02/10/2026
THE SEASON: 72 HOURS OF SHAWARMA TO ANCHOR JOS FOOD FESTIVAL 2026
For 72 continuous hours this December, a culinary production in Jos is expected to attempt something ambitious: the preparation and serving of 3,000 Nigerian-style shawarmas as part of The Season, the major experience at Jos Food Festival 2026.
The proposed record attempt will form part of the three-day Jos Food Festival, taking place from 18–20 December at Nirvana Park & Gardens under the theme “This Is Plateau.”
Produced by the CHEF ELVIS Company, The Season is being developed as more than a record bid. It is designed as a live culinary production involving chefs, food-production teams, volunteers, partners and festival guests.
The operation is expected to run alongside the Festival programme, allowing guests to witness different stages of preparation while following key production milestones throughout the three days.
Behind the experience will be a structured system covering ingredient preparation, production standards, food safety, staffing, logistics, documentation and quality control.
Organizers have also described the project as a proposed record attempt, with technical, operational and professional validation processes being incorporated into preparations.
The Season also seeks to contribute to a conversation around Nigerian-style shawarma — a popular street food that has developed its own local identity through Nigerian flavours, sauces, proteins and preparation methods.
But the proposed record is only one part of the wider Festival story.
Jos Food Festival 2026 is being built around “This Is Plateau”, a theme intended to showcase the state's food, people, culture, creativity, hospitality and growing creative economy.
The culinary programme will include indigenous Plateau dishes, traditional meals, grills, fried foods, pastries, small chops, contemporary meals and modern street-food concepts.
Music, entertainment, games, fashion, cultural storytelling, creator experiences and brand activations will further expand the experience beyond the food programme.
The Festival is also creating space for Plateau-based restaurants, food entrepreneurs and emerging brands to connect with audiences and gain wider visibility.
The road to The Season has already included public-facing activations. A recent Shawarma Pop-Up in Jos welcomed 1,304 guests, with 533 customers served, providing an opportunity to test elements of the production and operational model ahead of December.
Additional experiences, including Dress Code: Plateau, are also helping introduce different aspects of the Festival before the main event.
For Festival Director Chef Elvis Katlong Henry, the proposed record is ultimately a vehicle for a bigger story.
“The world-record ambition may attract attention, but Plateau is the story. We want people to experience our food, our people, our creativity, our hospitality and the energy that makes Jos different. This Is Plateau is our way of putting all of that in one place.”
Event: Jos Food Festival 2026
Theme: This Is Plateau
Dates: 18–20 December 2026
Venue: Nirvana Park & Gardens, Jos, Plateau State.
Major Experience: The Season — proposed 72-hour Nigerian-style shawarma record bid.
