On 25 November, the MICHELIN Gala 2026 took place at the Sohrlin Andalucía cultural space in Malaga, marking one of the most anticipated events in the culinary calendar. The evening’s announcements were presented by the famous host Jesús Vázquez, while guests were welcomed on the red carpet by the Malaga-born actress and presenter Masi Rodríguez. During this exciting gala, guests enjoyed various performances from the show Imagine produced by Antonio Banderas. After the Gala, a dinner was served, coordinated by two icons of Andalusian haute cuisine, the restaurants Bardal** and Skina**; Aquanaria was also present with a dedicated culinary station. The dinner was followed by a lively party.
Aquanaria, a company specialising in raising gourmet quality sea bass for the gastronomic sector, boasts more than 50 years of experience in marine aquaculture. Our farms are situated in the rough, oxygenated waters of the Atlantic Ocean. This location provides ideal conditions for achieving a product with exceptional qualities, including a firm and juicy texture (thanks to excellent intramuscular fat infiltration), large size and a mild flavour free from off notes. For this reason, our sea bass is present on the menus of many MICHELIN-starred restaurants such as Cocina Hermanos Torres***, Lu Cocina y Alma**, MuNa*, Lienzo* and Muxgo*, all of whom maintained their stars in this new edition.
MICHELIN GALA 2026
This year was particularly special for MICHELIN, marking 125 years since the publication of the first MICHELIN Guide. Furthermore, it was highlighted that Spain can take pride in its cuisine, cementing its status as one of the countries with the most MICHELIN stars, holding a total of 307 awards. Regarding the well-known Green Star, a distinction recognising restaurants most committed to sustainable cuisine, five new establishments joined the list this year, such as Garena* in Biscay, bringing the country’s total to 59.
The 2026 MICHELIN Guide saw 25 new one-starred restaurants make their debut, bringing the total number of recipients to 254. Although many stars were awarded in big cities, several restaurants in small towns have managed to turn their isolation into a badge of identity. Regarding second stars, only five were awarded in this edition to restaurants with distinct personalities, such as Enigma in Barcelona. In the three-star category, the 16 restaurants already holding the distinction retained their status, with no new additions.
AQUANARIA AND ITS CHEFS SHONE IN MALAGA
At Aquanaria, we are proud to share the successes of the chefs who, day after day, trust in our product and support our project. Joining this endless list of restaurants are Recomiendo in Córdoba, Mare in Cádiz, Éter in Madrid and Pico Velasco in Cantabria, among others. The Canary Islands gained two new stars in Tenerife: Haydée by Víctor Suárez and El Taller de Seve Díaz; both kitchens focus on the recovery of island flavours and products, reinterpreted with creativity and technique, an approach that led them to achieve this award.
For such a special event, Aquanaria “dressed up” its station, where attendees could sample various sea bass dishes during the cocktail dinner: sea bass nigiri with shiso, lime and salt; marinated (suke) sea bass hosomaki with yuzu kosho; Kobujime sea bass tartare with corn sauce and edamame puree; and grilled sea bass with red curry and coconut.
AQUANARIA’S COMMITMENT
Aquanaria is deeply committed to supporting the culinary world, with a special focus on chefs. The MICHELIN Guide rewards effort and promotes excellence among professionals in this sector, values perfectly aligned with our company philosophy. Furthermore, sharing in the excitement and joy of the chefs and their teams at an event like this is a deeply rewarding and enriching experience; we extend our congratulations to all the award winners. See you at the 2027 MICHELIN Gala!
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