Palamós, in Girona province, has set a new attendance record at the 11th Palamós Prawn Fair, with 50,000 tickets sold on 13 June 2026. The event took place on the esplanade of the fishing port's fish market and served 500 kilos of the local prawn.
According to Palamós Town Council, this year's fair sold about 10,000 more tickets than last year. The prawn remained the main draw, with most served grilled, while visitors also tried dishes prepared by the participating restaurateurs and producers.
Around 15 restaurants and producers took part at the fish market esplanade. Their offers included prawn tartare croissants, prawn rice and noodle dishes, cuttlefish and prawn stews, ravioli, croquettes, meatballs with squid and prawns, carpaccio, and prawn-flavoured ice cream and slushies. The fair ran from 12 pm to 10 pm.
The programme also included guided tours of two local trawlers, the Nou Gisbert and the Solraig, plus the chance to watch the fish auction inside the market building. These activities showed visitors how the fishing port works and the role fishing plays in Palamós. For more local coverage, see news.
Two showcooking sessions were led by chefs from Espai del Peix, with dishes including cuttlefish and prawn stew, prawn ravioli, and prawn carpaccio with white prawn pâté. Catalan Government Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Òscar Ordeig also attended, meeting exhibitors and restaurateurs and tasting the seafood.
As part of the fair, the Regulatory Commission for the Palamós Prawn Guarantee Mark presented the 2026 Palamós Prawn Ambassadors award on Thursday. The recipients were Palamós chefs Lluïsa Ferrer, Marina Plana, and Helena Juscafresa, recognised for promoting local fish species and prawns through workshops, talks, and educational activities.
The three chefs are also part of Gastrosàvies, a project launched under Catalonia's recognition as the World Region of Gastronomy 2025. The initiative aims to preserve and pass on traditional Catalan cuisine to future generations. More on Catalonia-wide food and community news is available on our news page.
