Archive of the Certamen

2014 – 2026

Eleven Augustson the PaseoMarítimo

It was born in 2014 on the Paseo Marítimo, the seafront promenade of Estepona, with some 55 companies, and is today an Andalusian Tourist Interest Event (Acontecimiento de Interés Turístico de Andalucía). Here is its complete history, edition by edition: dates, figures, patrons and every night of music.

Explore the historyPress archive
Days of the Certamen per editionEach bar is an edition, and its height shows how many days it lasted. Select one to go to its chapter.
editions
11
days of the Certamen
80
nights of free concerts
70
visitors in 2026
+500,000

According to the organisers’ figures.

Edition I4 days

14 – 17 August 2014

First edition

2014. The beginning

After the final of a ham-carving contest, a friend suggests to José María Téllez “Popi” that he create something to draw more people to Estepona. He discusses it with the mayor, and the August Certamen on the Paseo Marítimo seafront promenade is born. It is presented on 23 July at the Diputación de Málaga.

exhibiting companies
~55
days
4

Milestones

  • Presentation at the Diputación de Málaga (23 July 2014).
  • Sabor a Málaga has been a sponsor since this first edition, with producers such as Jamones de Alto Genal, Andrés Ramos and Jamones y Embutidos Melgar.
  • Performances by dance groups.

No concerts yet: the music arrives in 2016.

Edition II5 days

12 – 16 August 2015

Opening hours: 20:00 – 02:00

Second edition

2015. A kilometre and a half of ham

The Certamen grows by 30% in exhibitors and occupies nearly a kilometre and a half of the promenade. The presenter Juan y Medio, of Canal Sur, is its first media patron.

exhibiting firms
69
of Paseo Marítimo
1.5 km
visitors, according to the press
+250,000

Milestones

  • First media patron: Juan y Medio (Canal Sur).

Patron

Juan y Medio

No concerts yet: the music arrives in 2016.

Edition III6 days

10 – 15 August 2016

Opening hours: 20:00 – 02:00

Third edition

2016. The music arrives

Between avenida Juan Carlos I and the Puerto Deportivo marina, hams from Los Pedroches, Guijuelo, Jabugo and Extremadura come together. And for the first time, every night, a free concert by the sea.

exhibitors
+50
first free concerts
5
days
6

Milestones

  • The Certamen’s first free concerts, presented by Blas Ruzafa.

Concerts

5 nights
  1. 10WedJavier Ojeda (Danza Invisible)
  2. 11ThuQueco
  3. 12FriDMEI
  4. 13SatLaura Gallego
  5. 14SunHugo Salazar
Edition IV6 days

10 – 15 August 2017

Fourth edition

2017. More than seventy

More than seventy exhibitors and a forecast of 150,000 visitors which, according to reports at the time, was comfortably exceeded. Nuria Fergó opens and José Manuel Soto closes.

Official poster · 2017
exhibitors
+70
visitors forecast, “comfortably exceeded”
+150,000

Milestones

  • Opening concert by Nuria Fergó and closing concert by José Manuel Soto.

Concerts

6 nights
  1. 10ThuNuria Fergó
  2. 11–144 nightsRocío Cortés · Salvador Beltrán · Las Seventies · Calle Salvador
  3. 15TueJosé Manuel Soto
Edition V6 days

10 – 15 August 2018

Opening hours: 19:00 – 02:00

Fifth edition

2018. The Jamón Music Festival is born

The concerts now have a name of their own: Jamón Music Festival. Nuria Fergó is the patron, together with the Fundación Global Gift, and 150 carvers work in full view of the public.

Official poster · 2018
carvers
150
visitors, according to Sabor a Málaga
~200,000

Milestones

  • The Jamón Music Festival brand is born.
  • Partnership with the Fundación Global Gift.

Patron

Nuria Fergó, with the Fundación Global Gift

Jamón Music Festival

6 nights
  1. 10FriHugo Salazar
  2. 11–144 nightsMaría Calero · Alejandra Rodríguez · Hermanos Moreno · Valerie Blue · Como en Casa
  3. 15WedBordón 4
Edition VI7 days

9 – 15 August 2019

Opening hours: 19:00 – 02:00

Sixth edition

2019. Seven nights

A full week of the Certamen, with 55 exhibitors, 150 carvers and a concert every night. The journalist Beatriz Jarrín is the patron.

Official poster · 2019
exhibitors
55
carvers
150
nights of concerts
7

Milestones

  • First seven-day edition.

Patron

Beatriz Jarrín

Jamón Music Festival

7 nights
  1. 9FriBordón 4
  2. 10SatRafael Cremades
  3. 11SunDani Márquez
  4. 12MonRocío Cortés · Fran Bravo
  5. 13TuePiratas Flamencos · Valerie Blue
  6. 14WedNolasco
  7. 15ThuLos Centellas

2020 – 2021

A charitable interlude

2020 – 2021. «Ningún hogar sin comida»

The pandemic suspends the August Certamen for two consecutive years. The ham does not stop: Popi organises the charity carving contest “Ningún hogar sin comida” (No Home Without Food), in which admission is paid in food for the food banks. In 2020, semi-finals by municipality across the province and a final in Estepona; in 2021, an Andalusian final with one carver per province.

charity editions
2
provinces in the 2021 Andalusian final
8
  • 2020: provincial contest “Popi Sabor a Málaga. Ningún hogar sin comida”, with admission paid in food.
  • 2021: Andalusian final outside the Auditorio Felipe VI, for a second charitable year.

The suspended editions are not numbered: edition VI (2019) is followed by edition VII (2022).

