San Sebastián Gastronomika 2027 – Spain

Overview

San Sebastián Gastronomika Euskadi Basque Country is one of Spain’s leading international gastronomy congresses, bringing together renowned chefs, culinary professionals, food producers, journalists, sommeliers, hospitality specialists and gastronomy enthusiasts in San Sebastián. The event combines high-level culinary presentations with tastings, competitions, professional meetings, exhibitions, awards and networking.

The congress is closely connected with San Sebastián’s reputation as one of Europe’s major gastronomic destinations. Its programme regularly brings together influential chefs from the Basque Country, Spain and other parts of the world, creating a meeting point between traditional cuisine, contemporary techniques and international culinary trends. The most recent edition featured 1,479 congress-goers, 160 exhibitors and participants representing 48 nationalities.

Gastronomika is particularly important because it is not simply a public food festival. It is a professional gastronomy congress with a strong educational and industry focus. Attendees can listen to chefs explain their cooking philosophies, discover new culinary techniques, taste products, meet exhibitors and follow competitions and specialist sessions.

The event is held at the Kursaal Congress Centre, an architectural landmark beside the Urumea River and Zurriola Beach. The venue provides auditoriums, exhibition areas, meeting rooms, restaurant spaces and terraces, making it suitable for a large multi-format gastronomy congress.

What Makes This Food Event Special

International culinary programme

San Sebastián Gastronomika brings together chefs and gastronomy professionals from different countries. Recent programmes have included figures such as Pierre Gagnaire, Gastón Acurio, Joan Roca, Alexandre Couillon, Mauro Colagreco and many leading Basque chefs.

The international approach means that attendees can compare different culinary traditions, techniques and approaches to ingredients without leaving the congress venue.

Strong Basque identity

Although the congress has an international scope, Basque cuisine remains central to its identity. San Sebastián is one of the most important culinary centers in the Basque Country, and the congress regularly examines the development of Basque cuisine and its influence on modern Spanish gastronomy.

The event has also historically connected established culinary figures with younger generations, allowing attendees to see how traditional knowledge is being adapted to contemporary cooking.

Professional gastronomy focus

Gastronomika is particularly valuable for chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, hospitality professionals, culinary students, journalists and food-industry specialists. Professional accreditation and congress registration are important parts of the event structure. The official registration information identifies it as a professional event and restricts entry to visitors under 16.

Live presentations and demonstrations

Rather than simply displaying finished food, the congress allows chefs to explain techniques, ingredients and concepts. Recent programmes have included dedicated presentations on individual restaurants, regional cuisine, ingredients, wine, culinary identity and the future of gastronomy.

Exhibition and tasting area

The event also includes an exhibition component where visitors can encounter food and beverage companies, producers, specialist brands and culinary products. The latest official figures report 160 exhibitors, demonstrating the scale of the professional exhibition side of Gastronomika.

Food, Cuisine & Specialties

San Sebastián Gastronomika does not focus on one single food. Instead, its culinary programme changes according to the annual theme and participating chefs, with Basque cuisine, Spanish regional cooking, international gastronomy, wine and specialist food products forming recurring elements.

Basque cuisine

Basque cooking is one of the foundations of the congress. Ingredients from the sea, mountains, farms and surrounding agricultural areas frequently appear in presentations and demonstrations.

Pintxos

Pintxos are an essential part of San Sebastián’s food culture. These small-format dishes range from traditional preparations to highly creative contemporary creations. The city’s official tourism office describes pintxos as one of the defining elements of the local culinary experience.

Seafood and fish

The Cantabrian coast has a strong influence on local gastronomy. Seafood, fish and marine ingredients regularly feature in Basque cooking and have also been prominent themes at Gastronomika.

Meat and traditional products

Basque and Spanish culinary traditions also include high-quality meats, seasonal vegetables, mushrooms, cheeses, cured products and other regional ingredients.

Wine and beverages

Wine plays an important role in the professional gastronomy programme, with sommeliers, critics, winemakers and wine specialists appearing alongside chefs. Recent editions have also included dedicated wine-related awards and presentations.

Contemporary cuisine

The congress provides a platform for chefs experimenting with technique, fermentation, sustainability, regional identity, ingredients and new approaches to restaurant cooking.

Chefs, Restaurants & Food Vendors

San Sebastián Gastronomika’s chef programme is one of its biggest attractions. The exact 2027 speaker lineup has not yet been announced, so individual 2027 appearances should not be assumed.

Recent official programmes demonstrate the caliber of chefs normally associated with the congress. The programme has included Joan Roca of El Celler de Can Roca, Alexandre Couillon of La Marine, Pierre Gagnaire, Gastón Acurio, Pedro Subijana of Akelarre, Elena Arzak of Arzak and Andoni Luis Aduriz of Mugaritz.

Basque culinary leaders

Chefs connected with San Sebastián and the wider Basque Country play an important role in the congress, providing insight into the region’s culinary history and modern evolution.

