Marcus Samuelsson wants to get to know Aruba through its food. “Food tells you so much about a place,” the chef said. He hopes to cook alongside local chefs and discover the ingredients and traditions that make the island unique. He’ll get his chance at Autentico, Aruba’s culinary festival, which runs Oct. 3-11.
This is Autentico’s third year. The festival celebrates the mix of cuisines and cultural influences that shape how Aruba cooks and eats. Each visiting guest works directly with the island’s culinary community.
Ronella Croes, CEO of the Aruba Tourism Authority, said the festival gives Aruba’s culinary community a chance to share its creativity. It also invites talent from around the world to “experience Aruba through its food,” she added.
What’s Happening at Autentico, and When
The 2026 lineup spreads nine days across three main parts, with 25 restaurants in the first week alone.
- Restaurant Week, Oct. 3-9: Participating restaurants across the island serve special lunch and dinner menus. Diners there can also enter a Scan and Win giveaway for Pavilion tickets.
- Bucket List experiences: These intimate events bring guests closer to the people and ingredients behind Aruba’s food scene. Highlights include From Summit to Sea, which pairs Peruvian chef Virgilio Martínez with Chef Urvin Croes of Infini. Mixologist Luca Cinalli also teams up with Apotek Speakeasy and the culinary team at The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba for a cocktail collaboration.
- The Pavilion, Oct. 10-11: The outdoor event returns to downtown Oranjestad for a weekend of food and drinks, plus live demonstrations. Samuelsson leads culinary classes and collaborates with L.G. Smith’s Steak & Chop House. Cinalli teaches ticketed mixology classes the same weekend.
The Big Names Heading to Aruba
Samuelsson is a chef, restaurateur and author. He’s teaching at the Pavilion, but he sounds just as eager to learn. “As a chef, you’re always learning,” he said.
Martínez founded Central and the Mater Institute, both in Lima. He’s also the founder of MIL in Cusco and MAZ in Tokyo.
Cinalli, an internationally recognized mixologist, works the Apotek and Ritz-Carlton collaboration first. Then he heads to the Pavilion for his classes.
Tickets are on sale now through the Autentico website, which also lists the full schedule and participating restaurants. If you want to see Samuelsson, plan around Oct. 10-11. Restaurant Week wraps up Oct. 9, the day before the Pavilion opens.