival celebrates local vegan vendors by giving them a platform and highlights up-and-coming vegan brands in their quest to go international.
Besides lots of tasty vegan food stalls, VegFest Colorado also hosts numerous retail vendors, non-profits, and animal sanctuaries.
While you’re there, make sure to tune in to inspiring talks from guest speakers! The topics of discussion range from heart health and powerlifting to vegan cooking and sustainability activism.
#15. Bristol Vegan Fayre
When: September 2nd – 3rd, 2023
Where: Bristol, UK
Visit the website here.
The Bristol Vegan Fayre is celebrating its 20th birthday this summer with good vibes, comedy, music, and lots of vegan food.
With 80+ vendors, you can dig in to vegan street food from around the world at the festival. There’s a dance zone with live DJs, a kids area, and a dynamic line-up of speakers, panel discussions, and workshops on all things veganism.
Tickets are free!
#16. VegFest UK
When: November 18th – 19th, 2023
Where: London, UK
Visit the website here.
Technically a vegan expo and not a food festival, VegFest UK opens its gates for curious visitors after a successful event on 2022.
The exhibition has space for 400 vendors and over 20 000 visitors, making it one of the most impressive vegan events the UK has to offer.
Spend the weekend trying your way through the plethora of appetizing vegan samples, tasters, and special product offerings on display.
VegFest UK also hosts thought-provoking debates, presentations, panels, and talks about all things vegansim.
#17. Korea Vegan Fair
When: August 10th – 12th, 2023
Where: Seoul, South Korea
Visit the English website here.
This lively expo in Seoul, South Korea, offers everything the vegan heart desires.
Have your pick of vegan baked goods, desserts, and meat-alternatives if you’re in the mood for some tasty vegan eats (and, let’s be honest, who isn’t?).
Alternatively, spend the day strolling through the numerous booths offering vegan household items, fashion and beauty must-haves, and zero-waste products. Or get your daily dose of vegan education from the animal welfare organizations and environmental movements present.
#18. Twilight Vegan Markets
When: Once a month
Where: South Brisbane, Australia
Visit the website here.
Twilight Vegan Markets happen monthly at the Mount Gravatt Showgrounds in sunny South Brisbane. The name speaks for itself—the market is held between 5:00 and 9:00 pm.
Countless stalls offer up vegan eats ranging from organic and health-conscious to utterly indulgent (cheese crust eggplant pizza, Vietnamese loaded fries, or biscoff milk tea, anyone?). It’s worth noting that getting there early is worth it, especially if you want to avoid long queues at the food stalls.
Besides the wide array of tasty vegan food options, you can also find various shopping options and charities at Twilight Vegan Markets. Bonus point: The markets are dog-friendly and have mini golf on-site (!!!).
If once a month isn’t enough to satisfy your vegan cravings, vegan markets are hosted all across South East Queensland and the Gold Coast. You can check what’s on next here.
#19. Basel Vegan Messe
When: September 16th – 17th, 2023
Where: Basel, Switzerland
Visit the website here.
The motto of the 5. international vegan expo in Basel is “animal welfare, nature and the environment, alternative nutrition & lifestyle”.
Over 4,500 visitors from Switzerland and neighboring countries can spend the weekend grazing through the 100 stalls to try vegan meat and cheese alternatives, veggie chips, vegan salmon, or plant-based ice cream and cookies.
The expo also hosts numerous non-food companies and brands that showcase their innovative vegan products, such as vegan cosmetics, tattoo colors, and fashion accessories. But it’s not all about shopping and eating—Basel Vegan Messe has a strong focus on supporting NGOs by giving them a platform.
#20. VegFest Brazil
When: November 30th – December 1st, 2023
Where: São Paulo, Brazil
Visit the website here.
With more than 8000 participants and 100 exhibitors, VegFest Brazil is the largest vegan fair in all of South America.
Technically a vegan congress and exposition, the two-day event is packed with culinary shows, fun sports sessions, and even yoga and acroyoga workshops.
#21. Vegan Summerfest Ghent
When: August 20th, 2023
Where: Ghent, Belgium
Visit the website here.
Brace yourself for the biggest vegan festival of the Benelux!
The Vegan Summerfest in Ghent hosts over 100 local and international food trucks and stalls. Besides live cooking demos, you can also expect a photo expo, informative talks, and DJ sets.
Be sure to pick up some vegan goodies from the various vegan lifestyle product shops and engage in informative discussions at the info market!
Read next: 9 Best Vegan Resorts in the Caribbean 2023
Enjoyed this list of vegan food festivals? Know of any more vegan festivals that I missed? Let me know on Instagram!
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