About the Exhibition

The theme of the 2026 World Food Forum is "Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow."

Inspired by this vision, A Nourishing Tomorrow: Dim Sum and Beyond invites young people from around the world to creatively reinterpret Cantonese culture through original visual storytelling, transforming heritage into a bridge between past and future.

As one of the world's most vibrant living cultural traditions, Cantonese culture has been shaped by centuries of migration, exchange, and community, and continues to thrive across generations and continents. Rooted in China's Greater Bay Area and connected with the San Francisco Bay Area, the exhibition fosters cultural dialogue across the two Bay Areas and beyond, bringing local stories of heritage, identity, and belonging to a global audience.

Selected works will be showcased during the 2026 World Food Forum at FAO Headquarters in Rome.

Dim sum is more than food. Shared over tea, it brings families and communities together, an everyday ritual where stories are exchanged, memories are made, and traditions quietly pass from one generation to the next.

Around that table lives a much wider cultural world: the sound of Cantonese opera, the energy of lion and dragon dances, the excitement of dragon boat festivals, the timeless melodies of Cantopop, the cinematic memories of Hong Kong films, and the languages, rituals and ways of gathering that shape a shared sense of identity and belonging.

Across generations of migration, Cantonese communities have carried these cultural patterns far beyond Southern China. Even thousands of kilometres from ancestral homes, traditions continue to be remembered, adapted and passed on, connecting people across generations, communities and continents.

Through the 2026 World Food Forum Youth Exhibition, we aim to spark an intergenerational and intercontinental dialogue, inviting young people to explore how this living heritage travels, evolves and endures. Echoing the 2026 WFF theme, “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.”, the initiative asks how young people can creatively reinterpret cultural traditions today to keep them alive, relevant and nourishing for generations to come.

This is an open call for young creators from around the world who share a passion for Cantonese culture.

Submission is free of charge. We invite young people to create videos that explore Cantonese heritage through their own eyes: beginning with dim sum and food culture, and expanding into the people, memories, traditions and communities connected to them.

Stories may explore one or more of the following themes:

• Family & Memory
  A recipe, ritual or story passed between generations
• Food & Everyday Life
  Dim sum, yum cha, Cantopop and Hong Kong cinema
• Festivals & Traditions
  Dragon boats, lion dances, seasonal foods and community
• Migration & Belonging
  How Cantonese traditions travel, adapt and endure across continents
• Heritage Reimagined
  How animation, AI or other creative media to reinterpret tradition today

Young people from middle school to universities are invited to create original videos exploring Cantonese heritage through their own perspectives, families and communities. Group submissions are encouraged, while individual entries are also welcome.

under 15 | 16 – 17 | 18+

2–5 participants encouraged　|　Individual participant welcome

Permitted with clear disclosure in submission notes.

• Minimum resolution: 1080p
• Recommended resolution: 4K at 30 fps
• Chinese and English subtitles are required
  

Up to 8 video works will be selected across the 5 thematic areas, bringing together a balanced mix of short-form and long-form storytelling.

Please note: Submission to the Open Call is free of charge. If selected for exhibition, a USD 300 exhibition management fee per video will apply per accepted work to cover exhibition curation, production, coordination and communication.

• 30% Cultural Relevance & Authenticity
• 30% Storytelling & Emotional Impact
• 30% Creativity & Innovation
• 10% Technical Execution
• Additional consideration will be given to stories that meaningfully foster intergenerational and/or intercontinental dialogue.
  

An international panel bringing together experts in education, cultural heritage, and community engagement from China’s Greater Bay Area and the San Francisco Bay Area in the United States.

Chungfei Esther (鄭宗妃) Tang, Ph.D. 

Cantonese Opera Practitioner · Environmental Educator · Youth Advocate

Esther serves as Program Director of Jing Ying Cantonese Opera Institute, where she expands access to UNESCO-recognized Cantonese opera through multilingual, community-centered programming that connects cultural heritage with broader audiences. She is also a Senior Environmental Education Strategist with the San Francisco Environment Department, where she develops cross-sector partnerships and advances youth climate leadership, including envisioning and leading a dedicated team in launching the Climate Action Youth Summit (CAYS), now a citywide initiative engaging thousands of young people annually. Originally from Borneo, Malaysia, and now based in San Francisco, Esther believes resilient communities are built by investing in youth leadership, preserving cultural heritage, and expanding equitable access to knowledge and participation.

Ken Nim

Community Builder · Youth Development Leader · Founder of Dim Sum Club

Ken works at the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, supporting youth and community development through cross-sector partnerships. Originally from Vietnam’s Cantonese community, he is also the Founder of Dim Sum Club, bringing people together through food and shared cultural experiences. He brings a personal diaspora perspective to heritage, belonging and community connection.

Dr. Chi Shing Lai

Cantonese Language & Heritage Expert

Dr. Lai is a senior Lecturer at the Education University of Hong Kong. His research focuses on Cantonese language, Chinese education and Lingnan cultural heritage, supporting innovative approaches to preserving and reimagining Cantonese culture for younger generations.

Jiaqi Chen

Youth Empowerment & Youth Leadership

Jiaqi is the Executive Director of Next Impact Learning Hub and Curator of A Nourishing Tomorrow: Dim Sum and Beyond. She is committed to empowering young people through international education, global opportunities, and meaningful real-world engagement. As a Cantonese speaker, she is also passionate about preserving the Cantonese language and culture and fostering meaningful dialogue to celebrate and promote Cantonese heritage.

• Submission deadline: 20 September 2026
• Selected work announced: 30 September 2026
• World Food Forum 2026 Youth Exhibition Showcase: 13 October 2026
  

Alongside the Open Call, the Youth Exhibition also features the invitation-only Horizon Track.

Following the annual theme, A Nourishing Tomorrow: Dim Sum and Beyond, the Horizon Track brings together selected schools, youth organisations, cultural institutions, and community partners to co-create curated exhibition experiences and showcase youth stories through a dedicated exhibition section.

If your school or organisation is interested in becoming a Horizon Track partner, please contact us.