International chefs

International participants bring different culinary traditions to the programme, allowing attendees to compare techniques and philosophies from different gastronomic cultures.

Restaurants and producers

The exhibition area complements the chef programme by bringing together food and beverage exhibitors, specialist suppliers and professional brands. The latest official statistics report 160 exhibitors.

Culinary competitions

Competitions form another part of the Gastronomika experience. Recent programmes have included cooking championships and specialist culinary competitions, giving professionals another way to demonstrate technical skill.

Food Experience

The Gastronomika experience is built around learning, tasting and interaction rather than simply eating large quantities of food.

A typical congress visit can involve attending chef presentations, moving through exhibition areas, participating in tasting sessions and following competitions or awards. The official registration system provides access to the Zone A tasting area while capacity permits, showing that tasting is an important component of the congress experience.

The exhibition area provides another opportunity to discover ingredients, products, wines and specialist food brands. For industry professionals, this can be as important as the stage programme because it creates opportunities to meet suppliers and explore new products.

Visitors can also combine the congress experience with San Sebastián’s wider culinary scene. The city’s Old Town is famous for its concentration of pintxo bars, while the Gros district around the Kursaal also has numerous restaurants and bars.

This makes Gastronomika particularly useful for food travelers. The daytime congress can be followed by an independent pintxo route, restaurant visit or exploration of the city’s markets and food culture.

Date & Schedule

October 2027 (Dates TBD).

The exact 2027 dates and programme have not yet been announced on the official Gastronomika website. The congress is an annual professional gastronomy event, and the latest editions have followed a multi-day format at the Kursaal Congress Centre.

The 2027 schedule is expected to be organized around several recurring programme formats, although individual sessions should be considered unconfirmed until the official programme is released:

• Chef presentations and demonstrations
• Gastronomy lectures and professional talks
• Tasting sessions
• Exhibition activities
• Culinary competitions
• Wine-focused presentations
• Professional meetings and networking
• Gastronomy awards
• Special congress themes and guest countries or regions

Previous programmes have used a detailed timetable running from morning through the afternoon and evening, with multiple presentations taking place in the main auditorium and other areas of the Kursaal.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Location & Venue

San Sebastián Gastronomika is held at the Kursaal Congress Centre and Auditorium in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain.

The official venue address is Paseo de Zurriola, 1, 20002 Donostia/San Sebastián.

The Kursaal is one of San Sebastián’s most recognizable modern buildings. Designed by architect Rafael Moneo, the complex consists of two large architectural volumes overlooking the Urumea River and the sea. It won the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award.

The complex contains:

• A main auditorium
• A chamber auditorium
• Exhibition areas
• Multipurpose meeting rooms
• Restaurant facilities
• Terraces
• Professional event spaces

The main auditorium has a theatre capacity of approximately 1,806, while the chamber auditorium has capacity for approximately 624 people. The venue also provides more than 5,500 square meters of exhibition area.

The location is particularly convenient because the Kursaal is situated between the city center, Gros and the waterfront.

Getting to the Event

San Sebastián is well connected by road, rail, bus and air.

By train

San Sebastián’s Adif-Renfe station provides connections with major Spanish cities and international destinations. Euskotren also connects the city with other parts of the Basque Country and the French border area.

By bus

The city’s main bus station, Donostia Geltokia, is connected with the railway station and provides regional and long-distance services.

By car

San Sebastián can be reached through the A-1, AP-8, A-63 and AP-15. However, the city center is a Low-Emission Zone, and the tourism authority recommends using park-and-ride facilities and continuing by public transport, bicycle or on foot.

By air

San Sebastián Airport is around 20 kilometers from the city center. Bilbao Airport and Biarritz Airport provide additional international options, located approximately 105 kilometers and 45 kilometers away respectively according to San Sebastián Tourism.

The Kursaal is centrally positioned, so visitors staying near the center or Gros can generally reach the venue on foot.

Where to Stay Nearby

Gros is one of the most convenient neighborhoods for Gastronomika visitors because the Kursaal is located there. The area is also known for Zurriola Beach, restaurants, pintxo bars and a lively atmosphere.

Gros

This is an excellent choice for visitors who want to stay close to the congress venue. The district has hotels, guesthouses, apartments and restaurants, while many locations are within walking distance of the Kursaal.

Parte Vieja

San Sebastián’s Old Town is another strong option, particularly for travelers interested in food. It is packed with pintxo bars and restaurants and sits close to the Kursaal across the Urumea area.

City Centre

The central area provides a wide choice of hotels and keeps visitors close to La Concha Beach, shopping areas, restaurants and major attractions.

Egia

Egia offers another accommodation option near the center and railway station, making it useful for travelers arriving by train.

San Sebastián Tourism provides accommodation listings covering hotels, guesthouses, apartments, hostels and other properties across districts including Gros, Centro, Parte Vieja, Egia, Antiguo and Amara.

