This Saturday, 20 September, Valencia will once again smell of wood fire and rice as it celebrates World Paella Day, the international day that honours the most universal dish from the Valencian kitchen. This year’s seventh edition brings together 12 finalists from around the world, selected from more than 75 competitors in the 2025 qualifiers.
The main event will take place at La Marina de València (Tinglado No. 2), where visitors can follow the World Paella Day Cup on a big screen and enjoy popular tastings of paella. The competition is scheduled from 10:00 to 15:00, with €5 servings from 11:00 to 14:45.
The 12 finalists
Representing a broad sweep of countries, the finalists competing for the title in Valencia are: Łukasz Kaniecki (Poland), Frederic Gallego (France), Eva Gallart López (Denmark), Ramona Trujillo Núñez (Romania), Kaloyan Kolev (Bulgaria), William Téllez (Mexico), Ian Escobar (Uruguay), Andrés Felipe Otálvaro (Colombia), Luis Fernando da Rocha Coutinho (Brazil), Roger Sandoval (Puerto Rico), Cheng Xiao Jie (China) and Kenta Seki (Japan).
More than a contest
World Paella Day is a global celebration that champions paella as a symbol of hospitality, landscape and local produce. In the days leading up to the final, the chefs take part in activities to discover the rice culture, l’Albufera, the market garden and local markets—a technical and cultural immersion that culminates on the 20th at La Marina.
Practical information
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Date: Saturday, 20/09/2025
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Venue: Tinglado No. 2, La Marina de València
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Schedule: Competition 10:00–15:00; tastings 11:00–14:45 (€5 per serving)
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Highlights: Live viewing of the World Paella Day Cup and a seafront gastronomic atmosphere.
