At IPW 2026 held in Greater Fort Lauderdale, ABC Mundial spoke with Lilly Cortés Wyatt, media representative for Visit Sacramento, who presented the latest tourism developments in California’s capital city and highlighted Sacramento’s strong growth as a culinary, cultural, and sports destination in the United States.

During the interview, Lilly Cortés Wyatt particularly emphasized the success of Terra Madre Americas, one of the most important international initiatives connected to the Slow Food movement, which selected Sacramento as its main host city in the Americas.

“The first time Terra Madre came to Sacramento was in 2025. It is a version of the Slow Food Terra Madre Salone del Gusto traditionally held in Turin, Italy, and Sacramento was chosen as the main host city in the Americas,” she explained.

The executive noted that no other U.S. city was selected to host this major international culinary gathering, reinforcing Sacramento’s position as one of the country’s emerging culinary capitals.

The event, which was free to the public, brought together producers, chefs, exhibitors, and culinary representatives from various Latin American countries during a three-day celebration at the Sacramento Convention Center.

“We had food and beverage tastings, exhibitions, and strong participation from Latin American vendors. We are very excited and want to expand it even more in 2027,” Cortés Wyatt said.

According to Visit Sacramento, the next edition of Terra Madre Americas will return in September 2027, with plans to grow the experience and attract even more international visitors.

Beyond the culinary event, Sacramento aims to position itself as a complete destination for travelers interested in culture, history, sports, and diversity.

“We have more than 17 Michelin-starred restaurants and many others recognized by the James Beard Awards. Sacramento is one of the most diverse cities in the United States; in fact, we rank number three in diversity,” she explained.

The Visit Sacramento representative also highlighted the city’s historical importance as the capital of California and recommended exploring Old Sacramento, the historic tourism district where visitors can learn about the origins of the city and California’s Gold Rush era.

“Many people don’t realize Sacramento is the capital of California. We have so much history and more than 450 museums for all types of visitors,” she stated.

Sports also play a central role in Sacramento’s tourism offering. Cortés Wyatt highlighted the importance of the Golden 1 Center, home of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, internationally recognized for its innovation and sustainable design.

“Our arena has received awards for its creativity and fan experience,” she commented.

Additionally, Sacramento offers a unique experience for baseball fans, as the city features both major league and minor league teams, allowing visitors to enjoy closer interaction with athletes.

“You can be very close to your favorite athletes and enjoy a much more intimate and family-friendly experience,” she noted.

One of the key elements of the strategy presented at IPW 2026 was Visit Sacramento’s strong outreach to the Latino community. Lilly Cortés Wyatt explained that the destination launched Spanish-language platforms, including the “Bienvenidos a Sacramento” portal, as well as podcasts, blogs, newsletters, and itineraries specifically designed for Spanish-speaking travelers.

“We want the Latino community to feel welcome and discover everything Sacramento has to offer,” she said.

Visit Sacramento also promotes family experiences, culinary routes, hotels, festivals, and cultural activities for different types of travelers.

“Sacramento is a big city that feels like a small town — very welcoming and warm to everyone who visits us,” Lilly Cortés Wyatt concluded during the interview with ABC Mundial at IPW 2026.