The tenth edition begins in Sant Jordi de ses Salines on Friday, with a live radio recording and a mini-congress exploring the past and present of Ibiza’s historic salt industry.

Ibiza’s salt-making heritage takes centre stage this weekend as the Fira de la Sal returns for its tenth edition, running from Friday, 16 October, to Sunday, 18 October 2026.

Organised by Sant Josep de sa Talaia Town Council, with support from the Consell Insular d’Eivissa and collaboration from the Ses Salines Natural Park, the annual fair celebrates the history, traditions and natural environment shaped by the island’s salt industry.

Activities will take place around Sant Jordi de ses Salines, Sant Francesc de s’Estany and the surrounding saltworks, combining historical demonstrations, cultural events, workshops, gastronomy and opportunities to learn about the landscape that helped shape Ibiza’s economy for centuries.

The opening day focuses on the historical and agricultural importance of salt, with a programme for older residents in the morning followed by two public events in Sant Jordi.

Friday, 16 October: Opening Day Programme

An activity dedicated to older residents

09:00–15:00 | Sant Jordi area

The opening day begins with La Fira de la Sal amb els nostres majors, an activity dedicated to older residents of the municipality.

Prior registration is required through the relevant social services points in Sant Jordi, Sant Josep and Cala de Bou. Places are limited.

Live recording of Onda Agraria

17:00 | Multipurpose hall, Sant Jordi de ses Salines

The afternoon programme includes a live recording of Onda Agraria, the Onda Cero radio programme dedicated to rural life, agriculture and gastronomy.

Presenters Pablo Rodríguez Pinilla and Soledad de Juan will record special programmes exploring Ibiza’s salt-making history, traditional occupations connected with salt extraction, local agricultural products and the municipality’s culinary heritage.

Admission is limited, and people wishing to attend can request an invitation by emailing ibiza@ondacero.es.

Mini-congress: Sal de la tierra y sal del mar

18:30 | Square by Sant Jordi Church

The day continues with Sal de la tierra y sal del mar, a mini-congress examining the historical significance of salt and its continuing relevance.

Historian Antoni Ferrer Abárzuza will lead the discussion, joined by Andreu Galera, director of the Historical Archive of Cardona, and José Miguel Marí, a salt worker from Salinera Española.

Cardona is the guest municipality for this tenth edition, bringing an additional perspective on the history and heritage associated with salt production.

Three Days Celebrating Ibiza’s Salt-Making Heritage

The fair extends beyond Friday’s opening programme, with Saturday and Sunday offering activities for families, history enthusiasts and visitors interested in Ibiza’s cultural landscape.

Among the main attractions are traditional salt-harvesting demonstrations, theatrical visits to Torre de la Sal Rossa, artisan stalls, workshops, local gastronomy and traditional music and dance.

The programme also includes activities connected with the natural environment of Ses Salines, highlighting the relationship between the salt industry and the area's ecological importance.

Saturday in Sant Jordi

Saturday, 17 October, brings a wider programme to Sant Jordi, including an artisan market, creative workshops for children and adults, aromatic salt-making activities, culinary demonstrations and traditional performances.

The programme also features a public serving of the traditional Ibizan dish ossos amb col, alongside other activities designed to connect local food culture with the history of salt.

Visitors can also discover the Salipinta art competition, which this year includes a new category for adults aged over 18, in addition to its children's categories.

Traditional salt harvesting and the Fogueró

One of the fair’s central traditions is the lighting of the Fogueró, a signal historically associated with the start of the salt-harvesting season.

The programme also includes demonstrations of manual salt extraction, offering visitors an opportunity to see techniques connected with an industry that shaped working life and the economy of Ibiza for generations.

The activities help preserve knowledge of the traditional salt workers and the methods they used before mechanisation transformed production.

More Than 2,500 Years of Salt History

Salt has played a major role in Ibiza’s history for more than two millennia. The Phoenicians were among the earliest peoples to extract salt from the island’s salt flats, with later civilisations, including the Romans and Arabs, contributing to its production and trade.

For centuries, salt was one of Ibiza’s important economic resources. Its use in preserving food and preparing salted products supported trade with other parts of the Mediterranean and Europe.

The saltworks also shaped the lives of local communities, creating occupations, traditions and relationships based on collective work. Sant Jordi de ses Salines and Sant Francesc de s’Estany remain closely associated with this heritage.

The Fira de la Sal aims to keep that history alive through activities that combine education, cultural experiences and environmental awareness.

A Tenth Anniversary with New Activities

Reaching its tenth edition, the fair continues to expand its programme while maintaining its focus on local traditions.

The mini-congress, the activity dedicated to older residents, Cardona’s participation and the new adult category in Salipinta are among this year’s additions.

Together, the events present the salt industry not simply as a chapter in Ibiza’s economic past, but as part of the island’s wider cultural and environmental identity.

From 16 to 18 October, the Fira de la Sal invites residents and visitors to explore the traditions, landscapes and people behind Ibiza’s historic relationship with salt.