Eric Adjepong headlines the Nevis mango festival July 2–5, 2026

The Nevis mango festival is back, running July 2 to 5, 2026, and it opens with a fact most people find hard to believe. Nevis grows 44

varieties of mango. None of them are ever exported. In fact, the only way to taste them is to travel to the island itself. That detail alone

turns a food event into a genuine travel destination. Now in its 12th year, the festival taps Food Network star and Top Chef finalist Chef

Eric Adjepong as its headline chef and Culinary Ambassador. The Nevis Tourism Authority launched the event on April 24, 2026,

alongside Premier Mark Brantley and NTA CEO Andia Ravarieré.

Why this 36-square-mile island became the Caribbean’s mango capital

Nevis is small. It has no cruise ports, no high-rise hotels, and no fast-food chains. What it does have is volcanic soil and a tropical

climate that produce 44 mango varieties so plentiful that locals have never needed to sell them abroad. As a result, you cannot buy a

Nevisian mango at any market, order one online, or find it on any grocery shelf outside the island. Moreover, the NTA created the

Nevis mango festival years ago to draw visitors during a quieter summer period. Today, however, it pulls travelers from the United

States, Canada, and across the Caribbean who plan full trips around the four days. Over 60 chefs now take part each year. That scale

makes it one of the largest culinary events in the entire region.

Why  yes to the Nevis mango festival

Chef Eric Adjepong is a first-generation Ghanaian American raised in New York City. He reached the finals of Top Chef Season 16 and

returned as a competitor on Top Chef All-Stars. On screen, he has appeared on Food Network’s Wildcard Kitchen, Alex vs. America,

Chopped, Tournament of Champions, and Selena + Chef. In 2025, he opened Elmina, his Washington, D.C. restaurant, built around

West African culinary tradition in a fine-dining setting. Additionally, Adjepong holds a Master of Public Health in International

Nutrition from the University of Westminster. That academic background gives him a distinct perspective on food as both culture and

health.

As Culinary Ambassador, he will host the Supper Club dinner at Mango Restaurant inside Four Seasons Resort Nevis, lead a hands-on

cooking masterclass, and judge the island’s cooking competition.

What the Nevis mango festival schedule looks like across all 4 days

Each day of the festival builds on the last, moving from open and free to intimate and celebratory.

1. Thursday, July 2, starts with a free public opening ceremony at Malcolm Guishard Recreational Park at 10 a.m. At noon, Nevis Goes Mango launches an island-wide culinary trail. Participants build their own route through bars and restaurants serving mango-infused dishes and cocktails. That evening, the Supper Club at Mango Restaurant, Four Seasons Resort Nevis, offers an intimate multi-course dinner led by Chef Adjepong.
2. Friday, July 3, brings two back-to-back events at CHASKA Indian Cuisine & Bar in Cades Bay. The Cooking Masterclass runs from 11 a.m. to noon. Participants cook alongside Chef Adjepong at their own station in either a plant-based or meat-focused track. Masterclass tickets include entry to Mango Mania, which runs from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with a mixology competition and Mango Tug-of-War. That evening, the Pinney’s Beach Bar Crawl moves a free-to-join group through eight beachside bars from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
3. Saturday, July 4, hosts the Passport Food Tour from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Participants collect stamps as they sample mango dishes and cocktails across the island. They can join a guided party bus or explore at their own pace. Three ticket packages are on offer.
4. Sunday, July 5, closes with For the Love of Mangoes, the festival’s signature event, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Malcolm Guishard Recreational Park. It includes the main Cooking Competition, a Kids Zone, face painting, a Kids Mango Hunt, and the Mango Festival Concert under the stars.

What else Nevis offers visitors who stay beyond the festival

The island rewards those who extend their trip. Nevis is the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s Founding Fathers, and

the setting of Admiral Horatio Nelson’s 18th-century marriage to local widow Frances Nisbet. Beyond history, visitors can explore

volcanic hot springs, hike the trails around Nevis Peak, and walk the quiet streets of the historic capital, Charlestown. Furthermore,

because the island has no cruise ship port, it never feels crowded. Every beach, bar, and trail stays relaxed  a contrast that is

increasingly rare anywhere in the Caribbean.

The NTA encourages early booking, as accommodations fill quickly around the Nevis mango festival dates. For more on Caribbean food events worth building a trip around.

Full event details, ticket packages, and accommodation offers are available at the official Nevis Mango Festival site and at nevisisland.com.

Source: Nevis Tourism Authority press release