🍷 La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026: Wine, horses and tradition on the banks of the Guadalquivir
When June arrives in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, the entire city dresses in colour and joy to honour its most emblematic wine. La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026 is much more than a week of celebration: it is the most sincere tribute to the Designation of Origin that has turned this Cadiz town into a world reference for oenology.
At The Sun Places we want to tell you everything about this unique celebration, from its century-old history to this year's poster, including The Horse Races on the beach, the bullfight and, of course, the best places to eat and drink like a true local.
When is La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026?
📅 La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026 will be held from Tuesday 2 June to Sunday 7 June. Monday 8 June is a local holiday, known as Hangover Monday, an extra day to continue enjoying the atmosphere, the casetas and the wine.
The lighting will take place on Tuesday 2 June at 10:00 PM, just as the evening light merges with the river and the Doñana landscape, creating an incomparable setting. Throughout the week, the Fairground —located on Calzada de la Duquesa Isabel, next to the promenade and in front of the Doñana National Park— will be the epicentre of the fun.
Indicative programme:
- Tuesday 2: Lighting and official opening (10:00 PM).
- Wednesday 3 to Friday 5: Fair days, open casetas, horse parades.
- Saturday 6: Big night and central day.
- Sunday 7: Last day of the fair. Bullfight at El Pino Square (7:00 PM).
- Monday 8: Local holiday (Hangover Monday), with many casetas still open.
What is the Poster of La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026?
🎨 The 2026 poster: the signature of José Antonio Ramírez Harana
On 24 April 2026, in the Courtyard of Columns of the Municipal Palace of Sanlúcar, Mayor Carmen Álvarez chaired the presentation of the announcement poster for La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026. The chosen work bears the signature of local artist José Antonio Ramírez Harana, whose proposal was widely applauded by those present.
Local singer Alba Bazán, accompanied on guitar by Manuel Alfonseca 'Lin', opened the event by performing sevillanas. The author then explained his sources of inspiration, the creative process and the symbolic content of the poster, which can now be seen in the streets and shop windows of the city announcing the countdown to the big week.
"The presentation of the poster marks the start of the countdown to one of the most special and anticipated events on Sanlúcar's festive calendar," the mayor highlighted.
What is the History of La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda?
📜 History: from the medieval Velá to the "fair of fairs" of the Jerez Region
The tradition of the Sanlúcar Fair dates back long before manzanilla with Designation of Origin existed. Its most distant origins lie in the Sanlúcar Fairs, commercial and livestock fairs initiated during the Middle Ages (Sancho IV granted the city two annual tax-free fairs in 1297). More recently, the seed of the current celebration was the Velá de la Divina Pastora, a religious and popular festival that already brought neighbours together around devotion and dance.
The true birth of La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026 is found in August 1929, when the 1st Manzanilla Festival was organised in the midst of the Ibero-American Exhibition in Seville. Promoted by the City Council's Festivals Committee and with the collaboration of the city's main wineries, that "Great Festival" focused on a parade and contest of promotional floats, accompanied by streamers, boxes for the aristocracy and fireworks.
In 1972, the celebration moved to its current location, Paseo de la Calzada, and adopted the definitive name "Feria de la Manzanilla", forever linking the city's identity with its most universal wine. In 2026, the venue hosts more than 50 casetas and is considered by the people of Sanlúcar themselves as the "fair of fairs" of the Jerez Region.
🤔What differentiates La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda from the Seville Fair?
Although both share the Andalusian character, sevillanas and consumption of Sherry wine, there are key differences:
Manzanilla Fair (Sanlúcar): Mostly open and accessible casetas, street atmosphere. Star wine: Manzanilla. Setting: by the Guadalquivir River, with views of Doñana. More nautical and carefree atmosphere. More local and provincial audience.
April Fair (Seville): Predominantly private, closed casetas, with limited access for members and guests. Star wine: Mainly Fino. Setting: Fairground in Los Remedios, more urban and institutional. Larger and more international audience.
In short, La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026 is more accessible, closer and more authentic than its big sister in Seville, a faithful reflection of the hospitable character of the city.
🐎 The horse races on Bajo de Guía beach
Although The Sanlúcar de Barrameda Horse Races are not part of the June Fair programme, they are the other great equestrian event of the year in Sanlúcar and deserve a special mention. Declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest, this centuries-old tradition reaches its 181st edition in 2026.
2026 dates:
- First cycle: 8, 9 and 10 August.
- Second cycle: 21, 22 and 23 August.
