In brief
The 12th edition of the Harissa Festival launched on October 31, 2026, in Nabeul, Tunisia, showcasing the city’s unique chili pepper varieties and harissa production techniques. The event highlighted cultural heritage, economic impact, and the crucial role of women, while also featuring innovative uses such as harissa‑infused pizza and scientific discussions on native seeds. UNESCO’s 2022 inscription of Tunisian harissa as intangible cultural heritage was referenced during the celebrations.
The 12th Harissa Festival opened in the city of Nabeul on October 31, 2026, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The event brought together visitors, chefs, farmers and scholars to celebrate the traditional cultivation of chili peppers and the production of harissa, a dry, spicy paste that is an integral part of Tunisian cuisine.
Festival organizers welcomed guests to a series of stalls where they could explore traditional preparation methods, sample local dishes, and discover a wide range of chili pepper products, spices and pottery used in harissa making. The Nabeul region is known for its distinctive harissa varieties, including the arabi, mdashdasha and mfawra recipes that have been passed down for generations.
During the opening ceremony, speakers highlighted the importance of harissa to Tunisia’s cultural and economic life. The Saudi Press Agency noted that women farmers and artisans are pivotal in preserving the traditional techniques and in developing local specialties, thereby ensuring the continuity of this culinary heritage. Visitors were also informed that the country produces an estimated 400,000 tons of chili peppers each year, underscoring the scale of the sector.
In addition to the display of tradition, the festival’s program focused on innovation. Italian pizza makers were present to demonstrate how harissa can be incorporated into modern dishes, providing audiences with novel flavor experiences. One panel discussion addressed scientific investigations into native Nabeul chili pepper seeds, promoting research aimed at improving crop resilience and flavor profiles.
Players in the festival also referenced the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s 2022 inscription of Tunisian harissa on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition was acknowledged as a milestone that helped bring international attention to the craft and to the community of growers and artisans who maintain the tradition today.
The closing remarks emphasized the festival’s dual aim: to preserve culinary traditions that have sustained communities for centuries while encouraging experimentation that can introduce harissa to untapped markets and gastronomic contexts worldwide.
