Córdoba is preparing to experience some very special days in which The cheese will be the real star.The Andalusian capital aims to consolidate its position as a global benchmark in the dairy sector thanks to the celebration of the International Cheese Festival, an event that brings together producers, experts and cheese lovers from all corners of the planet.
During several days in November, the Cordoba Exhibition, Trade Fair and Convention Centre (CEFC) It will be transformed into a major international showcase, where business, innovation, gastronomic tourism, and citizen participation converge. The objective is clear: to place Córdoba on the global cheese map and capitalize on the appeal of an event capable of attracting thousands of visitors and significant economic investment.
Cordoba, host of the International Cheese Festival
The choice of Córdoba as the venue for International Cheese Festival (ICF) This represents a boost to the city's strategy of hosting major international events related to gastronomy and the agri-food sector. The festival will be held at the CEFC, in the Parque Joyero (Jewelry Park). over four or five days in NovemberAccording to the various forecasts put forward by the organization, it will turn the Caliphate capital into an essential meeting point for the world of cheese.
The event officially adopts the name Andalucía-Gusto del Sur International Cheese Festivalhighlighting Andalusia's role as host region and a major agri-food powerhouse. This is one of the most important international gatherings for the dairy sector, bringing together key players. small artisan cheese dairies, large brands, researchers, distributors and food critics.
The institutions insist that it is not just a fair. The festival is conceived as a space where gastronomic culture, business, science and innovation intersectwith a program designed for both professionals and the general public who simply enjoy trying new cheeses.
At the press conferences, representatives from the City Council of Córdoba, the Regional Government of Andalusia, and the Provincial Council all agreed that this event positions Córdoba as the world capital of cheese during the days of celebration, reinforcing the city's image as a destination for major international events.
World Cheese Awards: the 'Oscars of cheese'
The heart of the festival will be the prestigious World Cheese Awards competitionConsidered by the industry itself as the 'Oscars of cheese'. Organized by the British entity The Guild of Fine FoodThe competition will celebrate its 38th edition in Córdoba, consolidating a trajectory that began in the late 80s with the aim of giving visibility to artisan producers from all over the world.
This Cordoba edition is expected to include the participation of More than 5.000 cheeses from five continentswho will compete for the title of best cheese in the world. The jury will consist of approximately 300-350 international judges, among whom are master cheesemakers, sommeliers, food critics and renowned professionals.
The competition unfolds in several tasting and evaluation phases, culminating in a grand final where the 16 best cheeses They are competing for the top prize. The organization anticipates that this final phase can be followed via live broadcast and international media coveragemultiplying the impact of the event beyond Spanish borders.
The Guild of Fine Food officials have highlighted that the choice of Córdoba is due both to its rich gastronomic and cultural tradition as well as the city's ability to combine tourism, business, and hospitality. The international dairy industry, they assure, will have its eyes on Andalusia before, during, and after the festival.
An international showcase for the dairy sector
The figures associated with the International Cheese Festival reflect the ambition of the project. In previous editions, this type of event has managed to bring together more than 2.400 professionals in the sectorAmong gourmet buyers, chefs, researchers, investors, and opinion leaders, as well as tens of thousands of visitors. In Córdoba, attendance is expected to exceed [number missing]. 10.000 professionals and 20.000 visitors throughout the days of celebration.
For the province, the festival represents an opportunity to give a decisive boost to its artisan cheese factoriesRegions such as Subbética, Los Pedroches, and Guadiato already have around 15 leading companies recognized in top-level competitions. The provincial brand A taste of Cordoba and the Andalusian brand Taste of the South They will use the event to strengthen their presence in national and international markets.
The administrations involved also emphasize the expected economic impact. In its first few years, the CEFC has demonstrated its ability to attract major conferences, with over 35 million euros in economic return accumulated across some 60 events that have brought together more than 135.000 professional visitors. The International Cheese Festival is part of this strategy to consolidate Córdoba as stable destination for conference tourism and specialized trade fairs.
Municipal and provincial officials insist that the festival is an example of public-private partnershipThe City Council, the Regional Government of Andalusia, the Provincial Council, and sectoral institutions have worked together with the Cheese Institute and the Guild of Fine Food to bring to the city an event that has already been held in venues such as San Sebastián, Oviedo or Bern.
Gusto del Sur International Cheese Festival: Innovation and Science
Under the brand Andalucía-Gusto del Sur International Cheese FestivalThe program goes far beyond the main competition. The director of the festival and the Cheese Institute, Luisa Villegas, defines the event as “a major international exhibition with high added value and strong link with rural development”, in which the future challenges of food and the dairy sector itself are discussed.
Among the key points are the dairy and cheese innovation forumsThese spaces will showcase projects from cheese dairies and livestock farms, scientific research, new technological developments, and innovative certification and traceability models. This is the third edition of this forum, which aims to connect applied science with the daily realities of producers.
