The Tourism Department of Alcalá de Henares has opened the registration period for hospitality establishments to sign up for the twelfth edition of the contest. Applications can be submitted until August 23, and the gastronomic event will take place from September 25 to 27.
Hospitality professionals in Alcalá de Henares now have the opportunity to join the new edition of Alcalá Gastronomic. The Tourism Department has opened the registration period for the XII Contest, which will be held from September 25 to 27 with a tasting route open to the public.
The contest, established as one of the most anticipated culinary events in the Henares Corridor, aims to recognise the gastronomic excellence of the establishments in the city of Complutense. According to the Town Hall, all hospitality venues in the municipality that have the proper licenses can participate.
The registration period will remain open until August 23. Each establishment may present a single dish in half-portion format, accompanied by its technical sheet and a high-quality photograph.
During the days of September 25, 26, and 27, participants will offer their proposals in tasting format, allowing locals and visitors to embark on a gastronomic route through various points in the city. The final gala, where the awards will be presented, is scheduled for September 29, 2026.
The contest includes a semifinal phase in which a jury from the Hospitality School will evaluate the proposals and select the 10 finalist dishes. Subsequently, a jury composed of professionals from gastronomy, tourism, and communication will assess aspects such as technique, flavour, presentation, creativity, use of local products, and commercial viability.
The Tourism Councillor, Isabel Ruiz Maldonado, has highlighted the importance of this initiative: “Gastronomy is one of the great cultural and tourist engines of Alcalá, and this contest demonstrates the talent of our hospitality professionals each year.”
“Gastronomy is one of the great cultural and tourist engines of Alcalá, and this contest demonstrates the talent of our hospitality professionals each year.”
This year's edition emphasises creativity, technique, and local products. The Town Hall stresses that the contest not only rewards culinary excellence but also helps to boost hospitality activity and strengthen Alcalá de Henares' image as a gastronomic destination.
For interested establishments, the complete rules are available on the Tourism Department's website. Registration can be done through the channels provided by the Town Hall, and it is recommended to review the technical requirements to avoid exclusions.
Participation in Alcalá Gastronomic has become a showcase for local hospitality professionals in recent years. Many establishments that have participated in the contest have seen an increase in clientele thanks to the visibility provided by the tasting route and the subsequent promotion of the awarded dishes.
This edition also arrives at a time when gastronomic tourism is gaining weight in the tourism strategy of the Community of Madrid, and Alcalá de Henares wants to take advantage of this momentum. The city, declared a World Heritage Site, combines its monumental offer with an increasingly varied and quality culinary proposal.
Interested parties can consult the official document of rules, which includes the complete calendar, evaluation criteria, and participation conditions. The Town Hall reminds that each venue can only present one dish, making the choice of proposal crucial for competing for the awards.
The tasting route from September 25 to 27 will be an opportunity for the public to discover new proposals and for hospitality professionals to gauge the reception of their creations. Entry to the route will be free, and each establishment will set the price of its tasting, according to the contest rules.
The contest will conclude with the awards gala on September 29, an event that will bring together finalists and representatives from the hospitality and tourism sector of the city. The winners will receive recognition that, in previous editions, has served as a springboard to boost their businesses.
With this call, Alcalá de Henares reaffirms its commitment to gastronomy as an element of economic and social dynamism. Hospitality professionals wishing to participate have less than a month to formalise their registration and prepare a proposal that stands out from the rest.
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