The fourth season will run from May 18 to June 5, 2026, traditionally featuring three formats: restaurant, urban, and retail. The annual pollock festival is supported by the Government of Primorsky Krai. Its organizers include the Russian Fishery Company (RFC), the Tourist Information Center of Primorsky Krai (Visit Primorye), and the federal project Gastronomic Map of Russia.
Russia is the world’s largest producer of pollock, which counts among its most important naturally extracted food resources. The main idea behind the festival is to introduce pollock into all segments of the Russian food service and hospitality industry, while building a culture of pollock consumption among Russians of all ages.
During the presentation of the Fourth Gastronomic Pollock Festival O!Mega Taste, the organizers discussed the key events and introduced new project partners:
- From May 18 to June 5, the festival will be held in Vladivostok's restaurants.
- From May 18 to June 5, the festival will take place in retail outlets across Russia (Samberi, Auchan, Okey, Perekrestok, and the Moscow-on-the-Wave markets).
- From May 22 to May 31, pollock dishes will be available at the House of Russian Cuisine at VDNKh in Moscow.
- From May 29 to May 31, the city portion of the festival will be held on Sportivnaya Embankment in Vladivostok.
- Om 30 May, the culinary battle O!Mega Taste will take place.
The festival was presented by: the Ministry of Tourism of Primorsky Krai, Russian Fish Processing Company (RRPC), the federal project Gastronomic Map of Russia, the Tourist Information Center of Primorsky Krai, the National Center Russia in Primorsky Krai, the Pollock Fishermen's Association, Roskachestvo, the Fish Union, Perekrestok, Meridian, and Sweet Life Foodservice LLC (Sweet Life Group of Companies).
This year, Nizhny Novgorod will join the project, with the festival being held in the city's retail stores and restaurants. The new partner for this initiative is Sweet Life Group. During the press conference, the Russian Fishery Company LLC (RFC) and Sweet Life Group signed a bilateral agreement on strategic partnership in developing the production of deep-processed pollock products.
For the first time, students from culinary colleges in Primorsky Krai will take part in the festival. The first professional skills competition, O!Mega Battle, will be held in collaboration with the Ministry of Vocational Education and Employment of Primorsky Krai, the regional educational and methodological association Chef and Pastry Business, and Vladivostok restaurant chefs. Qualifying rounds will take place in May, during which chefs from leading Vladivostok restaurants will select participants from 17 specialized culinary colleges to join their teams. The students will then compete for the title of "Mintalier"—the best chef in the world of pollock. The finals of O!Mega Battle will be held on 30 May at the site of the city gastronomic festival O!Mega Taste.
"Our festival is a completely unique story in terms of how the organizers come together. We are very pleased that every year the number of festival partners grows. Together, we are raising the status of pollock, making it more accessible, and turning it into a favorite product for children and adults—on the street, in stores, and in restaurants,"
Last year, chefs created more than 100 new recipes during the festival, and the organizers are confident that some of those favorite dishes will definitely return, while new culinary masterpieces will also be offered to residents and guests of Moscow and Vladivostok.
The festival's partners include: the Federal Agency for Fishery of the Russian Federation, the Pollock Fishermen's Association (which runs the country's first category promotion program for the Far Eastern Pollock fish brand), Roskachestvo, the Fish Union, the FSA, processors Meridian, VICI, Putina, Agama, KVEN, Eksprod, and Sweet Life Group.
