Next weekend (that is, October 2, 3, and 4), Leganés will host its Tapa Fest for the first time since 2019. Twenty-six local bars and restaurants will offer exclusive tapas for just €2.50 (drinks not included) at the food festival booths, which will be set up in the Plaza Mayor.
The dishes competing for the title of Best Tapa at Tapa Fest 2026 are diverse: sirloin toast with goat cheese or Manchego cheese, pork cheek empanadas, croquettes made with Grandma’s stew or mac & cheese, assorted hamburgers, cod fish bites… The complete list is available on the Tapa Fest website, which also notes that fair attendees will vote for their favorite tapas as the winners of the competition.
At the Tapa Fest 2026 launch event, José Marín, Councilor for Commerce and Local Development, stated:“The tapa is just the excuse. What we want is for people to have an experience.” That is why the festival’s program brings together, in addition to a wide range of culinary offerings, various recreational activities, such as concerts, a children’s area, games, and foosball tournaments.
Tapa Fest 2026 Schedule
The official opening of Tapa Fest will take place on Friday, October 2, at 8:00 p.m., but the festival will begin earlier, at 6:00 p.m., and will run through Sunday, October 4. Specifically, it will be open:
- Friday, October 2, from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
- Saturday, October 3, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
- Sunday, October 4, from 11:00 a.m. to midnight.
On Sunday at 9:00 p.m., the votes for the Best Tapa at Tapa Fest competition will be tallied, and the fair’s grand prize will be awarded as part of the event’s closing ceremony. In addition, three 100-euro gift certificates to be redeemed at the winning establishment will be raffled off among residents who voted for their favorite tapa.