The Mahón-Menorca Cheese Fair reaches its fourth edition, transforming Mahón’s Plaza de s’Esplanada into a showcase of flavours, culture, and tradition. Promoted by Mahón Town Council, in collaboration with the Farmers’ Cooperative and the Regulatory Council of the Denomination of Origin, this event focuses on the Mahón-Menorca PDO cheese, one of the island’s most iconic gastronomic symbols. The fair will also welcome other local sheep and goat products and guest producers from the European Cheese Route, turning Mahón into a meeting point for the best of cheese culture.

Beyond the gastronomic experience, the event seeks to highlight local produce and Menorca’s primary sector, strengthen trade and restaurants, expand the city’s cultural offer, and help extend the tourist season.

Mayor Héctor Pons stated that “the Cheese Fair is becoming a benchmark,” with the dual aim of promoting this emblematic product that bears Mahón’s name around the world and boosting the municipality’s economy in October, a less touristy season.

Deputy Mayor for Economic Promotion Susana Salom praised that the event “continues to grow in number of stands without losing its essence.”

Bosco Triay, President of the Mahón-Menorca PDO, emphasized that this is an event that endures over time, like other fairs celebrating emblematic products such as Cabrales or Casar cheeses.

Finally, Antònia Bosch, Manager of the Farmers’ Cooperative, said that this edition “reaffirms its consolidation as a meeting space and a source of pride for this product.”

To encourage participation, the organization has produced programmes in four languages —Catalan, Spanish, English, and French— to reach the international audience visiting the island at this time of year.

This year’s programme includes cooking shows, live music, children’s activities, workshops, and performances that make the Fair one of Menorca’s most attractive events. New features include FormatJazz and the participation of new experts and creators, reinforcing Mahón’s position as a gastronomic and cultural hub.

A programme for everyone

The fourth edition offers a broad and diverse programme, combining gastronomy with cultural, leisure, and family activities.

Grand Opening with FormatJazz

Friday, October 17, at 6:30 p.m.

Menorca will host for the first time FormatJazz, an experience combining music and gastronomy. The concert, performed by Jaç de Folk, led by Xavier Batllés (founder of Orquestra Mirasol), will be accompanied by a guided tasting of six international and local cheeses, including Mahón-Menorca PDO.

Live Cooking Demonstrations

• Saturday 18, at 12 p.m.:
  Joan Taltavull, an 18-year-old Menorcan chef awarded at the European Young Chef Awards, will present “Cheese in Textures”, an innovative proposal combining cheese with seafood.

• Saturday 18, at 6 p.m.:
  Pep Pelfort revives Moretum, a Mediterranean Roman recipe made with cheese and herbs, highlighting the historical heritage of this iconic product.

• Sunday 19, at 12:30 p.m.:
  Rosa Rotger will lead a workshop based on an 18th-century recipe from Fra Roger’s book, recreating the authentic taste of an old cheese pie. The activity will include Menorcan cow’s milk ice cream and Binitordvermouth.

Workshops and Participatory Activities

• Friday 17, at 6 p.m.:
  “The Naughty Little Mice”, a pair of actors entertaining the youngest visitors.

• Saturday and Sunday, at 10 a.m.:
  Bread-making workshop with a cheese-making installation in the square showing live artisanal production.

• Saturday 18, at 12 p.m.:
  “Story Cheese Factory”, a storytelling and illustration show by Sant Vicent.

Menorcan Culture and Tradition

The giants of Mahón and Llucmaçanes, accompanied this year by the Mahón Horse, will star in Saturday’s street activities from 10:30 a.m. onwards.
Music will also play a central role, with performances by local bands Dues Llunes and The Pink Tsunami.
The closing event on Sunday will feature the itinerant performance of Sa Xaranga, bringing the festivities to an end.

Gastronomic Spaces and Livestock Exhibition

The fair will also include Format-Tast, a picnic area with tables where visitors can enjoy a selection of local products —bread, honey, craft beer, wines, specialty coffee, traditional pastries, burgers, cakes, saffron— complementing Menorca’s cheeses and the guest stands.

At the same time, the livestock exhibition will once again play a key role, featuring Frisian and Menorcan cows, and, for the first time, Menorcan sheep.
This addition strengthens the fair’s link with the island’s primary sector and highlights its agri-food heritage.