Spain’s next food spotlight is set: Jerez de la Frontera will carry the Capital of Gastronomy title through 2026, with the handover from Alicante scheduled in January.
What the title means and key dates
The Capital of Gastronomy is an annual recognition awarded since 2012 to a Spanish city that stands out in promoting its culinary offer to residents and visitors.
Jerez secured the win this year with the bid slogan “Come, bebe y ama Jerez”. The jury, bringing together decision-makers from commerce and tourism, agriculture and food, hospitality associations, travel agencies, and specialist journalists, selected Jerez’s bid for its scope and ambition.
What to expect in Jerez in 2026
Jerez’s programme is built around four pillars designed to shape a busy year of tastings, workshops, markets and cross‑cultural events.
- Legacy and tradition: a focus on local recipes, seasonal products and the city’s food heritage.
- Cooperation and exchange: partnerships that tie gastronomy to music, performance, visual arts and public space.
- Sustainability: initiatives aligned with research, innovation and responsible sourcing, aiming to cut waste and support local producers.
- Talent and trades: training and showcasing the next generation of chefs, sommeliers and food artisans through mentorships and competitions.
Foodie activities to try in Jerez de la Frontera
Jerez offers hands-on ways to experience its food culture throughout the year.
- Sherry bodegas and tabancos: pair a guided visit to a sherry bodega with glasses poured in traditional tabancos. Styles such as Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez show how ageing transforms flavour.
- Mercado Central de Abastos with a cook-and-taste session: the city’s central market is a hub for seasonal produce and Atlantic fish. Many travellers combine an early market shop with a small-group cooking workshop or guided tasting that spotlights local dishes.
- Ruta del Mosto and countryside ventas: in the cooler months, rustic taverns around Jerez serve mosto (new wine) alongside grilled meats, stews and migas. A relaxed day often includes a stop at a vineyard in the Marco de Jerez or an olive mill visit before settling in for a long lunch.
Every day living in Jerez de la Frontera is all about sherry‑house tabancos, open‑air markets and an easy pace that suits walkers and cyclists. Living in Jerez de la Frontera is shaped by the sunny, outdoors lifestyle and strong Andalusian identity.
New arrivals often settle near the centre or rail links, with schools, healthcare and daily errands close at hand. The international community is compact and friendly, with food‑centric events and language exchanges helping people build a network.
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