The festival
of cultural integration

Make Cous Cous not War

It was 1998 when, at the end of the summer, a small town in the province of Trapani hosted an event dedicated to cous cous, a typical local dish, widespread in the Maghreb area but almost completely unknown in the rest of Italy. The aim of the event is to celebrate a poor food, rooted in the Mediterranean area, through an international competition capable of bringing together, in the name of cous cous, different peoples, histories, traditions, cultures and religions. Thus was born Cous Cous Fest, a Mediterranean food and wine festival that has made San Vito Lo Capo the world capital of cous cous, hospitality and multiculturalism.

Since 1998, a success story

Now in its 27th year, the Cous Cous Fest in San Vito Lo Capo is recognized as an internationally renowned culinary event that celebrates cultural integration and diversity through the dish that is a symbol of the Mediterranean and beyond: cous cous. In 2019, cous cous was listed as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, which recognizes its cultural value and ability to unite peoples and traditions. Edition after edition, the festival has established itself as a stage to promote peace and brotherhood among peoples, while enhancing the beauty of San Vito Lo Capo, surrounded by crystal-clear waters and paradise-like beaches. Since 1998, chefs from more than 20 nations have gathered here to compete in the name of peace, offering hundreds of original recipes over the years. Cous Cous Fest is a multi-sensory experience that combines tradition, creativity and fun.

Nel corso degli anni il programma del Cous Cous Fest si è arricchito sempre più, spaziando dagli appuntamenti culinari a quelli culturali, musicali e di intrattenimento. Il festival offre oggi un’agenda ricca di eventi e attività di grande rilievo. San Vito Lo Capo, grazie al successo della manifestazione, è ormai una destinazione imperdibile per chef stellati, grandi aziende del settore food, rinomate testate giornalistiche e importanti esperti di enogastronomia. There is also no shortage of exceptional guests related to the world of culture and entertainment. Also not to be missed are the concerts, which over the years have brought more than 160 artists to the stage, from Italian music bigwigs to international stars such as Negramaro, Pino Daniele, Fiorella Mannoia, Mahmood, Noemi, Carmen Consoli, Alvaro Soler, Caparezza and The Kolors have performed for the Cous Cous Fest audience, creating a unique atmosphere capable of enchanting all spectators. Thus, grain by grain, Cous Cous Fest has become home to thousands of people, a place with a magical atmosphere that captures, bewitches and steals the hearts of those who visit it.

Palmares

Ranking of winning countries
by number of wins

Italia
(2002, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2022)
Tunisia
(1998, 2000, 2004, 2010, 2018)
Israele
(1999, 2007, 2013)
Marocco
(2003, 2024)
Costa D’avorio
(2006, 2008)
Francia
(2011, 2012)
Palestina
(2001, 2016)
Algeria
(2005)
Angola
(2017)
Messico
(2023)
Romania
(2021)
Senegal
(2019)

Countries

List of countries that have participated over the years

Afghanistan
Algeria
Angola
Argentina
Brazil
Ivory Coast
Egypt
Eritrea
France
Israel
Italy
Lebanon
Morocco
Mauritius
Mexico
Palestine
Peru
Portugal
Romania
Senegal
Spain
United States
Tunisia

Presidents

List of jury presidents of the various editions