Mexico wins the World Paella Day 2026 competition

The winner was Froilán Mújica, representing Mexico, who triumphed with his dish “Rice of Nostalgia.” The recipe, as the chef explained, is intended as “a tribute to the memories that accompany us when we leave our homeland” and combines Albufera rice, grouper, hake cheeks in pil-pil sauce, tomato, garlic, ñora pepper, dried Venezuelan sweet pepper, chamomile, saffron, extra virgin olive oil, parsley, and a touch of Mexican chiltepin pepper.

The Mexican entry won over the judges with its flavor and the balance it struck between creativity and respect for the essence of paella. Second place went to Japan, represented by Keisuke Mutsuura, while Ecuador, with Hugo Andrade, took third.

Under the motto "When something is legendary, it is adapted all over the world," the competition was held again in the Plaza del Agua in La Marina, next to Tinglado 2. The contest aims to showcase the international dimension that paella has acquired without losing sight of its Valencian origin and its status as a gastronomic and cultural heritage of the city.

The twelve finalists, selected in preliminary rounds for their mastery of rice dishes, came from Europe, America, and Asia. The United Kingdom participated as a guest country. All of them presented their own interpretations of the dish, drawing on the culinary traditions of their respective countries, but using Valencian tradition as a reference point.

During the event, the public could also sample popular portions of paella for six euros. The initiative transformed La Marina into a meeting point for gastronomy professionals, visitors, and locals drawn to a celebration that aims to promote Valencian rice culture internationally.

A Valencian jury

The jury was made up of professionals and representatives of the Valencian gastronomic sector: Sergio Terol, president of the Academy of Gastronomy of the Valencian Community; Ricardo Navarro, executive chef of Meliá Valencia; Frédéric Gallego, winner of World Paella Day 2025 with France; Anabel Navas, owner of Cervezas Zeta/Mercado de Colón; Juan Valero, CEO of Arroz Tartana, and Begoña Rodrigo, founder and executive chef of La Salita.

The prize is a glass crafted by Valencian artisan José Luís Platero from orange wood and iron, as a tribute to paella. It was presented by Paula Llobet, Councilor for Tourism and President of the Visit Valencia Foundation.

“World Paella Day is more than a gastronomic celebration: it’s a recognition of Valencia as the breadbasket of the Mediterranean and the birthplace of paella,” Llobet pointed out. In his opinion, the dish “travels the world, becoming a bridge between cultures and a universal language capable of uniting and defining us.” “Paella cannot be understood without Valencia, nor Valencia without its most typical dish,” he added.

A week to learn about tradition

The competition has been the culmination of a week of activities in which the finalist chefs have been able to learn firsthand about the culture and products behind Valencian paella.

The participants learned about the rice cycle in L'Albufera from Santos Ruiz and took part in a masterclass given by Chabe Soler, the competition's first winner. They also visited the Les Bairetes restaurant, where master rice chef Rafa Margós explained the secrets of an authentic Valencian paella.

The program concluded with a visit to the Central Market, where the chefs selected local products and ingredients for their respective dishes. The organizers believe this experience empowers participants to become ambassadors for paella in their home countries and reinforces Valencia's reputation as a leading gastronomic destination in the Mediterranean.

World Paella Day is promoted by the Valencia City Council, through the Visit Valencia Foundation, in collaboration with the Valencia Provincial Council, Turisme Comunitat Valenciana and Turespaña.