Turku applies to Host Bocuse d'Or Europe 2028: Finland aims for the Top of European Gastronomy
The applicant organizations have collaborated for a long time to bring the European continental competition to Turku. The application process has now progressed to the submission of an official bid.
Bocuse d’Or Academy Finland ry, the City of Turku, and the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry have jointly submitted an official application to host the Bocuse d’Or Europe 2028 competition in Turku. If successful, the event would bring Europe’s most prestigious gastronomic competition to Finland, along with significant international visibility.
Bocuse d’Or is the world’s most prestigious culinary competition, where top chefs compete in technical skill, creativity, and presentation. The grand final is held every two years in Lyon, France, with the best chefs advancing through national and continental qualifiers.
The applicant organizations have collaborated for a long time to bring the European continental competition to Turku. The application process has now progressed to the submission of an official bid.
"This application is a major step for Finnish gastronomy. Our goal is to elevate Finland and Finnish culinary expertise to the top of Europe — to showcase how skilled, responsible, innovative, and community-driven food culture can be," says Tommi Tuominen, Chair of Bocuse d’Or Academy Finland ry.
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Turku, Finland’s Food Capital, as Host City
Turku is known for its vibrant food culture and diverse restaurant scene. The city hosted the MICHELIN Guide Ceremony for the Nordic Countries in 2023 and has made long-term investments in developing food culture and culinary tourism. Thanks to its accessibility, compact urban structure, and strong event expertise, Turku would offer excellent conditions for the competition.
Bocuse d’Or Europe 2028 would bring together Europe’s top chefs, media representatives, and key influencers in food culture. The event would attract thousands of visitors to Turku and generate significant international media exposure.
According to Piia Elo, Mayor of Turku, the event would leave a lasting impact on Finnish food culture as a whole, as culinary expertise and clean raw ingredients would receive exceptional international attention.
"The event would further strengthen Turku’s position as Finland’s food capital. It would generate long-term benefits not only for Turku but for the entire country by increasing culinary tourism, promoting educational cooperation within the sector, and opening new opportunities for food exports," Mayor Elo states.
"As the host country of the European qualifier, we would have an excellent opportunity to raise our profile and highlight our outstanding Finnish ingredients and expertise," says Pekka Pesonen, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. "If Finland is selected as the host, it will require strong cooperation and commitment from all actors across our food system to deliver a successful competition," he adds.
The decision on the host city for Bocuse d’Or Europe 2028 will be made during 2026.