Ibiza’s long connection with salt production takes centre stage from Friday, October 16, to Sunday, October 18, as Sant Josep de sa Talaia celebrates the 10th edition of the Fira de la Sal. The three-day programme will bring traditional salt-harvesting demonstrations, historical talks, local gastronomy, an artisan market, live music, family workshops and guided visits to Sant Jordi de ses Salines and the Ses Salines Natural Park. The fair is free to attend, offering residents and visitors an opportunity to discover an industry that has shaped Ibiza’s economy, landscape and cultural identity for more than 2,500 years.

A Decade Celebrating Ibiza’s Salt Heritage

Organised by Sant Josep Town Hall, the Fira de la Sal has become a cultural event dedicated to preserving and sharing the island’s salt-making heritage.

The 2026 edition marks the fair’s tenth anniversary, with activities spread between Sant Jordi de ses Salines and the historic salt-production landscape of the Ses Salines Natural Park. Rather than focusing solely on the finished product, the programme explores the people, working methods, traditions and natural environment connected with salt production.

Among the most distinctive features are demonstrations of manual salt harvesting, the traditional lighting of the Fogueró, theatrical visits to the Torre de la Sal Rossa, exhibitions, folklore performances and educational activities for younger visitors.

This year’s programme also welcomes the Catalan municipality of Cardona as a guest, strengthening the cultural connection between places whose histories are closely linked to salt.

Friday, October 16: Discover the History of Salt

The opening day introduces the historical and educational side of the fair, with activities in Sant Jordi and a mini-conference examining the importance of salt production through the centuries.

An activity for older residents of the municipality is scheduled from 09:00 to 15:00, organised through Social Services and requiring prior registration.

At 17:00, the multipurpose room in Sant Jordi will host a recording of the Onda Agraria radio programme.

The main public cultural event begins at 18:30 with Sal de la tierra y sal del mar, a mini-conference exploring the history and significance of salt. Speakers include historian Antoni Ferrer Abárzuza and doctor Andreu Galera, with the participation of José Miguel Marí, a salt worker from Salinera Española.

The session provides historical context for the weekend, examining how salt production developed and why it remains an important part of Ibiza’s heritage.

Saturday, October 17: Artisan Market, Workshops and Ibizan Gastronomy

Saturday brings a full programme of cultural, creative and culinary activities to Sant Jordi, making it one of the main days for families and visitors who want to explore the fair in the village.

An artisan market and creative workshops

The artisan market will open in Plaça de Sant Jordi from 10:00 to 17:00.

From 10:30, visitors can also join a selection of workshops. Activities include Felicitaciones marinas de sal, a children's workshop led by Lara Chapuis; Modela la plastisal, led by María José Mínguez Sainz; and Sal y texturas, a painting workshop for participants aged over 16 led by Maria Garcia Leonardo.

An aromatic salt workshop with Irene Apolo is scheduled from 10:30 to 16:00. A salt-themed photographic mirror will also be available between 12:00 and 14:00.

The programme is designed to introduce visitors to salt through art, creativity and hands-on experiences, extending the fair beyond demonstrations of traditional working methods.

Salipinta awards and the giants Xicu and Jordi

At 12:00, the fair will host the awards ceremony for Salipinta, its drawing competition inspired by Ses Salines, its wildlife, landscape and salt-making traditions. The winning artworks will be exhibited at the porch of Sant Jordi Church during the event.

The 2026 competition introduces a new category for adults aged over 18, alongside the three existing categories for children in different school age groups.

At 12:15, the festive giants Xicu and Jordi are scheduled to take part in a parade. Xicu represents Sant Francesc de s’Estany, while Jordi represents Sant Jordi de ses Salines, reflecting the two communities historically associated with Ibiza’s salt industry.

Traditional food and a taste of Cardona

Gastronomy is another important part of the fair. From 11:00 to 14:00, tastings with Marga Orell will take place as part of Això sí, és d’Eivissa.

The gastronomic programme runs from 12:45 to 14:00 and includes a demonstration of olive preservation in brine led by Meritxell Jané from Cardona, the guest municipality.

Visitors can also enjoy the traditional Ibizan dish ossos amb col, served in salt-worker-style lunch containers. The popular meal is priced at €5 per portion and will be prepared by Catering S’Olivera.

The focus on preservation techniques highlights one of salt’s historical uses beyond its role in the island’s economy: keeping food for longer before modern refrigeration.

Live music, storytelling and local traditions

Music and cultural activities continue through the afternoon and evening.

