Registration opens  for the 14th edition of the Dénia International Creative Red Prawn Cooking Competition, a well-established gastronomic event.  The Dénia International Creative Red Prawn Cooking Competition celebrates its fourteenth edition in 2026, reaffirming its position as one of the most prestigious culinary competitions in Spain. The event will take place on Wednesday, March 24, 2026, at the Dénia Municipal Market, the iconic venue for this competition that brings together some of the country’s most innovative and creative chefs each year.

Organized by the Marina Alta Hospitality and Tourism Business Association (AEHTMA), in collaboration with the Dénia City Council, the competition has become a prime showcase for contemporary cuisine and for promoting a unique product: the Dénia red prawn, renowned throughout Spain for its excellence, flavor, and singularity.

Throughout its thirteen previous editions, the competition has evolved without losing its essence, attracting prestigious chefs, food critics, and industry professionals, and establishing itself as a talent platform where creativity serves the product. In this new edition, the objective remains the same: to reinterpret the Dénia red prawn with respect, technique, and innovation, placing it at the heart of dishes capable of surprising both the jury and the public.

The competition is open to professional chefs working in restaurants or accredited culinary schools, who must submit an original recipe featuring the Dénia red prawn as the star ingredient. After the registration period closes on March 3rd, a jury of chefs, critics, and food experts will select the eight finalists, whose dishes will be prepared live on the day of the competition.

On March 24th, the Dénia Municipal Market will once again be transformed into a hub of creativity, excitement, and culinary excellence. The jury will pay particular attention to the flavour, presentation, and central role of the Dénia red prawn in each dish before announcing the three winners of this edition.

The competition will award three cash prizes, in addition to the Dénia Red Prawn Trophy, an original sculpture by the artist Toni Marí, which has become a symbol of the event. With this 14th edition, this competition not only reaffirms its maturity and prestige, but also its role as a voice for Mediterranean gastronomy and as a champion of a product that forms part of the culinary identity of Dénia and the Valencian Community. A fully recognized event that, year after year, continues to spark the interest of the gastronomic world.

Report by ’24/7 Valencia’ team

Article copyright ’24/7 Valencia’