On August 5, in Buon Ma Thuot ward, the Dak Lak PPC held a press conference to officially announce the 2026 Dak Lak Durian Festival under the theme "Dak Lak Durian - Connecting for Greater Reach".

According to the Organising Committee, the festival will take place from August 15 to September 2, 2026, across Buon Ma Thuot ward, Krong Pac commune, Tuy Hoa ward, alongside durian-growing localities province-wide. The programme will feature 17 activities, including pre-festival promotional campaigns and a wide range of cultural, commercial, tourism, alongside investment promotion events.

Highlights include the opening ceremony on the evening of August 15 at 10-3 Square; a parade of approximately 500 pickup trucks transporting Dak Lak durian, seeking to establish a Guinness World Record; a specialised exhibition showcasing the durian industry alongside OCOP products with around 400 booths; the Durian Production and Market Connectivity Forum; a durian culinary festival aiming to establish a Vietnam record with 102 durian-inspired dishes; a large-scale music concert; guided tours of durian orchards; along with a wide range of cultural coupled with artistic performances.

Delegates attending the press conference.

A flagship event, the Durian Production and Market Connectivity Forum, is expected to bring together around 600 delegates as well as nearly 200 enterprises, including 20 foreign companies from China and Thailand. Discussions will centre on strengthening the durian value chain, growing area codes, product traceability, quality standards coupled with export market requirements, while promoting investment and enhancing the competitiveness of Dak Lak's durian industry.

This marks the first time Dak Lak has organised a province-level durian festival, aiming to showcase alongside strengthen Dak Lak Durian brand, honour growers and enterprises, while advancing trade promotion, attracting investment, as well as fostering agricultural tourism.

According to the Organising Committee, preparations are progressing smoothly and remain broadly on schedule. The festival is expected to attract around 300,000 visitors, helping strengthen the Dak Lak Durian brand along with forster linkages among enterprises, investors, cooperatives and growers, while encouraging investment in deep-processing, logistics, alongside value chain development.

Addressing the press conference, comrade Dao My, PPC Vice Chairman, emphasised that the 2026 Dak Lak Durian Festival is not merely a celebration honouring durian growers, but also a strategic opportunity to promote investment, accelerate the development of deep-processing and logistics value chains, expand official export markets, while showcasing Dak Lak as a dynamic, globally connected province following the provincial administrative merger.

Translated by KHUONG THAO