At the first Jamón World Cup in Ronda, Los Pedroches was named “Mejor Jamón del Mundo,” beating Spain’s most famous ham regions in a public tasting. Hundreds of visitors sampled the hams and voted for their favorite instead of leaving the decision to a panel of experts.
The event ran from September 4 to 6, 2026, at the Convento de Santo Domingo. Eight producers took part, two from each of four regions. Los Pedroches, Guijuelo, Jabugo and Extremadura were represented, with Ibedul and Sierra Morena entering for Los Pedroches. All hams came from the same vintage, making comparisons fair across the board.
The contest took a different approach to judging. Led by Enrique Tomás, the organizers let the public decide. Attendees paid €15 for a tasting session, tried samples from each region, then voted for their favorite. The idea was to put the decision in the hands of people who actually buy and eat jamón ibérico.
Thousands came to Ronda for the three-day event, held alongside the city’s Goyesca festivities. Producers and ham fans joined local visitors at the convent for tastings and a program about Spain’s most iconic cured meat, with talks and other activities.
For Los Pedroches, the win marks a major moment. The Córdoba region has often been overshadowed by Guijuelo and Jabugo, better known internationally. The award goes to the region as a whole, not to a single company or product. So the “best ham in the world” title applies to Los Pedroches in this contest, not to every ham from the area.
The event also included the “Amantes del Jamón” awards, which recognize people who have promoted Spanish ham. This year’s Gold Medals went to Ronda’s mayor María de la Paz Fernández and José Luis “El Turronero”. Fran Rivera and Tana Rivera received honors, as did Joan Manuel Serrat. International names, including Brad Pitt and Georgina Rodríguez, were announced as honorees, along with Antonio Banderas, David Bisbal and Elsa Pataky. It was not confirmed whether they would attend.
For producers, the result means more than a trophy: it offers a rare chance for public recognition in a field usually shaped by tradition and expert opinion. Visitors could taste samples from each region and judge them for themselves, without the usual marketing or prestige. Ronda’s city council plans to make the event annual, and the Jamón World Cup could change how Spain’s most prized food is judged. This year, the public’s taste set the standard, giving Los Pedroches’ rivals something to aim for.
