Catalan cuisine takes centre stage at this year’s Gastronomic Forum Barcelona, running from 3rd to 5th November at Fira de Barcelona’s Montjuïc venue.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
The event coincides with Catalonia’s designation as World Region of Gastronomy 2025, celebrating New Catalan Cuisine’s unique blend of tradition, innovation and local products.
This historic edition will gather all Catalan chefs holding three Michelin stars for the first time. Consequently, culinary giants including Jordi Cruz, Joan Roca, Paolo Casagrande and Ferran Adrià will share the stage with emerging talents representing the next generation.
Catalan Cuisine Showcase Expands Significantly
The forum has grown substantially, featuring over 400 exhibiting companies – a 10% increase from 2024. Furthermore, it will occupy 18,500 square metres with products spanning gastronomic offerings (83%), equipment (11%) and tableware (3%).
According to event director Josep Alcaraz, “Gastronomic Forum Barcelona is much more than a culinary congress. With a 360-degree vision of hospitality, restaurants and foodservice, it’s a major business platform connecting talent, product and innovation.”
The exhibition showcases strong regional representation, with 65% of companies from Catalonia, 28% from elsewhere in Spain and 7% international participants from six countries. Additionally, the event follows recent culinary initiatives demonstrating Barcelona’s vibrant food scene.
Major brands including Damm, Makro, Valrhona and Josper will appear alongside small local producers and cooperatives. The Catalan Space, coordinated by Prodeca, will group over 80 local producers with support from Barcelona’s provincial councils and Barcelona City Council.
Meanwhile, collective representations from Galicia, Castilla y León, Extremadura and the Balearic Islands will bring together more than 150 small producers. This diverse participation underscores the forum’s role as a comprehensive sector meeting point.
The activities programme features over 180 speakers and 75 chefs collectively holding 52 Michelin stars. Attendees can experience more than 100 showcookings and presentations across various thematic areas.
Content director Pep Palau emphasises that “New Catalan Cuisine reflects the maturity of a gastronomic model that has evolved without losing its connection to the territory.” Therefore, this edition serves to demonstrate how Catalan cuisine expresses itself today through roots, innovation and talent.
The event will also host the Catalan Cuisine Symposium, analysing the current state of Catalan cuisine through researchers, journalists and chefs. This initiative connects directly to Catalonia’s World Gastronomy Region 2025 designation.
Various awards will be presented during the three-day event, including the Gastronomic Forum Barcelona Chef Award and the Josep Mercader Prize. Additionally, competitions for Spain’s Best Panettone and Catalans’ Favourite Dish will highlight culinary excellence.
Ultimately, this Catalan cuisine showcase reinforces Catalonia’s position as a global gastronomic reference. The forum demonstrates the power of cuisine that successfully combines tradition and innovation while projecting Catalan culinary strength worldwide.
Stay connected with us on social media for the latest updates and news!
TikTok | Instagram | YouTube | X
Source: Read original article
