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Benidorm Gastronómico strengthens its position as a showcase for local cuisine with six events throughout 2026

Benidorm / 23 January 2026

Benidorm has once again highlighted the strength and diversity of its culinary offering at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid, where the city officially unveiled the Benidorm Gastronómico 2026 programme.

Presented jointly by Benidorm City Council and the Association of Bars, Restaurants and Cafés (Abreca-Cobreca), the programme consolidates the ‘Menjars del Nostre Poble’ (Foods of Our Town) festival as the sixth annual event in the gastronomic calendar, reinforcing Benidorm’s commitment to promoting local cuisine.

The 2026 programme will begin on 27 February with the 14th edition of the Spoon Days and will conclude at the end of November with the second edition of ‘Menjars del Nostre Poble’, a festival dedicated to traditional local dishes that was first launched in 2025 to mark Benidorm’s 700th anniversary.

Throughout the year, visitors and residents will be able to enjoy a wide range of culinary experiences, including dishes featuring tuna, tapas and pintxos, cocktails and rice-based specialities, further strengthening Benidorm’s position as a year-round gastronomic destination.

The Mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, welcomed the consolidation of the new festival, noting that it was “conceived from the outset as a long-term initiative, something that is now becoming a reality.”

He also underlined the growing importance of gastronomy within the city’s tourism strategy.

“Gastronomy is one of the products within our constantly evolving tourism offering, and it is generating increasing interest among both national and international visitors,” the mayor said.

Accompanied by representatives of the hospitality sector, including Pablo González, President of Cobreca, and Álex Fratini, Vice President of Abreca, the mayor detailed the six events that will make up the Benidorm Gastronómico calendar in 2026.

“This is a diverse programme designed to appeal to all tastes,” he explained. “We are confident it will encourage visits to our bars and restaurants, particularly during the off-season, which we consider a key period for attracting visitors and supporting local businesses.”

Benidorm Gastronómico 2026 calendar:

14th Spoon Days – 27 February to 8 March
6th Tuna Days – 17 to 26 April
16th Tapas and Pintxos Competition – 19 to 28 June
5th Cocktail Competition – 11 to 20 September
15th Rice Dishes of the Land Festival – 16 to 25 October
2nd Menjars del Nostre Poble (Local Foods Festival) – 26 to 29 November

During the public opening days of FITUR, visitors will also be able to discover the full Benidorm Gastronómico 2026 calendar, alongside other tourism products offered by the city across a range of sectors.

🌴 What’s On This Week – Costa Blanca

(Benidorm & surrounding areas)

Regional overview: steady pre-summer momentum

Across the Costa Blanca, including Benidorm, Altea, L’Alfàs del Pi (Albir), La Nucía and Finestrat, the region is entering a strong early-season phase with increasing visitor numbers, expanding nightlife, and a growing calendar of small cultural and leisure events ahead of the main summer period.

Markets, live music, coastal tourism and community events continue to dominate activity this week, alongside ongoing infrastructure improvements such as new sustainability and mobility projects.

BENIDORM – Markets, nightlife and tourism growth

Weekly street markets in Benidorm remain a key attraction, including Wednesday and Sunday general markets offering food, clothing and local goods.

The Old Town continues to host craft stalls and informal street entertainment, while evening activity is increasing as the summer season approaches.

Live music is now a nightly feature across main entertainment zones, with tribute acts, DJs and bar performances contributing to strong visitor activity.

Tourism officials also note continued preparation for upcoming seasonal events, including the build-up toward traditional spring and early summer festivals.

ALTEA – Culture and coastal leisure

Altea continues to focus on cultural tourism and relaxation, with art galleries, artisan shops and small exhibitions operating throughout the Old Town.

Live acoustic performances and low-key entertainment are taking place across seafront bars, while boat excursions from Altea harbour are operating regular coastal and sunset sailing routes depending on weather conditions.

ALBIR / L’ALFÀS DEL PI – Community events and live music

L'Alfàs del Pi and the Albir area maintain a steady mix of expat and local activity.

Weekly Friday markets remain popular, while Irish pubs and live music venues continue to host regular bands and acoustic performances.

The Casa de Cultura is also hosting community exhibitions, theatre and social events throughout the week.

LA NUCÍA – Sports and weekend activity

La Nucia continues to centre around sports tourism, with its major sports complex hosting training camps and competitive events.

The Sunday rastro flea market remains a key attraction, drawing visitors from across the region.

FINESTRAT – Coastal leisure and markets

Finestrat is experiencing growing beachfront activity as beach bars and restaurants reopen for the warmer season.

Markets in La Cala continue on Tuesdays and Saturdays, offering local produce and artisan goods, while sunset dining and relaxed evening entertainment are becoming more frequent.

VILLAJOYOSA – Culture, coastline and local life

Villajoyosa is experiencing steady early-season activity, supported by its historic old town, colourful seafront and growing cultural tourism offer.

Local markets and small artisan trading continue throughout the week, while the seafront promenade is seeing increased footfall as warmer weather returns.

The town also maintains its reputation for traditional fishing heritage, chocolate production history, and quiet beach tourism, offering a more relaxed contrast to nearby resort centres.

INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE – Benidorm EV expansion

Alongside tourism growth, Benidorm is also continuing its sustainability rollout, including new electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the Levante area as part of its broader mobility and climate strategy.

The project forms part of EU-backed funding aimed at supporting low-emission transport across major Mediterranean destinations.

REGIONAL SUMMARY

Benidorm: busiest hub with nightlife, markets and entertainment growth
Altea: cultural, scenic and relaxed
Albir / L’Alfàs del Pi: balanced social and live music scene
La Nucía: sports-led and residential
Finestrat: beach-focused and seasonal lifestyle
Villajoyosa: coastal heritage, relaxed tourism and local culture

The Costa Blanca continues its gradual transition into peak tourist season, with activity levels rising steadily across all major towns.

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Benidorm Gastronómico strengthens its position as a showcase for local cuisine with six events throughout 2026

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