Discover the 9 Best Food Festivals in Spain that Make Travel Delicious

Spain stands out as one of the world's premier gastronomic hubs. With a profound love for food and wine, along with a rich culinary heritage shaped by various regional influences, it’s no wonder this Iberian nation hosts some of the most unforgettable food festivals worldwide.

The culinary celebrations in Spain will enchant any true food lover, showcasing the philosophy of Spanish cuisine that emphasizes sourcing the finest ingredients—be it onions or octopus—to shine in each dish with minimal fuss.

Enhance your understanding of Spanish cuisine by planning your journey around the country's most exquisite food festivals. Here’s a guide to some of our favorite feasts, including lesser-known local celebrations that offer a genuine taste of cultural immersion. As the locals say, ¡Vamos a comer! – let’s eat!

1. International Cheese Festival, Trujillo

In celebration of cheese! Located in the medieval town of Trujillo—also the backdrop for the Game of Thrones spinoff, House of the Dragon—this beloved festival invites cheese enthusiasts to savor a delightful array of flavors and aromas from this cherished dairy product.

Taking place annually during the “puente de mayo”—the long weekend at the end of April and beginning of May—the Trujillo cheese festival is a vibrant event that draws cheesemakers from across the region. The historic streets of the town are filled with stalls showcasing artisanal cheeses, ranging from soft and creamy to tangy and nutty, and even delightfully pungent varieties. You can sample an impressive variety of cheeses and pair them with wines, condiments, and fruits.

Planning tip: Accommodations fill up quickly, especially for the long weekend, so be sure to book your rooms in advance if you intend to stay overnight. And don’t miss the chance to try the Torta del Casar, the town of Cáceres' most prized cheese.

2. Saffron Rose Festival, Consuegra

As autumn descends in October and November, the saffron flowers begin to bloom, painting the fields of La Mancha in vibrant purple. This marks the time when the town of Consuegra—the heart of Spain’s saffron production—holds its annual saffron rose festival, celebrating the delicate purple blossom that has supported the region's economy since it was first brought by the Moors over a thousand years ago.

Join locals in traditional attire for folk dancing, and try your hand at saffron pruning contests. However, the highlight of the day is savoring local dishes infused with saffron. Menus feature beloved regional specialties like pisto manchego (a mixed vegetable stew with cheese) and migas (sautéed breadcrumbs with olive oil, garlic, and chorizo).

Planning tip: Be sure to visit some of Consuegra’s highly-rated restaurants, such as El Alfar and El Retorno, which often showcase special saffron-infused dishes during the festival.

3. Gran Festa Calçotada de Valls

Catalans take great pride in two cultural icons: their castells (human towers) and calçots, a variety of spring onion cultivated in early winter and harvested in spring. Each year, these two pillars of Catalan heritage unite in a lively outdoor festival.

From December to March, throngs of Catalans flock to the countryside for a calçotada, a grand barbecue event where the onions are grilled over an open flame, wrapped in newspaper, and enjoyed by peeling off the charred layers and dipping the tender inner parts in a delectable romesco sauce made from tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and almonds.

The town of Valls is hailed as the calçot capital of Catalonia, located about 1½ hours from Barcelona. On the last Sunday of January, the Gran Festa Calçotada de Valls attracts families and friends, who relish calçots while engaging in spirited eating contests, cooking workshops, and castell performances.

4. Feria de Santo Tomás Festival, San Sebastián

Taking place every year on December 21, the Feria de Santo Tomás Festival is the highlight of the Donostia (San Sebastián) calendar, signaling the beginning of the Christmas celebrations. People from the Basque Country gather in the streets dressed in traditional garb, featuring the iconic black txapela berets, all eager to indulge in the festival's star attraction – txistorra, a semi-cured minced pork sausage grilled to perfection at numerous stalls throughout the city.

These savory sausages are typically served wrapped in talos – thick corn-flour flatbreads that resemble tacos, continuously made by local women throughout the event. To complement the feast, an abundance of txakoli white wine and sidra (cider) flows freely, allowing festivities to continue into the early hours of the morning.

Local tip: If you want to fit in with the locals, San Sebastián resident Addaia Arizmendi suggests swapping the wine favored by tourists for sidra. It’s also a good idea to wear a traditional txapela and zapia (neck scarf) as a nod to the days when Basque farmers in traditional attire gathered in the town square for food and drink after a long day at the market.

