What is the Concurso de Pebrereta?

The Concurso de Pebrereta is an annual cooking contest that kicks off the summer season in Villajoyosa. This year, the 32nd edition will take place on Friday, June 19, as part of the broader La Vila Gastronómica event series.

It’s not an exclusive culinary event for professional judges behind closed doors, but rather a large, open neighborhood party on the beach where everyone is welcome: locals and tourists alike.

Free tastings and a fun atmosphere for visitors

As the participating teams prepare their pebrereta at the cooking stations along the beach, a relaxed evening atmosphere filled with music takes shape. Many teams share snacks and a pebrereta they’ve prepared together with passersby, so as a tourist, you can just pull up a chair and try the dish.

The event traditionally attracts not only many locals but also quite a few tourists who come for the combination of food, music, and beach atmosphere. Admission is free, and you don’t need to sign up for anything to come watch and sample the food. Only the teams that want to participate in the cooking must register in advance.

Tip! Be sure to arrive on time, because it can get crowded around dinnertime. It’s an excellent, accessible way to discover the local cuisine during your vacation.

The traditional dish: sangatxo and pumpkin

Pebrereta is one of the best-known summer dishes in Villajoyosa’s local cuisine. It is made with green bell peppers, pumpkin, tomatoes, and sangatxo (a salted cut of tuna). All of these ingredients have traditionally been readily available to fishermen and gardeners in the region.

To ensure authenticity, the organization provides all necessary ingredients free of charge to the participating teams. There are three prizes to be won for the best dishes.

Rosa Llorca, the councilor for tourism, emphasized that the competition attracts more participants every year and that the event helps shine a spotlight on one of the city’s most traditional recipes.

Jaime Santamaría, the councilor in charge of local festivities, added that the contest not only promotes local cuisine but is also an important festive occasion that marks the start of summer in Villajoyosa.

A competition for children, too

For the third year in a row, Villajoyosa is also organizing a children’s version of the contest, on the same day at 6:00 p.m., in the courtyard of the El Pla municipal stadium (also on Avenida de Altea). Good to know if you’re on vacation with kids: here, too, you can simply come watch the little chefs get to work.

Children between the ages of 6 and 16 can participate in teams, accompanied by an adult who acts as a mentor but is not allowed to cook themselves. A professional local chef guides the children step by step through the preparation of the dish. When registering for the children’s competition, the accompanying adult must sign a statement and a code of conduct.

Practical information

• Date: Friday, June 19, 2026;

• Competition location (adults): Puntes del Moro Beach, Avenida de Altea, starting at 8:00 p.m.;

• Location of the children’s tournament: courtyard of Estadio Municipal El Pla, Avenida de Altea, starting at 6:00 p.m.;

• Admission: free; no registration required to come and watch and taste;

• Registration for participating teams: through June 12 at the Villajoyosa Tourist Office;

• Age range for the children’s competition: 6 to 16 years old, in teams accompanied by an adult.

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