MAIK & REYA will perform from 14:00 to 16:00. Later, from 18:00 to 19:00, families can attend the storytelling session Es Fameliar Ximpum i el misteri de ses Salines, presented by Accions Teatrals Miquel Vingut.

The evening programme returns to local traditions with the Salpassa at 19:30, followed by a solemn Mass at Sant Jordi Church at 20:00.

Sunday, October 18: Traditional Salt Harvesting in the Natural Park

Sunday moves the focus from the village into the Ses Salines Natural Park. The programme is organised across several zones, combining salt-making demonstrations with history, archaeology, birdwatching and cultural activities.

A starting point will be set up at Zone 0, by the DC10 car park, where visitors can collect their salt-worker kits before travelling into the natural park. The programme lists shuttle minibuses and a festive train for the transfer, as well as bicycles available while supplies last.

Zone 1: Sant Francesc Interpretation Centre

From 10:00 to 15:00, visitors can explore the documentary Relats de Sal and the exhibition Sa Sal. Imatges d’abans, featuring work by Bernat Tur Llorens.

Birdwatching activities at Toromar are planned until 13:00, offering an opportunity to learn about the wildlife of the protected wetlands.

Zone 2: Torre de la Sal Rossa and La Xanga

The Torre de la Sal Rossa will host theatrical visits titled El valent vigilant de la torre, scheduled for 10:00, 10:30 and 11:00.

From 10:00 to 11:00, archaeologists Ricard Marlasca and Josep Maria López Garí will lead a guided visit to the historic salt-production complex at La Xanga.

Information tables will operate from 10:00 to 14:00, covering how salt forms, the history of the industry, traditional tools and the biodiversity of Ses Salines.

These activities connect the island’s industrial history with the archaeological and environmental value of the surrounding landscape.

Zone 3: The traditional Fogueró

At the former salt mound in the Pantà area, the programme includes a traditional ball pagès performance by the Sant Jordi Folkloric Group at 12:00, alongside a meeting with the guardians of the fair.

At 12:15, the traditional Fogueró will be lit, accompanied by songs performed by Petit Cor.

The fire recalls a historical signal used to alert salt workers that the harvest was beginning and that it was time to head to the salt flats. Its inclusion is one of the weekend's most distinctive links to the working traditions of Ibiza’s salt industry.

Zone 4: A demonstration of traditional salt extraction

At 13:00, visitors can watch a demonstration of traditional salt extraction presented by Miquel Vingut, with historical explanations from Antoni Ferrer Abárzuza.

The programme also includes a salt-worker song performed by Josep Ferrer Marí and the Escola de Petits Saliners. The children's activity introduces younger participants to the traditional trade, with a diploma awarded at the end.

For visitors, the demonstration offers a practical look at the manual harvesting methods that helped shape the salt pans and the communities around them.

A Celebration of Culture, Community and Nature

The Fira de la Sal brings several aspects of Ibiza’s heritage together in one programme. It preserves memories of the island’s salt workers while offering visitors a closer look at local food traditions, folklore, historic buildings and the natural environment of Ses Salines.

The fair’s family activities, educational workshops, guided visits and demonstrations are also intended to pass this knowledge on to younger generations. The inclusion of environmental information and birdwatching reinforces the connection between the salt industry and the protected wetlands that surround it.

Ten editions after its launch, the event continues to present salt not simply as a product, but as a part of Ibiza’s history, identity and landscape.

Ibiza Salt Fair 2026: Event Details

• Event: 10th Fira de la Sal, Ibiza Salt Fair
• Dates: Friday, October 16, to Sunday, October 18, 2026
• Locations: Sant Jordi de ses Salines and the Ses Salines Natural Park, Sant Josep de sa Talaia
• Organiser: Sant Josep Town Hall
• Admission: Free for the fair's programme of activities
• Friday highlight: Sal de la tierra y sal del mar mini-conference at 18:30
• Saturday highlights: Artisan market from 10:00 to 17:00, workshops, Salipinta awards, traditional food, MAIK & REYA live music and evening cultural activities
• Saturday meal: Ossos amb col, €5 per portion
• Sunday highlights: Birdwatching, guided and theatrical visits, traditional Fogueró lighting and manual salt-harvesting demonstration
• Sunday transport: Shuttle minibuses and a festive train are listed for access to the natural park; bicycles are available while supplies last
• Registration note: Prior registration is required for Friday’s activity for older residents through municipal Social Services

The Fira de la Sal offers three days to explore an essential chapter of Ibiza’s past, from the history of salt production to the traditions, food and natural environment that continue to define Ses Salines today.