The Colombian Chicken Festival 2025: more cities, more restaurants, and a national commitment to culinary creativity

The 2025 Colombian Chicken Festival brings the innovation of a traditional protein to more cities with a clear commitment to highlighting the versatility of one of the most consumed ingredients by Colombians. In this new edition, the event will be present in Bogotá, Medellín, Barranquilla, Cali, Bucaramanga, and the Coffee Region , with more than 240 restaurants that will put their culinary creativity to the test.

The initiative, led by the National Federation of Poultry Farmers of Colombia (Fenavi) in partnership with Fonav, aims to continue positioning chicken as a highly consumed food with multiple culinary possibilities.

Since its inception, the Festival has been a platform for chefs, food industry entrepreneurs, and diners to connect around a single ingredient.

This year, the Festival will feature professional chefs, food influencers, and foodies who will tour participating cities to taste, evaluate, and share the best "Pollo Burger," the event's offering that combines fast food with protein.

Beyond the competition, the event offers an opportunity for residents to explore new ways to enjoy chicken, with recipes ranging from the traditional to the innovative. It also offers a business opportunity for participating restaurant owners.

One of the highlights of this edition is the incorporation of a digital component designed to promote audience interaction and strengthen the event's impact on social media.

Through a virtual passport, attendees will be able to record their visits to participating restaurants, share recommendations, and earn points . This initiative seeks to encourage exploration and reward those who dare to discover the most culinary offerings in their city.

The 2024 edition produced significant figures that reflect the Festival's growth and consolidation: more than 367,000 Pollo Burgers sold, nearly 24,000 votes cast by diners, and an 88 percent increase in citizen participation compared to the previous year.

Medellín led the growth with a 150 percent increase in participation, followed by Bucaramanga, which nearly doubled its numbers. Cities such as Bogotá, Barranquilla, and Cali also showed significant increases, consolidating the event as a relevant date in the national gastronomic calendar.

This year , the more than 240 registered restaurants must present their own versions of chicken burgers, using different cooking methods, ingredients, and combinations to showcase their culinary creativity.

Some proposals will seek to revive traditional flavors of Colombian cuisine, while others will focus on fusions, regional ingredients, or contemporary twists.

This diversity of approaches allows the Festival to serve a dual purpose: on the one hand, it serves as a showcase for local culinary talent, and on the other, it offers the public the chance to rediscover an everyday ingredient through unexpected combinations. Active audience participation—both in consumption and voting—is a central part of the experience.

The 2025 Colombian Chicken Festival not only celebrates culinary creativity, but also the role gastronomy plays in building identity and community. In times when the ordinary can become extraordinary, a good chicken burger can be much more than a dish: it can be an experience that unites, excites, and represents the best of our cities and traditions.