La Gala Michelín en Málaga abrirá una ventana de Andalucía al mundo
The Minister of Economy, Finance, and European Funds, and spokesperson for the Government of the Andalusian Junta, Carolina España, highlighted «the significant tourism impact» that the hosting of the 2026 Michelín Guide gala in Málaga will have on Andalusia, where the new distinctions for Spain and Portugal will be revealed.
España participated in the event held at the Málaga–La Cónsula School of Hospitality, where the Minister of Tourism and External Andalusia, Arturo Bernal, also took part in announcing the choice of the Malaga capital. The spokesperson expressed the satisfaction and pride of the Andalusian Government for Málaga’s selection, «which will continue to showcase the ‘Andalusian brand’ worldwide.» In this regard, she noted that the Michelín Guide gala «transcends borders,» hence associating its celebration with Málaga, with Andalusia, contributes to enhancing the community’s «prestige» as a host and organizer of major events, such as the Latin Grammy Awards (2023), the Davis Cup finals, or the Goya Awards. At the same time, she emphasized that the decision of the Michelín Guide organization to once again choose Andalusia, specifically Málaga, to host this event is the result of the extensive work carried out over months by the Andalusian Junta, the Málaga City Council, the Provincial Council of Málaga, and the organization itself.
The Minister explained that Andalusia is globally recognized for its history, quality products, and emerging agri-food sector, «with enormous potential for the tourism and economy of our land.» She highlighted that the region welcomes millions of visitors each year who come to Andalusia to experience its gastronomy, a sector that «is gaining ground as one of the favorite attractions when choosing a destination to visit.»
According to the Minister of Economy, Andalusian cuisine is «one of the hallmarks of the ‘Andalusian Brand’, which is now conquering the world through taste.» She referred to various studies indicating that up to 70% of travelers choose their destination «based on the gastronomic reputation of a place,» and up to «85% of travelers consider gastronomy as one of the important factors when deciding on a trip.»
Therefore, gastronomy, along with monuments or landscapes, «is a memory» that is engraved, thanks to the «good or bad» food we eat in those places, and is transforming the way we travel, as well as other areas like culture or sustainability.
Additionally, Carolina España pointed out that gastronomy has enormous potential considering that the World Tourism Organization confirms that «foodie tourists spend around 25% more than others.»
Likewise, the spokesperson for the Government of the Andalusian Junta stressed that the community has much to contribute to this sector, as it has «unique and extraordinarily high-quality products, internationally recognized,» a fact supported by the figures of Andalusian agri-food exports, where olive oil stands out as one of the most prominent products.
Similarly, España stated that «we are the European region with the highest combined number of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO), 28, and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI), 31, plus two that go beyond the geographical scope,» in addition to the work of top chefs who choose the community not only to advance their professional careers but also for training at centers such as La Cónsula in Málaga.
For the Minister, «the creators» of Andalusian gastronomy are «the best ambassadors we could have to elevate the ‘Andalusian Brand’ to the highest level, even in the culinary firmament.»
Michelín Stars
Carolina España also noted that our community currently boasts up to 27 establishments with the distinctive Michelin Star, «one of the greatest honors» any chef «can achieve in the gastronomic field,» rewarding the effort and dedication «to a passion» turned into a professional occupation. A task that also requires «great responsibility to maintain the highest standards of creativity and quality,» values with which we in Andalusia «strongly identify.»
Thus, she explained that of these 27 establishments, 21 hold a Michelin star, four have two stars, half of them located in Málaga, and two more have three stars. For España, «if gastronomy speaks of the character of a territory, these distinctions say a lot about the character we Andalusians have, about the richness and quality of our products, the talent of our creators, our traditions, and our capacity for innovation.» Therefore, she added that Málaga being selected as the host of the 2026 Michelín Gala «presents a unique opportunity to showcase our culinary richness and enhance its appeal, and that of Andalusia in general, as a top-level destination for gastronomy lovers from around the world.»
