Best of the Best at ‘IN GOOD TASTE’ by The Shoppes, City of Dreams

An explosion of fashion, art, food, song and dance, and of course shopping — all under one roof — comes alive when IN GOOD TASTE 2026, presented by The Shoppes at City of Dreams, takes Colombo by storm on 7 and 8 November, with free entry from 10.30 a.m. onwards, at Colombo’s premier retail destination.

“More than an event, IN GOOD TASTE represents the beginning of a new chapter for Colombo’s lifestyle and retail landscape. Designed as a festival of flavour, fun and fabulous experiences, the event will feature celebrity chefs, culinary competitions, fashion showcases, art installations, live entertainment and curated lifestyle experiences, and festive shopping of course, attracting a highly engaged audience of consumers, tastemakers, media and industry leaders,” said Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts Senior Vice President-Colombo Hotels and City of Dreams Sri Lanka General Manager Kamal Munasinghe, while welcoming the participation of the festival’s wide cross-section of partners and elite judges.

“Whether it’s shopping across over 50 stalls, browsing through art, listening to music, swaying to a dance performance, cheering on aspiring chefs and mixologists, indulging in a spread of yummy food, or dreaming of becoming Sri Lanka’s top model, IN GOOD TASTE 2026 has something for everyone,” said Headlines PR and Events/Partner, Interbrand Sri Lanka and Maldives Chairperson Anusha David.

“This lifestyle festival is unique in that we are having both leading corporates as well as small businesses, all under one roof, thus giving both participants and shoppers the chance to interact and explore the Best of the Best,” said Munasinghe.

In partnership with the Wijeya Group, comprising Daily FT, Daily Mirror, Sunday Times, Lankadeepa, Lankadeepa Online, HI Online, HI Magazine and HI TV, as well as Derana & Ada Derana News Channel as the Official Electronic Media Partner, Fox FM, Advertising Partner Gravitas Integrated, Social Media Partner The Radical Agency, Event Partners Nisal Caldera and Designs by Paala, Choreographer of the Event Brian Kerkoven, and Hair and Makeup Partners Cheryl Gooneratne, Johann Peries, Shobhi Koch and Capello Salon, this two-day lifestyle festival promises an unforgettable weekend for visitors of all ages.

“One of the highlights of the festival are the many and varied competitions that will take place over the weekend,” said Munasinghe. “The Culinary Competition IN GOOD FLAVOUR, which has three competitions within it — Signature Dish, Dress the Cake and The ROAR Challenge; the Art Competition spearheaded by luminaries of the Art World, some of whom are present with us today; the Song segment IN GOOD VOICE, which will feature the hits of ABBA under the guidance of none other than Soundarie David Rodrigo; IN GOOD STRIDE, the model search conducted by the BK Academy; and IN GOOD MOVES, the dance competition also conducted by the BK Academy, will undoubtedly make this an unforgettable event, one that people will look forward to attending annually.”

As for seasonal activities and future events at The Shoppes, “Well, we have so much to tell you, I really don’t know where to start,” said  Mall Management Director Romesh Jayawardane. 

The Scope Cinemas Multiplex, which will open in December, is among the upcoming additions, along with the Food Court scheduled to open soon, where a diverse selection of F&B offerings ranging from Western and East Asian cuisine to local favourites will cater to everyone’s palette.

The Christmas Light-Up will kick off the festive season, followed by a weekly calendar of family-friendly activations, including Cake Date: Christmas Edition, festive workshops, special offers and more.

Also on the cards is the Waterfront on Level 1 of The Shoppes, scheduled to open in December, featuring a new collection of resto-bars overlooking the waterfront that offer a fresh dining and leisure experience within The Shoppes. There is also a growing collection of new brands, bringing shoppers an ever-expanding mix of offerings across retail, beauty and wellness, confectionery and lifestyle, alongside a dedicated kids’ play zone for younger visitors and a nightlife offering that keeps The Shoppes alive well into the evening. 

There will always be something new to discover at The Shoppes, while IN GOOD TASTE 2026 will set a precedent for a fun-filled and memorable Festive Season,” concluded Munasinghe.

Pix by Shehan Gunasekara