The Fira del Variat 2026 in Palma will take place this weekend, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September, at the Mercat de Pere Garau and the surrounding area. The second edition of this food fair has expanded to 13 stalls, with six food trucks and two stages featuring live music, DJs, ball de bot (traditional Mallorcan dance) and activities for the whole family.
The fair will be open on Saturday from 19:00 to 00:00 and Sunday from 9:00 to 23:00. Among this year’s main new features are the expansion of the venue and advance online ticket sales, which the organisers hope will speed up service and reduce queues.
From centre, Consell de Mallorca Councillor for Economic Promotion and Local Development Pilar Amate; president of the Agrupació de Venedors del Mercat de Pere Garau, Paquita Bonnin; and Deputy Mayor and Councillor for the Natural Environment, Healthy Environments and Markets, Llorenç Bauzá de Keizer, at the presentation of the Fira del Variat 2026 in Palma. Photo: Palma City Council.
The Fira del Variat 2026 in Pere Garau is organised by the Agrupació de Venedors del Mercat i la Plaça de Pere Garau (Association of Traders of Pere Garau Market and Square), with the support of Palma City Council and the Consell de Mallorca. From this edition onwards, the event will also have the status of Declaració d’Interès Municipal (Declaration of Municipal Interest), which is expected to be approved by the Junta de Govern.
Opening times and programme for the Fira del Variat 2026 in Palma
The Fira del Variat programme will begin on Saturday evening and continue throughout Sunday. Performances and activities will be spread across the Variat and Es Mercat es Mou (The Market Gets Moving) stages.
Saturday 26 September, from 19:00 to 00:00
Stage 1 – Variat
- 21:00 to 23:00 — Elías Sánchez DJ
Stage 2 – Es Mercat es Mou
- 19:00 — Elías Sánchez DJ
- 21:00 — Filarmónica Porrerenca
- 22:30 — Lolita Khaos and Chris Mental
Sunday 27 September, from 9:00 to 23:00
Stage 1 – Variat
- 10:30 — Children’s storytelling
- 11:30 — Opening ceremony
- 12:00 — Gegants i Xeremies (Giants and Mallorcan Bagpipes)
- 12:15 — Grup Calabruix, ball de bot
- 14:00 — Xaranga Estupendos Borruños
- 21:00 — Pau Vizcaíno
Stage 2 – Es Mercat es Mou
- 9:00 to 14:00 — EMAYA information point
- 15:30 — Iñaki Vega DJ
- 17:30 — Juan Campos DJ
- 19:30 — Miquel Font DJ
- 21:30 — Paco Martín and his band
What is the Mallorcan variat?
The Mallorcan variat is one of the most characteristic dishes of Mallorca’s popular cuisine. Rather than following a fixed recipe, it consists of several small portions of different tapas and traditional dishes served in the island’s bars, all brought together on a single plate. Typical components include Russian salad, meatballs, frit mallorquí (Mallorcan-style fried meat and vegetables), tripe, pica-pica, tongue, squid and croquettes, although each establishment prepares its own combination.
This variety is precisely one of its defining characteristics. There is no single recipe for variat, and the selection, proportions and sauces vary from one bar to another. The dish is closely associated with Mallorca’s bar culture and has become one of the most recognisable dishes in Mallorcan cuisine.
Variat will be the star of this food fair in Palma, which will bring together different offerings around the Mercat de Pere Garau and combine gastronomy with music and activities for all ages.
First Fira del Variat was a great success
The presentation of the second edition was attended by Deputy Mayor and Councillor for the Natural Environment, Healthy Environments and Markets Llorenç Bauzá de Keizer; Consell de Mallorca Councillor for Economic Promotion and Local Development Pilar Amate; and president of the Agrupació de Venedors Paquita Bonnin.
Bauzá announced that the Fira del Variat will have the status of Declaració d’Interès Municipal from this edition onwards. According to the councillor, the recognition “confirms Palma City Council’s firm support” for an event that began last year “with great momentum and an extraordinary turnout“.
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