5. Festa do Pulpo de O Carballiño, Galicia

Each year, on the second Sunday of August, the quaint town of Carballiño in Galicia becomes a culinary hotspot as thousands of visitors flock to sample the region's renowned octopus. During the octopus festival, around 40,000kg of octopus is prepared outdoors in massive copper pots set up throughout Parque Municipal.

The highlight of the day is pulpo á feira, Galicia’s iconic dish featuring sliced octopus dressed with olive oil, salt, and paprika. Long communal tables fill the park, inviting diners to share a seafood feast while enjoying live gaita (Galician bagpipe) music performed by roaming bands.

6. Tapapiés, Madrid

In the vibrant and diverse neighborhood of Barrio Lavapiés in Madrid, home to residents from five continents and 88 different nationalities, the annual celebration of tapas (small plates) takes place every October.

Along the bustling streets of Calle Argumosa and Calle Miguel Servet, as well as in the lively town squares of Arturo Barea, Nelson Mandela, and Lavapiés, restaurants create an enticing tapas route, showcasing unique appetizers inspired by global cuisines.

For just €3, you can enjoy a tapa along with a caña (a small glass of draft beer), making it a delightful choice for the crisp autumn weather. Three standout tapas are chosen as the festival's top picks, granting significant recognition to the participating bars.

Local tip: This is a fantastic and affordable event to experience with friends, but as the bars and streets fill up, it’s advisable to arrive early in the evening. This is also a great opportunity to chat with the bar owners about the creativity behind their tapas creations.

7. Fiesta de la Aceituna, Martos

Kicking off the olive harvest season on December 8, this culinary festival in Martos, located in the Jaén region of Andalucía, is celebrated in the heart of Spain's olive-producing territory. Nestled on a hillside, this charming town provides stunning views of expansive olive fields.

The festival takes place in the Plaza de la Constitución, which comes alive with outdoor concerts, demonstrations of olive oil pressing, and vibrant flamenco performances. The star dish? The humble hoyo (“hole”) – a deep cavity in a thick crusty bread filled with olive oil. Throughout the day, locals queue up for hoyos, along with portions of bacalao (cod) and olives. Market stalls showcase artisanal olive oil products, local cheeses, charcuterie, and wine.

8. Semana Gastronómica del Atún, Barbate

Each May, coinciding with the first full moon, fishermen in small coastal towns of Cádiz set nets along the Atlantic Coast to catch bluefin tuna, continuing a centuries-old tradition known as almadraba, which dates back to the Phoenicians over three thousand years ago. Picturesque towns along the Costa de la Luz, including Zahara de los Atunes, Conil de la Frontera, and Tarifa, come alive to celebrate the tuna harvest.

The Semana Gastronómica del Atún is hosted in the quaint, mostly tourist-free town of Barbate, where the tuna fishing tradition dates back to Roman times. Stalls proudly display the finest bluefin tuna, while restaurants compete to create the most exquisite tuna tapas. Throughout the week, food enthusiasts can enjoy cooking demonstrations, tastings, and workshops that highlight tuna as the star ingredient.

9. Las Fiestas de la Vendimia y el Vino, Valdepeñas

While the wine festival in Valdepeñas might not garner the same tourist attention as the Rioja Wine Harvest Festival in Logroño, this vibrant wine hub in Castilla-La Mancha competes fiercely when it comes to passion for the grapevine.

Throughout the town, you’ll notice the influence of Dionysus, with oak barrels transformed into tables, enormous Roman-style ceramic wine vats lining the streets, grapes adorning the thoroughfares, and intricate wine cellars hidden below ground.

As summer fades, Valdepeñas fully embraces its grapevine heritage. The annual wine festival kicks off on September 1st, transforming the town into a festive haven as locals invite guests to experience being “kissed by wine.” With the autumn harvest underway, Valdepeñas bursts into a week of celebrations featuring daily wine and cheese tastings, outdoor concerts, sports tournaments, and art showcases.

A standout attraction is the Túnel de Vino, a vast venue where regional wineries unite to offer tastings. A special wine bus also operates, gently transporting slightly tipsy guests to and from the town center.

Tip for planning: Carry some cash – many places prefer efectivo over credit cards. Most restaurants and bars feature special menus for the festival, but tables get reserved quickly, so be sure to book ahead.