UCLA Hosts International Food Festival in Westwood
The event brought together over 400 students for a night of global cuisine and cultural performances.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Food and Drink
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The Ackerman Grand Ballroom hosted the International Food Festival, a three-hour celebration of diverse cultures. The gathering offered students a space for connection through international food and live entertainment.
Why it matters
Organizers designed the festival to foster cultural exchange and provide international students with an environment to reconnect with their heritage. The collaboration aimed to facilitate meaningful interactions among the campus community.
The three-hour event drew over 400 student attendees to the Ackerman Grand Ballroom. Organizers raffled six prizes during the evening, including Airpods, a speaker, and a gift card.
The players
ASUCLA
The Associated Students UCLA is a student-run non-profit organization that provides services and goods to the university community.
Kyodo Taiko
Kyodo Taiko is a student performance group at UCLA dedicated to the traditional Japanese art of ensemble drumming.
Grupo Folklórico de UCLA
This student organization performs traditional Mexican folk dances to promote and preserve cultural history on campus.
Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars
This center serves as the central hub for international support, cultural programming, and visa resources at the university.
The details
ASUCLA catered a menu featuring Mediterranean, Japanese, Italian, Mexican, and Caribbean dishes while Kyodo Taiko and Grupo Folklórico de UCLA provided live performances. The Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars and Wescom Financial collaborated to manage the cultural displays and raffle activities.
Timeline
The International Food Festival took place on October 21, 2026.
The event was held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Industry Dynamics
The festival follows the cultural programming mission set by the Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars. This event highlights the ongoing trend of universities prioritizing international student integration through collaborative campus social initiatives.
Students gained access to a diverse array of global cuisines and performances during this campus-wide social gathering. Attendees also had the opportunity to win prizes, including electronics and gift cards, through the event's raffle.
The takeaway
Events like the International Food Festival serve as a vital platform for students to engage with cultures outside their own. Organizers are already looking toward hosting the festival again next year to continue supporting student connection.
Further reading
Discover more about campus events and culinary trends in the Los Angeles Food and Drink section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Bruin.
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