ALACATI HERB FESTIVAL 2026

The Alacati Herb Festival 2026 (Alaçatı Ot Festivali) returns in 2026 with a full week of culinary events, workshops, nature walks, tastings, talks, and cultural activities. This year’s program blends gastronomy, sustainability, wellness, and local heritage — making it one of the most vibrant spring festivals in Turkey.

Table of Contents:

• Alacati Herb Festival 2026
• How did the Alaçatı Herb Festival evolve over the years?
• Which herbs and wild plants are central to the festival’s identity?
• What kinds of workshops and hands-on activities can visitors join?
• Are well-known chefs and culinary figures part of the festival?
• What is the best way for travelers to experience the festival?
• Festival program day by day

Alacati Herb Festival 2026

Step Into a Celebration of Nature and Culture: Each spring, Alaçatı transforms into a vibrant open-air stage where local traditions, culinary heritage, and the region’s rich biodiversity come together. The Herb Festival invites visitors to reconnect with nature while discovering the deep-rooted stories behind Aegean plants.

Awaken Your Senses with the Flavors of the Aegean: From freshly picked wild greens to aromatic herbs that define the region’s cuisine, the festival offers a sensory journey through the tastes and scents that make Alaçatı unique. Markets, tastings, and live demonstrations bring these ingredients to life.

Join Interactive Experiences That Bring Knowledge to Your Fingertips: Whether it’s a guided herb walk, a hands-on cooking class, a wellness session, or a sustainability talk, the festival offers countless opportunities to learn, create, and explore. Every activity is designed to help visitors engage with the land and its traditions.

Discover Culinary Inspiration from Leading Chefs: Renowned chefs, food researchers, and culinary innovators take the stage throughout the week, sharing their expertise through workshops and live cooking shows. Their creative interpretations of local herbs highlight the festival’s gastronomic spirit.

Feel the Rhythm of Alaçatı’s Streets: Beyond the events, the festival atmosphere fills every corner of the town. Colorful stalls, lively squares, music, and the charm of Alaçatı’s stone streets create an unforgettable backdrop for one of Turkey’s most beloved spring celebrations.

How did the Alaçatı Herb Festival evolve over the years?

The Alaçatı Herb Festival began as a small, community-driven celebration focused on preserving the culinary heritage of the Aegean region. What started as a local gathering of herb collectors, home cooks, and artisans has grown into a week-long international event. Over the years, the festival expanded its scope to include sustainability talks, agricultural workshops, wellness activities, chef demonstrations, and cultural performances. Today, it stands as one of Turkey’s most influential spring festivals, blending tradition with modern gastronomy and eco-conscious living.

Which herbs and wild plants are central to the festival’s identity?

Alaçatı is surrounded by hills rich in wild Aegean flora, and the festival highlights dozens of edible and medicinal plants. Some of the most iconic herbs include radika, şevketi bostan, arapsaçı, hardal otu, ebegümeci, and wild fennel. These plants are showcased not only as ingredients in regional dishes but also as elements of local healing practices, natural fragrances, and cultural memory. Visitors can explore fresh herb markets, taste traditional recipes, and learn how these plants have shaped Aegean cuisine for generations.

What kinds of workshops and hands-on activities can visitors join?

The festival offers a wide range of interactive experiences designed for all ages. Guests can join guided herb walks, cooking workshops led by renowned chefs, pilates and yoga sessions, olive oil tastings, agricultural seminars, and sustainability-focused talks. Children can participate in creative culinary workshops and educational activities throughout the week. These hands-on sessions allow visitors to connect with Alaçatı’s natural environment, learn new skills, and experience the festival beyond simply observing.

Are well-known chefs and culinary figures part of the festival?

Yes. Each year, the festival hosts a lineup of respected chefs, food researchers, and culinary innovators from Turkey and abroad. They lead cooking demonstrations, tasting events, and thematic workshops that highlight the versatility of Aegean herbs. Past editions have featured award-winning chefs, gastronomy writers, and culinary educators who bring global perspectives to local ingredients. Their presence elevates the festival into a true gastronomic event, attracting food enthusiasts from around the world.

What is the best way for travelers to experience the festival?

To fully enjoy the Alaçatı Herb Festival, visitors are encouraged to plan ahead. Booking accommodation early is essential, as hotels and boutique guesthouses fill up quickly during festival week. Staying in Alaçatı center allows easy access to most events, while Ilıca and Çeşme offer quieter alternatives nearby. For transportation, the most convenient route is flying into Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport and continuing to Alaçatı by rental car or private transfer. Once in town, exploring on foot is the best way to experience the lively streets, herb markets, workshops, and culinary events that define the festival atmosphere.

Festival program, day by day.