Edition VII10 days

6 – 15 August 2022

Opening hours: 19:00 – 02:00

Seventh edition

2022. The return

The Certamen returns after the pandemic with its first presentation at FITUR and a ten-day programme. For the first time it exceeds half a million visits, with an economic impact of more than three million euros.

Official poster · 2022
visits, according to the organisers
+500,000
in economic impact
+€3M
legs of ham
+2,000
carvers
150

Milestones

  • First presentation at FITUR (21 January 2022).
  • First documented report of more than half a million visits.

Patron

Eva Ruiz (Canal Sur)

Jamón Music Festival

10 nights
  1. 6SatRafa Cremades & TV Band
  2. 7SunCompás Flamenco
  3. 8MonDani Márquez · Lázaro Cruz
  4. 9TueNolasco
  5. 10WedEl Bomba · Ana Soto
  6. 11ThuLaura Gallego
  7. 12FriSon del Puerto
  8. 13SatJosé Fernández «El Pirata»
  9. 14SunJDM Manuel de Jesús
  10. 15MonPor Derecho
Edition VIII8 days

8 – 15 August 2023

Eighth edition

2023. Andalusian Tourist Interest

More than sixty exhibitors and more than two hundred carvers. A month earlier, the Andalusian Tourism Council issues a favourable report; in September, the Junta de Andalucía declares it an Andalusian Tourist Interest Event (Acontecimiento de Interés Turístico de Andalucía).

Official poster · 2023
visitors, according to the organisers
+500,000
carvers
+200
exhibitors
+60

Milestones

  • Favourable report from the Andalusian Tourism Council (17 July 2023).
  • Declaration as an Andalusian Tourist Interest Event (Acontecimiento de Interés Turístico de Andalucía): Order of 5 September 2023, BOJA nº 180 of 19 September 2023.

Patron

Eva Ruiz

Jamón Music Festival

8 nights
  1. 8TueJoana Jiménez · Nayeli
  2. 9WedLa Guardia
  3. 10ThuCompás Flamenco
  4. 11FriDecai
  5. 12SatJesús de Manuel
  6. 13SunJosé el Francés · Gloria Bendita
  7. 14MonSon del Puerto
  8. 15TueEl Maki · María Artés
Edition IX8 days

8 – 15 August 2024

Ninth edition

2024. The first as a Tourist Interest Event

The first edition held with the Andalusian Tourist Interest declaration. Presented once again at FITUR, it brings together 65 exhibitors, with Navajita Plateá, Falete, Seguridad Social and La Húngara on stage. In November, the town’s plenary council names Popi Adoptive Son of Estepona.

Official poster · 2024
exhibitors
65
carvers
+200
nights of concerts
8

Milestones

  • Presentation at FITUR (26 January 2024).
  • The plenary council names Popi Adoptive Son of Estepona (21 November 2024); the honour is presented on 6 December 2024.

Patron

Eva Ruiz

Jamón Music Festival

8 nights
  1. 8ThuNavajita Plateá · Eduardo «El Campanero» · Falete
  2. 9FriFernando Caro · Saray Jiménez
  3. 10SatLos Centellas
  4. 11SunLa Húngara
  5. 12MonLos Inhumanos
  6. 13TueSeguridad Social
  7. 14WedEl Callejón · Gloria Bendita
  8. 15ThuMiguel Sáez · Mario Méndez
Edition X10 days

8 – 17 August 2025

Opening hours: 19:00 – 02:00

Tenth edition

2025. Ten years, ten days

The tenth edition is the longest to date: ten days. The Junta de Andalucía joins as a sponsor. On stage, Kiki Morente, Mojinos Escozíos and an Andalusian Night paying tribute to Triana and Medina Azahara.

Official poster · 2025
days
10
exhibitors
65
carvers
+200

Milestones

  • The Junta de Andalucía joins as a sponsor.
  • Longest edition to date.

Patron

Eva Ruiz

Jamón Music Festival

10 nights
  1. 8FriSurprise band · Joana Jiménez
  2. 9SatCarla Fernández · El Callejón
  3. 10SunÁlvaro García
  4. 11MonNo me pises que llevo chanclas
  5. 12TueLong Play
  6. 13WedLa Húngara
  7. 14ThuSon del Puerto
  8. 15FriKiki Morente
  9. 16SatAndalusian Night: a tribute to Triana and Medina Azahara
  10. 17SunMojinos Escozíos
Edition XI10 days

7 – 16 August 2026

Opening hours: 19:00 – 02:00

Eleventh edition

2026. More than a kilometre of ham

Sixty-five exhibitors along more than a kilometre of promenade, around ten Sabor a Málaga producers and ten nights of the Jamón Music Festival. According to the organisers’ report, more than half a million visitors, up on the previous year and without incident.

Official poster · 2026
visitors, according to the organisers
+500,000
exhibitors
65
of festival grounds
+1 km
nights of concerts
10

Milestones

  • Reported total of more than 500,000 visitors, up on 2025.

Patron

Eva Ruiz

Jamón Music Festival

10 nights
  1. 7FriMarta Thomas · Bordón 4
  2. 8SatJustito a Tiempo
  3. 9SunNolasco
  4. 10MonHenry Méndez
  5. 11TueLa Frontera
  6. 12WedMelon Diesel
  7. 13ThuPiratas Flamencos
  8. 14FriBurning
  9. 15SatDani Márquez · Long Play
  10. 16SunMalamanera

To be continued

The next edition will be written in August

The Certamen returns every summer to the Paseo Marítimo of Estepona. The dates of the twelfth edition will be published on this website as soon as the organisers announce them.

Go to the current editionContact the organisers