World Food & Music Festival Brings Home the Gold at International Awards
Festival earns four awards from International Festivals & Events Association
GREATER DES MOINES, IA (Oct. 6, 2026) – The World Food & Music Festival presented by Veridian Credit Union won four awards, including the Gold Award for Best Cultural / Heritage Event, in the 2026 International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) / Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Competition.
The awards were announced Monday, Oct. 5 during the 71st Annual IFEA Convention & Expo in Tucson, Arizona. The annual competition recognizes festivals and events from around the world for excellence across areas including marketing and communications, programming, sponsorship, accessibility, emergency preparedness, educational outreach and more.
The World Food & Music Festival received the following awards in its category:
- Gold – Best Cultural / Heritage Event
- Silver (tie) – Best Promotional Poster
- Silver – Best T-Shirt Design
- Bronze – Best Sponsor Gift
"The World Food & Music Festival is truly a community effort, and these awards reflect the incredible work of everyone who helps bring The Festival to life,” said Amelia Klatt, Director of Events at the Greater Des Moines Partnership. “Our vendors, sponsors, volunteers, partners and team create an experience that celebrates cultures from around the world while bringing people together in Downtown Des Moines. To have that work recognized internationally is incredibly meaningful.”
The Festival, produced by the Greater Des Moines Partnership and powered by Downtown DSM, Inc. and the Downtown Events Group, is a free three-day celebration of food, music and culture in Downtown Des Moines. Held annually in Western Gateway Park, it brings together local food vendors, musicians, artists and cultural organizations for a weekend that showcases the cultures and communities of Greater Des Moines.
The awards cap a milestone 2026 season for the World Food & Music Festival. The Festival welcomed 93,000 attendees over three days in August, featuring more than 55 small businesses representing 29 countries and culinary regions. Earlier this year, The Festival was also named the No. 8 Best Cultural Festival in the Nation by the 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, the No. 3 Best Midwest Food Festival by Parade and the Best Food Festival in Iowa by Midwest Living.
The IFEA / Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards recognize accomplishments in the global festivals and events industry. Entries were received from events across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and other regions. Awards were presented across 67 categories, with entries divided into four budget levels and judged within those levels according to each category’s criteria.
"The IFEA / Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards provide an important opportunity to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary work being done by festival and event professionals around the world,” said Steven Wood Schmader, CFEE, President and CEO of IFEA. “Every year, the entries showcase the creativity, innovation, resourcefulness and dedication that define our industry.”
For more information about the World Food & Music Festival, visit worldfoodandmusicfestival.com. To learn more about the IFEA / Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards, visit ifea.com.
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About Downtown DSM Inc.
Downtown DSM, Inc. is part of the Greater Des Moines Partnership and is dedicated to ensuring the continued growth of Downtown Des Moines (DSM). A strong region needs a strong Downtown. Downtown DSM, Inc. leads efforts to drive development, placemaking and events in Downtown DSM. It promotes Downtown through integration of retail, restaurants, businesses, housing, events and placemaking. The Downtown Events Group enhances the vibrancy of Downtown DSM through the creation, elevation and activation of arts, culture and humanities events and community placemaking. Learn more at downtowndsmusa.com.
About the Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the largest regional business, economic development and talent development organization in Iowa and the second-largest regional chamber of commerce in the country, serving multiple counties in Greater Des Moines. Together with more than 400 Investors and an Affiliate Chamber of Commerce network of more than 7,200 Regional Chamber Members, The Partnership helps businesses grow and advances quality of life in Greater Des Moines with one voice, one mission and as one region, contributing to a vibrant regional economy. The Partnership was named Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), the chamber industry’s highest honor, and is accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.