The 14th 'Jornadas de la Cuchara' will kick off Benidorm Gastronomic 2026 next week

Sixteen restaurants in Benidorm will kick off Benidorm Gastronómico 2026 next week, starting with the now classic "Jornadas de la Cuchara" (Stew Days), which this year reach their fourteenth edition and has become a staple of the local gastronomic calendar. The Centre Municipal El Torrejó hosted the presentation of the first event of the annual calendar on Wednesday. The event will take place between Friday, February 27th and Sunday, March 8th.

The Mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, participated in the presentation of these days, which are enjoying increasing popularity among residents and tourists, along with the Vice President of Abreca, Alex Fratini, and the patron of Benidorm Gastronómico 2025, Licinio García, from ConBrassa group, who today passed the torch as honorary patron of local gastronomy for 2026 to Mariano Sanz, of the long-established Bar Marianos.

Alameda Gourmet, Arrocería La Marina, Bolikki, Chiringuito Beach, El Mesón, Esturión, Jardín Mediterráneo, La Brasería Aurrera, La Fava, La Juana, La Pinta Beach, La Tapería, Malaspina, Marisquería El Puerto, Sinatras Centro Diverso, and Taberna Andaluza are the 16 establishments that will participate in these events, the same number as last year, which, as the mayor of the city pointed out, "consolidates the improvement in participation achieved last year."

These establishments will serve set menus with a starter, a traditional stew, a drink, and dessert for a single price of 25 euros.

“Benidorm’s hospitality industry never rests,” Toni Pérez emphasized during the presentation, recalling that “just three days ago we said goodbye to Benidorm Fest and, with it, Tapa Fest – where participating restaurants served more than 7,000 tapas – and today we already have on our radar the first of the six major events that make up Benidorm Gastronómico 2026: the XIV Stew Days.”

He also praised the hospitality sector for “taking advantage of these opportunities offered by Benidorm Gastronómico to implement initiatives that stimulate consumption during periods when tourism typically declines. This benefits everyone involved: establishments and staff, because business is maintained and revenue increases; and customers, because they have the opportunity to access quality cuisine at more competitive prices than at other times of the year, and even dishes that aren’t usually on the menu.”

Toni Pérez stated that “gastronomy is no longer a mere complement to anything in Benidorm; rather, it is one of our city’s key assets, capable of attracting visitors in its own right and of showing the world that this is a place where a strong brand is built, hospitality is practised, memorable experiences are created, and jobs are generated.”

Finally, he thanked Licinio García for his work as the honorary patron of Benidorm Gastronómico 2025, reiterating that with his six establishments open to the public in the city, “he has made a decisive contribution to Benidorm’s gastronomy, gaining visibility and becoming increasingly recognised for its quality and excellence.” He then warmly welcomed Mariano Sanz as the patron for 2026. Pérez highlighted Sanz’s “tireless work for more than four decades to create a gastronomic offering with its own identity, deeply ingrained in the collective imagination of several generations of Benidorm residents, and whose name resonates far beyond our borders.” “Mariano Sanz is a model for his work, his experience, and, importantly, his affability, so I have no doubt that he will be a magnificent honorary patron,” he added.

For his part, Mariano Sanz expressed his deep gratitude for this recognition, stating that with Benidorm Gastronómico “we celebrate the talent of our chefs and the quality of our local produce,” and expressing his confidence that all the activities planned throughout the year will be “a great success.”

Calendar

As previously mentioned, the 14th "Stew Festival" will kick off Benidorm's gastronomic calendar between February 27th and March 8th. Following this, the program will continue with the 6th Tuna Festival from April 17th to 26th. This will be followed by the 16th Tapas and Pintxos Competition, from June 19th to 28th. In September, from the 11th to the 20th, visitors can taste the various offerings of the 5th Cocktail Competition, while from October 16th to 25th, the spotlight will be on "Rice Dishes of the Land" with the 15th Rice Festival.

Finally, from November 26 to 29, the ‘II Jornadas Menjars del Nostre Poble’ will be celebrated, the last event planned to promote local gastronomy and which is consolidated within Benidorm Gastronómico after its first edition, held in 2025 within the commemorative events of the ‘700 Aniversary’ of Benidorm.