Things to Do Before or After the Event

San Sebastián offers enough attractions to turn a congress visit into a broader Basque Country food and culture trip.

Explore the Old Town

Parte Vieja is one of the city’s most important areas for visitors, combining historic buildings, traditional streets, restaurants, pintxo bars and cultural attractions.

Visit La Concha Beach

La Concha is one of San Sebastián’s defining landmarks and stretches along the city’s famous bay. It is an easy addition to an itinerary around the Kursaal.

Walk along Zurriola Beach

Zurriola Beach is located beside Gros and the Kursaal and is especially popular for surfing and seaside walks.

Climb Mount Urgull

Mount Urgull provides views across San Sebastián and the surrounding coastline. The area also contains historic remains and La Mota Castle.

Visit San Telmo Museum

San Telmo Museum offers an introduction to Basque culture and history and is located in the Old Town.

See the Comb of the Wind

The Peine del Viento, or Comb of the Wind, is a famous group of sculptures by Eduardo Chillida installed among the rocks at the western end of the city.

Restaurants & Local Food to Try

San Sebastián is an ideal destination for extending the Gastronomika experience into the city’s everyday food culture.

Pintxos

Pintxos should be at the top of any visitor’s food itinerary. San Sebastián Tourism describes moving between several bars and trying one or two pintxos at each stop as a classic local experience.

Txakoli

This distinctive Basque wine is a natural accompaniment to many pintxos and seafood dishes. Visitors can find bars and specialist venues offering Txakoli experiences around the city.

Seafood

San Sebastián’s coastal location means seafood is an important part of the local restaurant scene. Fish, shellfish and other marine products frequently appear in both traditional and contemporary Basque cuisine.

Basque-style cooking

Visitors should seek dishes that showcase seasonal local ingredients, traditional sauces, grilled products and modern interpretations of Basque cuisine.

Recommended pintxo stops

San Sebastián Tourism highlights venues including Bar Tamboril, Ganbara, Txakolina Taberna, Muxumartin and other specialist establishments.

The city also has a broad selection of restaurants, from traditional establishments to contemporary and Michelin-recognized dining.

Dietary & Food Allergy Information

San Sebastián has a large and diverse restaurant scene, meaning visitors with dietary requirements have more choices than they might find at a small regional food festival.

The official tourism website allows visitors to filter restaurants according to requirements such as vegetarian options and celiac-friendly options. This is particularly useful for travelers who need to identify suitable establishments before choosing where to eat.

At the congress itself, visitors should check individual tasting and exhibition offerings with organizers or exhibitors. Ingredients can vary significantly between demonstrations, tastings and participating companies.

People with severe allergies should communicate directly with food providers before consuming samples. Cross-contact can occur in professional tasting and exhibition environments, particularly where many products are being prepared or served in a limited space.

Vegetarian and plant-based visitors can generally find suitable choices in San Sebastián’s wider restaurant scene, but individual dishes should always be confirmed with the restaurant.

Visitors following gluten-free or celiac diets should ask specifically about preparation methods rather than relying solely on the name of a dish. San Sebastián Tourism’s restaurant listings provide dietary filtering tools that can help with advance planning.

Ticket Information

The 2027 registration prices have not yet been announced. For a previous-edition reference, the official registration system listed the following prices:

• Three-day congress registration: approximately $290
• One-day congress registration: approximately $116
• Online access: approximately $58
• Professional fair accreditation: Free for industry professionals

These USD figures are converted from the official previous-edition prices of €250, €100 and €50 using approximate conversion rates and are provided only as a pricing reference, not as confirmed 2027 prices.

The three-day registration included access to the Zone A tasting area subject to capacity. One-day registration also included tasting-area access under the same capacity conditions. The official organizers recommended arriving early because Zone A access operated according to available seating.

The event is explicitly described as a professional event, and entry is prohibited to children under 16. Professional fair accreditation is available separately for industry professionals.

The final 2027 registration categories, prices, tasting arrangements and professional accreditation requirements should be checked on the official website once registration opens.

Official Event Information

San Sebastián Gastronomika Euskadi Basque Country is an international gastronomy congress organized in San Sebastián. Its programme combines culinary presentations, tastings, exhibitions, competitions, professional meetings and awards.

The official event website is the primary source for the 2027 programme, speaker announcements, registration, exhibition information and access requirements.

Official contact details:

• Telephone: +34 943 41 07 00
• Email: social@diariovasco.com
• Official website: https://www.sansebastiangastronomika.com/
• Venue: Kursaal Congress Centre, Paseo de Zurriola, 1, 20002 Donostia/San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain

The event’s official organization contact is also listed as info@sansebastiangastronomika.com, while the technical secretary handles registration and event logistics.

For travel planning, San Sebastián Tourism provides official information about transport, accommodation, neighborhoods, restaurants and attractions.