The setting is unique: Bajo de Guía beach (sand and sea at high tide), where horses and riders compete for victory in the "Greatest Show on the Southern Beaches". It is organised by the Royal Horse Racing Society of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, founded in the 19th century, which looks after this tradition inherited from the ancient livestock fairs.
The "Greatest Show on the Southern Beaches" brings together thousands of spectators every August who fill the grandstands to watch the gallops at full rein on the wet sand.
What activities can we find besides La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026?
🏛️ Bullfight at El Pino Square (7 June)
The crowning glory of La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026 will arrive on Sunday 7 June at 7:00 PM at the historic El Pino Bullring. The bullfighting poster for 2026 is truly luxurious and brings together three of the great figures of contemporary bullfighting:
- Roca Rey (to be confirmed)
Six bulls from the El Torero ranch, one of the most prestigious in the province of Cádiz, will be fought. The presentation of the poster took place on 9 April 2026 at the Provincial Council of Cádiz, with the attendance of President Almudena Martínez and the businessman of the bullring, Carmelo García. Tickets have been on sale since 13 April 2026 at box offices and usual channels.
Complete bullfighting programme:
- Saturday 6 June, 7:00 PM: Novillada with young promises from Andalusian schools (including the Sanlúcar school "El Volapié").
- Sunday 7 June, 7:00 PM: Grand fair bullfight with the three figures.
🍽️ Where to eat in Sanlúcar (and which products not to miss) at La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026?
During La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026, tapas and gastronomy are an essential part of the experience. Here are the must-haves.
Star dishes:
- Sanlúcar langoustines (with their own designation and incomparable flavour, due to being grown in brackish waters).
- Camaron fritters (crispy and golden, with live prawns).
- Papas aliñás (boiled potatoes with cumin and onion, perfect accompaniment to manzanilla).
- Grilled cuttlefish or sole (seafood dishes enjoyed in Bajo de Guía).
Where to eat near the Fairground, if you're going to La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026?
- Bajo de Guía: The area of beach bars and classic restaurants such as Casa Bigote.
- Cabildo Square: Casa Juan or Casa Balbino, shrines of langoustine and seafood.
- Barrio Alto: Traditional tapas bars and more modern establishments, where tapas are at popular prices.
The Best Wineries of Sanlúcar de Barrameda:
- During the fair, numerous wineries open their doors for visits and tastings: Barbadillo, Hidalgo La Gitana, Barón, Argüeso, Delgado Zuleta are mandatory stops to understand why manzanilla is unique. All of them offer their own version of this wine, aged under a veil of flor in the Atlantic humidity.
- The perfect pairing: well-chilled manzanilla + freshly boiled langoustines + a just-made camaron fritter = the taste of Sanlúcar in its purest state.
🏠Who organises La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026?
The organisation is carried out by the Sanlúcar de Barrameda City Council, through its Festivals department, with the support of the Provincial Council of Cádiz and the collaboration of local groups, brotherhoods and businesses. The Fairground, with more than 50 casetas, is set up months in advance on Calzada de la Duquesa Isabel, and the Council meets periodically with residents and traders to coordinate the event.
💫 What the Fair represents for Sanlúcar and for The Sun Places
For Sanlúcar, La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026 is an opportunity to assert its wine and maritime identity, to share its most precious product —wine— with the world, and to open the doors of its casetas to anyone who wants to experience the hospitable and joyful character of its people.
For The Sun Places, this fair represents the best example of how tradition, local produce and celebration can come together to create an unforgettable experience. That is why staying with us during these days is the smartest choice:
- Absolute comfort: After the night of the lighting, the bullfight or the day of tapas, you will return to a refuge with high-end beds and absolute peace and quiet.
- Local knowledge: Our concierge service recommends the best bars, the wineries with less crowded tastings and the ideal times to enjoy the horse races in August.
At The Sun Places we know that to experience a fair it is not enough just to attend: you have to feel like a local, with wine in one hand, a fritter in the other and the certainty that luxury rest awaits you around the corner.
📞 Experience La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026 with The Sun Places
La Feria de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2026 is the perfect opportunity to discover the other side of Andalusian celebrations: more authentic, more nautical and more accessible. It is a tribute to a unique wine, to beaches where horses gallop on the sand and to a cuisine that awakens all the senses.
At The Sun Places we offer you the Luxury Accommodation in Sanlúcar de Barrameda you need to immerse yourself without worries in this week of manzanilla, sevillanas and shared joy.
✨ Contact The Sun Places. The best fair in Andalusia awaits you on the banks of the Guadalquivir, with your glass of manzanilla always full. ✨
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