Alongside this technical aspect, the festival will feature a forum called LactopolisIt is conceived as a forum for exchanging perspectives across the entire agri-food value chain. Topics to be addressed include the sustainability of livestock farming, the role of artificial intelligence in the dairy industry, adaptation to climate change, and diversification opportunities in rural areas.
The organization has also announced a Dairy Innovation Forumwhere global challenges facing the dairy sector will be discussed, from resource management to evolving consumer expectations. These forums are geared towards both established professionals and emerging projects seeking to establish themselves in increasingly competitive markets.
Cheese Market, tastings and experiences for the public
The International Cheese Festival also aims to be an accessible event for the public. To this end, one of the main areas of the festival grounds will be dedicated to... Cheese market, a market dedicated entirely to cheese where they will meet local, national and international producersThere, visitors can discover farmhouse references, artisan cheeses, and products from different regions of Europe and the rest of the world.
In this space, attendees will be able to taste and buy cheeses of very varied stylesFrom traditional goat and sheep cheeses to innovative approaches to aging, maturation, and flavor combinations, the market and tasting area has become one of the festival's most popular spots in previous editions.
Next to the market, a large tasting area where guided tastings, pairings with wines, beers and other gourmet products will take place, as well as live presentations by producers and guest chefs. All of this will be open to both professionals and the general publicbreaking down barriers between experts and amateurs.
The festival will also feature a exhibitors' area This event will feature agri-food companies, firms producing complementary products (oils, sausages, preserves, nuts, pickles, wines, etc.), public entities, and promotional organizations. This space allows attendees to discover firsthand the range of products that typically accompany cheese at the table.
Guided tours to the heart of the competition
One of the most unique proposals will be the initiative World Cheese Arena Tourswhich offers the chance to literally go behind the scenes at the World Cheese Awards. Through guided tours led by prestigious international judgesParticipants will be able to explore the different phases of the competition and better understand how the cheeses are evaluated.
During these tours, aspects such as the following are explained: the scoring criteria, the organization of the tasting tables, the work of the judges, and the selection process until the finalists are reached. For many fans, it represents a rare opportunity to see from the inside a competition that is normally only accessible to the professional jury.
The organization intends, through these visits, to bring the technical aspects of the competition closer to the general public, reinforcing the idea that Knowledge is also part of the gastronomic experience.It's not just about tasting cheeses, but about understanding why certain characteristics are valued and how excellence is built into each piece.
These activities will be complemented by parallel events spread across different urban spaces From Córdoba, such as presentations, meetings with producers, informative sessions and possible special broadcasts, all with the aim of making the city breathe a cheese atmosphere beyond the fairgrounds.
Andalusia and Cordoba: cheese tradition and rural development
The Andalusian authorities have taken advantage of the festival's presentation to assert the deep cheesemaking tradition of the regionLinked to centuries of livestock farming and food culture, in Andalusia, cheeses made from goat and sheep milk reflect the diversity of landscapes, breeds, and ways of life that characterize the community.
The Director General of Industry, Innovation and the Agri-food Chain of the Regional Government has emphasized that this production It not only has gastronomic valuebut it contributes directly to rural development, to keeping people in villages, to maintaining extensive grazing and to the conservation of the landscape and biodiversity.
In this context, the quality mark Taste of the South It will play a visible role within the festival, integrating different labels and figures that represent the distinct quality of Andalusian products. The objective is to reinforce the image of Andalusia as a region that is committed to quality, flavor and traditionbut also for innovation and know-how.
The Provincial Council of Córdoba, through Iprodeco and the brand A taste of CordobaHe insists that the International Cheese Festival will become a prime platform for to give visibility to the cheese dairies of the province, many of which have already won awards in previous editions of the World Cheese Awards.
Economic impact, media coverage and tourism
Beyond the strictly gastronomic aspect, the celebration of the festival is part of a strategy to global projection of CórdobaInstitutional leaders have indicated that events of this type contribute to overcoming difficult stages for livestock farming and the rural economy, offering new business opportunities and diversification.
Forecasts suggest that the event may generate a significant volume of overnight stays and consumption in the cityThe organizers have already booked over a thousand hotel nights and expect visitors from more than 50 countries, including professionals, judges, exhibitors, and the general public.
In terms of visibility, it is estimated that the media impact of the International Cheese Festival could reach tens of millions of people through specialized press, general media, and digital platforms. The broadcast of the World Cheese Awards final and the presence of food journalists will reinforce this projection.
Local authorities insist that Córdoba has suitable infrastructure, organizational experience and a unique cultural environment to host these kinds of major events. The CEFC is thus consolidating its position as a venue prepared to host large-scale events, while the city presents itself as a destination where heritage, gastronomy, and hospitality go hand in hand.
With all this array of activities, figures, and stakeholders involved, Córdoba faces the arrival of the International Cheese Festival with the intention of to reaffirm itself as the world capital of cheese for a few key days for the sector. The combination of a prestigious competition, innovation forums, a market open to the public, and recognition of Andalusian cheesemaking tradition places the city in a privileged position to strengthen its global image and generate new opportunities for its agri-food and tourism sectors.