Master ham carvers working in a row during the World Ham Contest Popi on Estepona's seafront promenade

Event of Tourist Interest in Andalusia11th edition

7–16 August 2026

World Ham Contest "Popi, Ciudad de Estepona"

The World Ham Contest "Popi, Ciudad de Estepona" brings together every August 65 exhibitors, master ham carvers and ten free concerts on the seafront promenade. Declared an Event of Tourist Interest in Andalusia.

7–16 August 2026

Seafront promenade7pm – 2amDishes from €510 free concerts

See who plays each night Practical information Get directions

7FridayOpening

Marta Thomas

Pop9 – 10 pm

This edition took place in 2026. The event is held every year in Estepona.Every summer — in 2026, from 7 to 16 August (confirmed).

Every August, Estepona's seafront promenade hosts the World Ham Contest "Popi, Ciudad de Estepona", one of the most important food events on the Costa del Sol.

The event brings together exhibitors, professional ham cutters, tastings of Iberian ham and Andalusian products, and free concerts every night. The 2026 edition announces 65 exhibitors and dishes and drinks from €5; in 2025 more than 200 professional ham cutters took part, with attendance expected to exceed 500,000 visits.

The site opens daily from 7 pm to 2 am. The music side has its own name in the official programme: the Jamón Music Festival, ten free concerts on the seafront stage, one each night at 11:30 pm.

The event is declared a Festival and Event of Tourist Interest in Andalusia, and is one of the most popular summer plans in Estepona for locals and visitors.

One of the most important gastronomic events on the Andalusian coast. The World Ham Contest turns Estepona's seafront promenade into a tasting, cultural and music venue during ten August evenings.

Before you go

7–16 August 2026.

Where

Estepona seafront promenade

Along the seafront promenade, by the sea

View on Google Maps

Live ham carving: the contest as covered by “La tarde aquí y ahora” on Canal Sur Televisión.

The event

A major food event by the sea

The World Ham Contest "Popi, Ciudad de Estepona" celebrates one of Spain's most iconic gastronomic products: Iberian ham. For ten summer nights, the seafront promenade becomes a festive food space with exhibitors, professional ham cutters, tastings, Andalusian products and free concerts.

The experience

What a night at the contest looks like

No booking, no ticket: you turn up, walk the promenade and pick your stall. Here's how the night unfolds, start to finish.

The site opens
The promenade fills with exhibitors: Iberian ham, cheeses, artisan breads and Andalusian produce. It's quiet early on — good for browsing without queues.
The carvers take over
More than two hundred professionals carving by knife. You can watch up close, and you learn by watching: the thin slice, the angle, the steady hand.
The plate of ham
From five euros. Sit facing the sea with a plate and a drink, once the heat of the day has dropped.
The concert
A different band every night, live and free, with the sea behind the stage. Ten nights, ten line-ups.
And the next day, all over again
From 7 to 16 August, ten nights in a row on the seafront promenade.

The site opens from 7pm to 2am and the concert starts at 11:30pm. Everything else runs without a fixed schedule — the night sets its own pace.

By the numbers

A well-established event

Figures from recent editions show the importance of this event within Estepona's food and summer calendar.

Exhibitors

+200

Professional ham cutters

+500K

Expected visitors

7pm–2am

Site opening hours

From €5

Dishes and drinks

Free

Concerts every night

Official distinction

Event of Tourist Interest in Andalusia

Location

The seafront promenade as the setting

The event is held on Estepona's seafront promenade, an open-air setting by the sea, perfect for walking, informal dining, live music and enjoying the summer atmosphere.

Get directions to the promenade

Estepona's seafront promenade packed with visitors during the World Ham Contest Popi, with palm trees and the sea behind

Concert line-up

Ten nights, ten free concerts

Music is the other half of the fair. From 7 to 16 August a different band plays every night — no ticket, no booking: you turn up, find a spot and listen. The first night starts earlier, at 9 pm, with the opening performance.

Concerts · 11:30 pmEstepona seafront promenadeFree entry

Fri7Aug
PopOpening · 9 – 10 pm
Marta Thomas
The young singer from Estepona, a contestant on La Voz Kids, opens the fair's inauguration.
Fri7Aug
Rumba
Bordón 4
Fifty years of Catalan rumba in the first night's concert — the kind of songs everyone turns out to know by heart.
Sat8Aug
Covers
Justito a Tiempo
A covers band that gets the crowd on its feet by the second song. Pure live energy.
Sun9Aug
Flamenco
Nolasco
Urban flamenco from Jerez: street-level lyrics and a voice that grows on stage.
Mon10Aug
Latin
Henry Méndez
The Dominican artist behind «El Tiburón». Latin pop made for an August night by the sea.
Tue11Aug
Rock
La Frontera
Eighties Spanish rock, with «El límite» and «La rueda» still intact — one of the bands that defined a decade.
Wed12Aug
Pop
Melon Diesel
From Algeciras, so practically local. Mediterranean pop with a Campo de Gibraltar accent.
Thu13Aug
Flamenco
Piratas Flamencos
Party flamenco, the kind you dance standing up. The night the promenade sounds most Andalusian.
Fri14Aug
Rock
Burning
Five decades of Madrid rock and roll — «Qué hace una chica como tú» played right by the beach.
Sat15Aug
Pop
Dani Márquez + Long Play
A double bill on the big weekend: Dani Márquez first, Long Play after. Two takes on live music.
Sun16Aug
Rumba
Malamanera
Andalusian rumba and rock to close ten nights. The last concert always runs longer than planned.

Official poster

Jamón Music Festival 2026 poster listing the ten concerts on Estepona's seafront promenade — Concert poster

Practical information

Confirmed dates

7–16 August 2026

Location

Estepona seafront promenade

Opening hours

7pm – 2am, every day

Entry

Access to the event area is free. Inside, dishes and drinks start at €5.

What to expect

Iberian ham, pork products, cheeses, artisan breads, local food, professional ham cutters, concerts and a summer evening atmosphere

Ideal for

Families, visitors, residents, food lovers and travellers looking for evening plans in August

Supported by

Sponsors and partners of the World Ham Contest Popi Estepona 2026

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the World Ham Contest Popi Estepona

When is the World Ham Contest "Popi, Ciudad de Estepona" 2026?

Estepona Town Hall has confirmed the event takes place from 7 to 16 August 2026.

Where does it take place?

On Estepona's seafront promenade.

What are the opening hours?

The site opens every day from 7pm to 2am, from 7 to 16 August.

What can visitors expect?

Iberian ham, local food products, professional ham cutters, tastings, exhibitors, free concerts and a summer atmosphere by the sea.

How much does it cost to eat there?

The organisers advertise dishes and drinks from €5.

Is it free to attend?

Access to the event area is free and so are the concerts. Food and drinks are sold inside, from €5.

Will there be concerts?

Yes. There is a free concert every night at 11:30 pm on the seafront promenade, a different band each day from 7 to 16 August: Bordón 4, Justito a Tiempo, Nolasco, Henry Méndez, La Frontera, Melon Diesel, Piratas Flamencos, Burning, Dani Márquez with Long Play, and Malamanera. The first night starts earlier: the opening performance is at 9 pm with Marta Thomas, the young singer from Estepona and contestant on La Voz Kids.

7 to 16 August