The World Cheese Awards 2026 arrive in Córdoba from 12 to 15 November, and they do so through the front door: it is the first time this competition, considered the "Oscars of Cheese", is held in Spain. Organised by The Guild of Fine Food in collaboration with the Instituto del Queso, the event is part of the Andalucía-Gusto del Sur International Cheese Festival and will bring together more than 5,000 cheeses from 44 countries, evaluated by 300 international judges.
For The Sun Places, this event is a unique opportunity to offer our guests an experience that combines luxury, culture and haute cuisine. Our Luxury Accommodation in Córdoba are the perfect starting point to experience this historic milestone.
The event is structured around various activities ranging from the most professional to the most informative. On the one hand, the main competition, where cheeses are evaluated by blind tasting and Bronze, Silver, Gold and Super Gold medals are awarded, culminating in the proclamation of the World Champion Cheese 2026.
On the other, the festival offers a Universal Exhibition with more than 100 exhibitors, a Cheese Market with 300 cheeses for sale, tastings and pairings guided by experts, and the III Forum for Lacto-Dairy Innovation. All of this at the Centro de Exposiciones, Ferias y Convenciones (CEFC) of Córdoba, next to the Parque Joyero.
When are the World Cheese Awards this year?
The 2026 edition of the World Cheese Awards will be held from 12 to 15 November 2026. The main competition day will be Saturday 14 November, when the 300 international judges will evaluate the more than 5,000 cheeses entered. The final, with the proclamation of the World Champion Cheese, will take place that same afternoon and will be broadcast live on WCA TV. The full festival, however, extends over four days, with professional and informative activities for all audiences. It is advisable to book accommodation in advance, as November is a month of high demand in Córdoba thanks to this event.
Where are the World Cheese Awards 2026 located?
This event is held at the Centro de Exposiciones, Ferias y Convenciones (CEFC) of Córdoba, located next to the Parque Joyero, on Avenida de la Fábrica. This space, the largest fair complex in the city, offers the necessary infrastructure to host an event of this magnitude. Its location also allows combining the visit to the competition with the discovery of Córdoba's monumental heritage: the Mosque-Cathedral, the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs, the Roman Bridge and the Jewish Quarter are just a few minutes away.
History of the World Cheese Awards 2026
The World Cheese Awards celebrate their 38th edition, consolidated as the most prestigious cheese competition in the world. Organised by The Guild of Fine Food since 1988, these awards have grown to become a global benchmark for the cheese industry. In 2024, the edition held in Viseu (Portugal) brought together 4,786 cheeses from 47 countries, and in 2026 Córdoba will surpass all figures with more than 5,000 cheeses from 44 countries.
The choice of Córdoba as host is no coincidence: the city has a rich cheese tradition, with cheesemakers such as Calaveruela de Fuente Obejuna that have already won gold and silver medals in previous editions. In addition, the event is part of the Andalucía-Gusto del Sur International Cheese Festival, which seeks to project the quality of Andalusian cheeses to the world.
Who organises the World Cheese Awards?
The World Cheese Awards is organised by The Guild of Fine Food, the leading British association for the gourmet sector, in collaboration with the Instituto del Queso of Spain. The event has the institutional support of the Junta de Andalucía, the Diputación de Córdoba and the Córdoba City Council, which have promoted the city's candidacy. Coordination is carried out by an organising committee that includes representatives of the cheese industry, the tourism sector and public administrations. John Farrand, CEO of The Guild of Fine Food, has highlighted that Córdoba offers "excellent infrastructure, great artisan capacity and a unique cultural environment".
What the World Cheese Awards represents for Córdoba, Andalusia and The Sun Places
The World Cheese Awards 2026 represents much more than a gastronomic competition. For Córdoba, it is an opportunity for unprecedented international projection, placing the city on the world cheese map and attracting thousands of professionals and visitors.
For Andalusia, it is a platform to showcase the excellence of its dairy products, with special prominence for goat's milk, of which the region is the leading producer in Spain.
For The Sun Places, it is a unique occasion to offer our guests an experience that combines luxury, culture and haute cuisine. Our Luxury Apartments are the perfect starting point to experience the event, with a concierge service that includes reservations for tastings, private visits to cheesemakers and exclusive pairings.
The gastronomy of World Cheese 2026: cheeses, pairings and haute cuisine
The World Cheese Awards 2026 is a celebration of global cheese diversity. During the four days of the festival, attendees will be able to taste cheeses from 44 countries, from European classics to the most innovative proposals from America, Asia and Africa. The Cheese Market will offer more than 300 varieties for sale, including Córdoba cheeses such as the Montanera Curado from Calaveruela, awarded gold in 2024. The tastings and pairings will allow discovering unique combinations with Montilla-Moriles wines, olive oil from the Sierra de Córdoba and other local products. To complete the experience, you cannot miss trying other Córdoba classics such as Cordoban salmorejo, the Cordoban flamenquín or the olive oil from the Sierra de Córdoba.
The perfect plan with The Sun Places for the World Cheese Awards 2026
Friday: Arrival and first contact with the city
Saturday: Immersion in the competition
- Morning: Visit to the CEFC to tour the Universal Cheese Exhibition and the Cheese Market
- Afternoon: Attendance at the tastings and pairings guided by experts, and following the final of the competition
- Night: Dinner at Restaurante Noor (three Michelin stars) for a high-level gastronomic experience
Sunday: Heritage, tradition and farewell
Ready to experience the World Cheese Awards 2026 with The Sun Places?
📞 Contact us and let us organise your luxury experience: festival tickets, reservations for tastings and pairings, private visits to artisan cheesemakers and a concierge service at your disposal.
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