The Bayonne Ham Fair

Bayonne
Not to be missed

Every April, a grand celebration of a timeless Basque product takes place: the Ham Fair. In 2026, it will be the 563^rd edition… You're not going to miss it, are you? But what can you expect to find there? Is it all ham? And what kind of ham is it, anyway? We'll give you all the information you need to enjoy this festival to the fullest, and we even have some really fun videos in store!

Bayonne ham, from the Basque Country

In the Basque Country, ham is a very serious matter. Bayonne Ham has held Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status since 1996, a recognition of the expertise and ancestral tradition that this product represents. Of course, ham has been made throughout the southwest for centuries, but Bayonne Ham, like others, has its own specific characteristics and particularities that should not be confused with other hams…

This is a cured ham, dry-cured and salted (but not too much). Its flesh is dark red, marbled with just the right amount of fat to give it the melt-in -your-mouth texture and delicate flavors one expects from such a high-quality ham. To enjoy it properly, slice it thinly to appreciate the beauty and shimmering quality of its flesh. Simply place it in your mouth and let the flavors burst forth, then fade away as its texture delights you… Think we're exaggerating? Try it (the real deal from a local butcher or a quality retailer) and you'll see ;)

Bayonne ham

Carving Bayonne Ham

The Bayonne Ham Fair

Since 1426, breeders, butchers, chefs, and everyone involved with the Bayonne Ham Brotherhood have gathered in the heart of Bayonne for four days of festivities. In recent years, the Ham Fair has become much more than just a celebration of ham. It's an ode to Basque regional products and a welcome additional opportunity for a warm and festive celebration.

The festivities begin with a competition : the Best Farm Ham. The three winners are then auctioned off during the Fair. For four days, the town smells wonderful, and it's lively and joyful. The gourmet fair and the charcuterie tent are a place brimming with delicacies, with a section specifically dedicated to hams and related products. There's also a small farm, numerous activities, and a place to discover other Basque products : Espelette pepper, Ossau-Iraty cheese, Irouleguy wine, Basque pork with the Kintoa AOC designation … In other venues, such as the Bayonne Ham Brotherhood and the Chamber of Trades, there are culinary demonstrations, competitions (for the best ham omelet, yum!), and parades. In the city, shopkeepers organize tastings of their products, special sales, it's really the perfect opportunity to discover Bayonne if you've never been!

Shows, masses, concerts and tables outside (in the sun, fingers crossed), are meeting places for Basques and tourists who are enjoying the mild weather that is coming… It’s a bit like the start of the great season, isn’t it?

The city is celebrating, near the market halls.

Adjacent to the market halls, there are tasting and sales stands

Street art

Under the meat-curing tent

Stock up on good products

Important information: Be aware that traffic is heavily disrupted in Bayonne during the Ham Fair. Take precautions, park further away and plan your route to avoid driving through the city! Use the bus network provided by the Municipality for this purpose.