The 4th edition of Isla Gastronómica continues an innovative proposal in which local products, catering and cultural heritage coexist.
Isla’s historic quarter, in the municipality of Arnuero, has once again become Cantabria’s main gastronomic and cultural hub with the celebration of the Isla Fairs 2026. The central events began on Saturday 12 September with the 14th Pepper Fair, dedicated to the star product of the local market garden, and continued on Sunday 13 September with the 4th Wine Fair, an event that consolidates the region’s thriving wine-growing sector. The big new feature of this edition will be the 1st Wine Congress, which will take place on 17 September alongside the “Gastronomic Days” from 11 to 20 September with special menus at the restaurants: Olimpo, Astuy, Campomar, Estrella del Norte and La Chata (menu information and reservations at www.feriasdeisla.es)
Arnuero is again turning to the primary sector as a lever to extend tourism activity in the final stretch of summer. On the threshold of autumn, the Trasmiera municipality launches a new edition of the Isla Fairs. This year it welcomed 10,000 visitors, and it has already gone beyond the traditional village market to take shape as an all-encompassing programme that brings together local, close-to-home products, local catering and cultural outreach in the setting of the Ecoparque de Trasmiera.
This weekend, the heart of the outdoor event was concentrated in the car park of Isla’s historic quarter. On Saturday, the 14th edition of the Vegetable Garden and Pepper Fair opened proceedings—the emblematic crop that gave rise to this initiative thirteen years ago. The following day, on Sunday, the event was taken up by the Wine Fair Costa de Cantabria, focused on wine production supported by the Protected Geographical Indication and on the region’s artisan cheeses. The event is designed to make direct sales from producer to consumer, without intermediaries, and to attract visitors interested in the origins of the food.
The town will host a new edition of “Isla Gastronomía” on 17, 18 and 20 September, with the prelude to the 1st Wine Congress of Cantabria. A new and innovative way to pair local produce with entrepreneurs and hospitality.
Isla Gastronomía will bring together gastronomic experiences, tastings, samples and activities linked to local produce, hospitality and the heritage of the Ecoparque de Trasmiera. Tickets, with limited capacity, will be made available to the public shortly. The programme will begin on Thursday 17 September with the following schedule:
Thursday 17 Sept.
18:00 hours. Opening of Isla Gastronomía and the proposal ‘The market garden–hospitality marriage’. The event will feature Juan Luis Centeno, director of the ODECA, and Emérito Astuy, who will explain his commitment to growing an Isla pepper.
19:00 hours ‘Vines that look out to the sea’, a tasting of Bodegas y Viñedos de Isla presented by winemaker Jesús Sierra and led by Rubén Pérez, president of the Cantabrian Academy of Sommellerie.
20:00 hours. ‘Blind Ocean’, a sensory experience that will combine storytelling, music, poetry and a blind tasting of bites from the sea and the market garden. The Ecoparque team, together with Chef Juan Manuel España, head of dining room and lecturer in the Cantabria Hospitality Association,
Friday 18 September
18:00 hours. ‘A sweet story to eat up’, by Breixo Balboa and the JM Cakesss team. Their business background and their particular way of understanding cheesecake
19:00 hours. ‘Isla’s marine market garden’, a proposal by Ramón Ortiz, from Restaurante Olimpo and Conservas Mingo, which will focus on the distinctive combination of market garden produce, shellfish and Cantabrian products.
20:00 hours. ‘The dreamt vermouth’, an experience led by Destilería Siderit and directed by David Martínez, which will allow you to learn the story of this Cantabrian company founded in 2013 and now a benchmark in the production of premium beverages.
Saturday 19 September
18:00 hours. ‘The sweetest Cantabria’ will offer a tour of traditional confectionery with Alfonso Fraile and Los Pasiegos de Diego.
19:00 hours. ‘Isla’s cauldron’ will bring together Chef Cristóbal Sierra from La Chata and Gabriel, from Bodegas Villa Carmina, in a presentation dedicated to one of the most representative dishes of Cantabrian cuisine. The recipe, made with Isla pepper, will be accompanied by Villa Carmina wines
20:00 hours. ‘At the Mill, bread and wine’, a theatrical visit to the Santa Olaja Mill by the Ecoparque team, including a wine tasting from Bodegas de Isla and local produce, such as corn cake, cheese and cured meats, and will end with a night-time view of the Marisma Joyel.
All activities have limited capacity and require booking in advance at: https://reservas.ecoparquedetrasmiera.com/ret-ferias-de-isla
