Ibiza's Mercat Nou welcomed an exceptional group of culinary talent on Saturday, October 3, as 21 chefs representing a combined 28 Michelin stars visited the market ahead of the fifth edition of the charity event Estrellas contra el Cáncer.

The chefs explored the market's stalls, discovering local products and personally selecting ingredients that would later be used during the evening's solidarity dinner at Nassau Beach Club Ibiza.

Local Product Takes Centre Stage

The market visit was designed to connect the visiting chefs with Ibiza's local produce while highlighting the range of ingredients available at Mercat Nou.

Rather than simply visiting the market, the chefs purchased products to incorporate into the evening's menu, giving local suppliers a direct role in the charity event.

The initiative was organised by Núria Moreno and chef Óscar Molina, founders of Estrellas contra el Cáncer, with the collaboration of Ibiza Town Hall through its Department of Commerce and Markets.

The visit also formed part of the event's wider effort to combine gastronomy, local commerce and solidarity.

21 Chefs, 28 Michelin Stars

The participating chefs included Óscar Molina, María del Dulce Jiménez Latorre, Álvar Hinojal Crespo, Luis Alejandro Veira Añón, Carlos Maldonado Pinel, Samuel Naveira Soria, Víctor Martín García, Sergio Manzano Méndez, Juan José Losada Chacón, Lydia del Olmo Álvarez, Víctor Suárez González, Álvaro Garrido Ramírez, Raúl Resino Olivares, Marc Segarra Sauné, Luis Valls, Pablo González Conejero Hilla, Israel Ramos Garrido, Rafael Soler Atanet, Aarón Ortiz García, Cristian Palacio Reula and Jordi Grau Lamarca.

Together, the chefs represented 28 Michelin stars and travelled to Ibiza to take part in the event on an altruistic basis.

The initiative has grown into an annual meeting point between leading Spanish chefs, local businesses, institutions and Ibiza's wider community.

Five Years of Estrellas contra el Cáncer

The 2026 edition marked the fifth anniversary of Estrellas contra el Cáncer, which was founded by Núria Moreno and Óscar Molina to support children and young people with cancer and their families.

The charity dinner took place at Nassau Beach Club on the evening of October 3. The organisers confirmed that the funds raised are destined for ASPANOB, the Association of Parents of Children with Cancer of the Balearic Islands.

The 100 places available for the dinner had sold out in advance. The event then continued after midnight with a public anniversary celebration.

A Night of Gastronomy and Solidarity

Each participating chef contributed to the special menu, turning the evening into a collective culinary event rather than a conventional restaurant service.

The fifth anniversary also included a number of additional initiatives during the evening, including a 50,000 Avios draw supported by Iberia Cards and the presentation of the event's 2026 ambassadors. Cristina Pedroche and Anthony Blake were among those associated with this year's initiative.

UD Ibiza also participated in the evening, presenting personalised club shirts bearing the names of children from Ibiza and Formentera who are currently receiving treatment for cancer.

Mercat Nou Becomes Part of the Story

The visit by the chefs gave Mercat Nou a prominent role in this year's event by putting local ingredients directly into the hands of some of Spain's leading chefs.

For the market, it was also an opportunity to showcase Ibiza's local produce to an influential group of culinary professionals visiting the island.

The initiative brought together three elements of Ibiza's food scene in a single occasion: local produce, high-level gastronomy and a charity cause supporting families affected by childhood cancer.

Five years after its creation, Estrellas contra el Cáncer continues to use gastronomy as a way of bringing people together around that cause. The final fundraising figure for the 2026 edition had not yet been announced at the time of the latest reports.