The Festa do Pemento de A Arnoia is far more than a gastronomic gathering: it is the celebration of a fruit, of a land and of a way of life. Every summer, this Ourense town opens its doors to honour the pepper of A Arnoia, a green pepper, slender, with a mild flavour and tender skin, born from the fertile meadows along the banks of the Miño and Arnoia rivers.
This 2026 we reach the XLVII edition, a milestone that makes this one of the oldest and most beloved gastronomic festivals in Ourense. Years of blazing stoves, of aromas that sweep through the streets and of people who return, edition after edition, to share table, music and memory.
For decades the Festa do Pemento de A Arnoia has made the pepper of A Arnoia the great star of the Ourense summer. Over the years it has established itself as one of the oldest and most beloved gastronomic festivals in the province, a meeting point that brings together the local community with people arriving from every corner of Galicia and beyond.
Its journey and its deep roots have earned it the most important recognition: it is declared of Tourist Interest of Galicia, a seal that vouches for the authenticity of a celebration true to its roots and forever alive.
At the heart of everything is the pepper of A Arnoia: a green pepper, slender, with a mild flavour and tender skin, distinguished by its delicacy. It is not spicy, it is not bitter; it seduces you with its finesse and with the strength of a land that cares for it as few places know how to do.
It grows in the fertile meadows along the banks of the Miño and Arnoia rivers, where water, climate and the know-how of generations join forces to yield a unique fruit. To taste the pepper of A Arnoia is to taste the very essence of this land.
The festival is held around the first weekend of August, at the A Arnoia grounds, in A Arnoia (Ourense). It is the moment when the town fills with life and the Galician summer calendar reserves a spot for the peppers.
When evening falls, the stoves are lit non-stop and the frying of the peppers perfumes the air. The street parties stretch until dawn, and the gathering becomes one of those places you always long to return to.
The gastronomy here is «all about the pepper»: an experience that revolves around this fruit in all its forms, to enjoy unhurried and in good company. A feast that tastes of land, of tradition and of the generosity of a welcoming people.
Joining the table is the best of Galician culture, with the special performance of Milladoiro, one of the greatest names in our music. Music, flavour and community come together to make every edition an unforgettable celebration.