Ghanaian chef and culinary storyteller Chef Abbys has announced the second edition of her Big Street Feast, a large-scale community feeding initiative scheduled for October 16, 2026, to coincide with World Food Day.
The event aims to provide free meals to more than 50,000 people across Accra and Kumasi under the guiding message “Wherever you are, free food will find you.”
The chef, whose full name is Amoakoa Sintim-Aboagye, confirmed eight primary distribution points. In Accra these include Ghud Park as the largest venue, Fadama Astroturf, Madina Sakora Park and Kwabenya Market. Mobile operations will feature Yango trucks serving routes to Tema and Kasoa, along with a float truck travelling from Accra Mall to Accra Central. In Kumasi, Jubilee Park will serve as the main location.
This year’s programme builds on the success of the inaugural Big Street Feast held in Accra on World Food Day 2025, which fed more than 20,000 people through fixed stands and mobile trucks. Organisers have expanded the reach significantly for 2026 by adding Kumasi and increasing both the number of venues and the volume of food.
Chef Abbys, recognised as a philanthropist and advocate for food waste reduction, has described the initiative as more than a one-day meal distribution. She has emphasised the role of food in bringing communities together and ensuring that people feel seen and valued.
In public statements she has repeatedly noted that the scale of the 2026 edition requires collective support from brands, restaurants, vendors and individuals.
A growing list of partners has already committed contributions. These include major brands such as Kivo, which is providing gari, chocolate drinks and related products as a headline partner, and Lucozade, which has signed on as the official energy drink partner with tens of thousands of bottles.
Local food businesses are supplying a wide variety of Ghanaian dishes, among them jollof rice, waakye, kenkey, banku, fried yam, pizza, shawarma and various stews. Additional partners range from catering services to foundations and corporate sponsors.
The distribution model combines fixed high-traffic locations with mobile units designed to reach people who may not be able to travel to the main sites. Organisers have encouraged residents to visit any of the announced points on the day, stressing that no registration is required and that the food is free.
World Food Day
World Food Day, observed annually on October 16, focuses global attention on hunger, food security and sustainable food systems. Chef Abbys has linked her event to these themes while grounding it in local realities.
She has spoken about the power of food to create moments of joy and dignity, particularly for those who may struggle with daily access to meals.
Preparations have involved continuous public updates listing new food sponsors and logistical partners. Social media posts from the chef and supporting accounts have circulated maps and venue details, generating widespread discussion and offers of volunteer support.
Some observers have called for additional locations outside Accra and Kumasi, a point the organising team has acknowledged while noting that current resources determine the current footprint.
Chef Abbys first gained prominence through digital content that showcases African cuisine and storytelling. Her work has earned international recognition, including a place on TIME magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential Creators. The Big Street Feast represents an extension of that platform into direct community action.
As October 16 approaches, the focus remains on finalising logistics, securing remaining supplies and coordinating volunteers across the two cities. The event is positioned as a collaborative effort in which brands, food vendors and ordinary citizens contribute to a shared goal of feeding tens of thousands of people in a single day.
For many participants in last year’s feast, the experience went beyond the meal itself. Organisers have highlighted the atmosphere of music, conversation and mutual appreciation that developed at the distribution points. Similar elements are expected this year, though the primary objective remains the efficient and dignified delivery of free food to as many people as possible.
The 2026 Big Street Feast stands as one of the largest privately organised community feeding exercises in Ghana in recent years. With confirmed venues, growing partner commitments and a clear date tied to the international calendar, the initiative is moving from planning into final execution.
Residents of Accra and Kumasi are being invited simply to show up at any of the listed locations on October 16.
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