From 25 to 27 October 2026, Bruges will welcome the We’re Smart® Awards Show, a three-day international gathering of chefs, hospitality professionals and food innovators focused on the next chapter of plant-based and sustainable gastronomy.
Positioned as both an awards platform and a knowledge exchange, the Bruges programme will combine international recognition with sessions designed to accelerate practical change in kitchens, restaurants and wider food systems.
For Bruges, the congress is being framed as a strategic fit with local policy on food and climate transition, including the region’s wider push towards a protein shift. Alderman Pablo Annys linked the hosting decision to long-term priorities, stating: “Healthy and sustainable food plays a key role in the transition to a climate-friendly society. The protein shift is not a trend, but a necessary choice for our planet and our health.”
This positioning also reflects a broader municipal policy agenda: Bruges’ food strategy “Bruges tastes like more”(developed with the Bruges Food Lab), the city’s climate plan, and its commitment to Flanders’ Green Deal Protein Shift 2.0.
Beyond the awards, organisers have indicated a strong emphasis on training and talent development, with partnerships planned with hotel schools in Bruges to involve students through workshops and direct exchanges with chefs — a move intended to connect plant-based creativity with real-world skills and career pathways.