20 April 2026 – Monday

Walking Tour + Pilates
10:30 – Meeting Point: Değirmenler
Instructor: Pelin Ateşler

21 April 2026 – Tuesday

International High School Cooking Competition
08:45 – 18:00
Location: Şefler Meydanı (Behind Alaçatı Pazar Yeri Mosque)

Building a Bee Hotel as a Method to Increase Biodiversity
14:30 – Alaçatı Experience Point
Speaker: Agricultural Engineer Oğuz Kırgöz

Herbs Are More Than Food: Healing, Scent & Memory
16:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Ezgi Bıçak

Children’s Activities
17:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square

22 April 2026 – Wednesday

Herb Introduction Walk + Pilates
10:30 – Değirmenler
Instructor: Pelin Ateşler

Traditional “Best Herb Dish” Cooking Competition
11:00 – 18:00
Location: Şefler Meydanı

Blueberry & Aronia Cultivation Training
13:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Erkan Ateş

Keys to Sustainable Healthy Nutrition
14:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Nazan Uysal

Sun, Nature & Skin Health
15:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Dr. Aygün Talibova (Dermatology)

Sustainability & The Future of Food
16:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Ebru Akdağ

From Local to Global: The Identity of Alaçatı
17:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speakers: Esra Koçdemir & Salim Kadıbeşegil

Children’s Activities
18:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square

23 April 2026 – Thursday

From Local Herbs to Global Identity: An Agro-Tourism Model for Alaçatı
12:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Sabah Balta Ulay

Little Chefs in the Kitchen (Children’s Workshop)
12:00 – 13:00 – Şefler Meydanı

The Story of Madder Root (Rubia tinctoria) in Anatolia
13:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Nazım Tanrıkulu

Festival Parade
14:00 – Route: From Çamlık Road to Alaçatı Municipal Service Building

Inflatable Playground
16:00 – 22:00 – Çeştur Parking Area

Children’s Activities – “The Road to National Sovereignty”
18:00 – 19:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speakers: Barış İnce & Sinan Meydan

24 April 2026 – Friday

University & International Chef Cooking Competition
08:45 – 17:15 – Behind Alaçatı Pazar Yeri Mosque

What’s Happening in Schools? Understanding Conditions Instead of Blaming Children
12:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Panel with educators and psychologists

How to Become a Resilient Person?
13:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Sezin Mızraklı

Edible Herbs in Ancient Cuisine
13:00 – Alaçatı Experience Point
Speaker: Assoc. Prof. Esra Yalazı

Smart Insects Against Pesticide Threats
14:00 – Alaçatı Experience Point
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Cem Özkan

Food, Planet & the Future
14:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Melda Tuna

Olive Oil Tasting Workshop
15:00 – Hacımemiş Yaahane
Host: Ayhan Sicimoğlu

Digital Violence: Seeing the Invisible
15:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Psychologist Ebru Çolak

Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture
15:00 – Alaçatı Experience Point
Speaker: Dr. Umut Suzan

Children’s Activities
18:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square

Cooking Competition Award Ceremony
18:00 – Behind Alaçatı Pazar Yeri Mosque

25 April 2026 – Saturday

Walking Tour + Yoga
10:30 – Değirmenler Art
Instructor: Pelin Ateşler

Sustainable Agriculture Project Competition Awards
11:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square

Best Herb Photography Competition Awards
11:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square

Chef Emmanouil Stratos Workshop
11:00 – Şefler Meydanı

The Birth Story of the Herb Festival
12:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Panel with festival founders

Chef Anna Radchenko Workshop
12:00 – Şefler Meydanı

From Roots to the World: The Diplomatic Power of Food
13:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Chef Mehmet Yalçınkaya

The Story of Çeşme Mastic Gum
13:00 – Alaçatı Experience Point
Speaker: Hasan Ege Tütüncüoğlu

Chef Ayşenur Mıhçı Workshop
13:00 – Şefler Meydanı

How Will the Climate Crisis Affect Turkey?
14:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Işıl Ergincan

Wild or Foreign? What Herbs Tell Us
14:00 – Alaçatı Experience Point
Speaker: Mine Pakkaner

Life Is Beautiful – Poetry & Music
15:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Guests: Atol Behramoğlu & Haluk Çetin

10 Healing Plants for Body & Mind
15:00 – Alaçatı Experience Point
Speakers: Dr. Neşe Erdinç & Dr. Ömer Dikici

Chef Rıfat Altuntaş Workshop
15:00 – Şefler Meydanı

Medicine-Free Living
16:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Dr. Ümit Aktaş

Herb Cuisine & Sustainability Through History
16:00 – Alaçatı Experience Point
Speaker: Nazlı Pişkin

Mazyar Daryaie Workshop
16:00 – Şefler Meydanı

Food Safety in the Kitchen
17:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Ece Birinci

Sustainability in Food: From Production to Consumption
18:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Hatice Nikbay

26 April 2026 – Sunday

Festival Run
08:00 – Değirmenler Art

Post-Run Stretching Session
09:00 – Değirmenler Art
Instructors: Faiz Özkan & Gülgün Kanber

Chef Zejiko Bremec Workshop
11:00 – Şefler Meydanı

Children’s Activities
12:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square

The Code of Your Soul: Astrology Talk
13:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Aygül Aydın

Herbal Remedies for Women
13:00 – Alaçatı Experience Point
Speakers: Prof. Dr. Ceyhun Dizdarer, Op. Dr. Çiğdem Karas, Chef Selin Güloğlu

Gusto Gökçen Adar Workshop
13:00 – Şefler Meydanı

Where Gastronomy Begins: Agriculture
14:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Şevket Alaeddinoğlu

Books Lead Us to the Right Path
15:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Sunay Akın

Chef Aykut Gülgü Workshop
15:00 – Şefler Meydanı

Fundamentals of Social Life
16:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Dr. Banu Noyan

Regenerative Agriculture
17:00 – Alaçatı Cumhuriyet Square
Speaker: Mine Ataman

See the another traditional popular alacati events: Alacati events and festivals

To view list of the all cesme events according to Manicipality of Cesme, see to their Festivals page.