El Desarme in Oviedo 2026

El Desarme in Oviedo is one of the city’s major gastronomic and cultural celebrations. Linked to historical events of the 19th century, every October the festival brings together gastronomy, history, music, historical re-enactments and cultural activities.

Declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest in Spain, its main day is 19 October, when restaurants and cider houses throughout Oviedo serve the traditional Desarme Menu.

El Desarme 2026 dates

El Desarme 2026 programme

The El Desarme in Oviedo 2026 programme brings together gastronomic, cultural and historical activities throughout October. These are the main events published by Turismo Asturias and the Cofradía del Desarme.

• 2 October
  5th International Poetry Competition “El Desarme en Verso”
  Announced date for the jury’s decision in the literary competition devoted to the history, tradition and spirit of El Desarme.
• 8 October · 7:30 pm
  Opening of the 19th-century period costume exhibition
  At Villa Magdalena. The exhibition devoted to period clothing will remain open until 25 October.
• 13 October · 1:30 pm
  Presentation of the Desarme Gastronomic Days in Madrid
  Presentation to the media and Madrid authorities to promote the gastronomic festival and Oviedo as a destination.
• 14 October · 11:30 am
  Donation of Desarme Menu meals to Cocina Económica de Oviedo
  OTEA, Oviedo City Council and the Cofradía del Desarme will donate several hundred complete servings of the traditional menu.
• 14 October · 7:30 pm
  Presentation of the 14th Grand Chapter
  At the Iberik Santo Domingo Plaza Hotel. Presentation of the programme, awards, new ambassadors and members associated with the 14th Grand Chapter.
• 15 October · 12:00 noon
  Start of the 7th Bocados del Desarme
  Participating establishments will offer pinchos inspired by the ingredients of the Desarme Menu. The event continues until 25 October.
• 15 October · 1:00 pm
  Start of the Desarme Gastronomic Days
  Participating restaurants and establishments will serve the traditional menu of chickpeas with cod and spinach, Oviedo-style tripe and rice pudding until 25 October.
• 16–25 October
  3rd Period Costume and Desarme Gastronomy Photography Competition
  Competition organised in collaboration with the Asturias Association of Professional Photojournalists (APFA).
• 16 October · 8:00 pm
  El Desarme proclamation
  From the balcony of Oviedo City Hall, delivered by actor Ramón Langa.
• 16 October · 8:30 pm
  Gathering at El Fontán Market
  After the proclamation, a Spanish wine reception will be offered to period-costumed participants and historical re-enactors.
• 17 October · 11:30 am
  Re-enactors’ gathering and parade
  Meeting point at Plaza de Alfonso II el Casto (Cathedral Square). Members of the Cofradía, re-enactors and Isabeline and Carlist troops will parade via La Rúa and Cimadevilla towards Plaza de la Constitución.
• 17 October · 12:00 noon
  Floral tribute
  At Plaza de la Constitución, with a tribute at the church of San Isidoro el Real to those who died in the fighting of 1836.
• 18 October · 10:00 am
  Visits to the military camp
  At Parque de Invierno. The camp opens to the public, offering a look at how soldiers of the period lived.
• 18 October · 12:00 noon
  Major historical battle re-enactment
  At Parque de Invierno. Re-enactment of the defence of Oviedo between Isabeline and Carlist troops, recalling the events of 19 October 1836.
• 19 October · Desarme Day
  Main day of the celebration
  Restaurants and cider houses throughout Oviedo serve the traditional menu of chickpeas with cod and spinach, Oviedo-style tripe and rice pudding.
• 19 October · 12:00 noon
  Proclamation of El Desarme
  At Plaza de la Constitución, proclamation of El Desarme as a Festival of National Tourist Interest in Spain.
• 19 October · 7:00 pm
  Poetry and music recital “Poesía imPAZiente con las armas del verso”
  At the Aula Magna of the University of Oviedo, organised by the Cofradía del Desarme in collaboration with the Asturias writers’ association.
• 20, 21 and 22 October · 7:00 pm
  Talks and discussions
  At Villa Magdalena, meetings devoted to the gastronomy, history and culture of the Desarme festival.
• 23 October · 9:00 pm
  Brotherhood Espicha
  A welcome and fellowship gathering for the participating gastronomic brotherhoods, at El Llar de la Catedral, Plaza de la Catedral. Published price: €30 per person.
• 24 October · from 9:30 am
  14th Grand Chapter of the Cofradía del Desarme
  Reception of the brotherhoods at 9:30 am in Plaza del Fontán; parade at 10:30 am to Teatro Filarmónica and the Grand Chapter at 11:00 am. Afterwards there will be a ceremonial parade through central Oviedo, a stop at the University and events from the Palacio del Conde de Toreno. Registration is open until 20 October.
• 24 October · 3:00 pm
  14th Grand Chapter Lunch
  Desarme Menu lunch at the Iberik Santo Domingo Plaza Hotel. Published price for the Grand Chapter including lunch: €50 per person.

Registration for the 14th Grand Chapter in 2026 remains open until 20 October. Participants may register for the Brotherhood Espicha, the Grand Chapter with lunch, or both events.

Programme subject to possible changes. Please confirm times and venues before travelling.

Traditional Desarme Menu

Every 19 October, many restaurants and cider houses in Oviedo serve what is known as the Desarme Menu:

• First course
  Chickpeas with cod and spinach
• Second course
  Oviedo-style tripe
• Dessert
  Rice pudding

The celebrations also include Bocados del Desarme, an initiative in which local bars and restaurants offer pinchos and tapas inspired by the ingredients of the traditional menu.

For 19 October, booking a table in advance is recommended.

History and origin of the menu

The origins of El Desarme date back to 1876, when the Carlist Wars came to an end. During the reign of Alfonso XII, peace was proclaimed and towns and cities across Spain were called upon to celebrate the disarmament of the population and the arrival of peace. It was in this context that the word “desarme” (“disarmament”) became associated with these celebrations. Oviedo, however, gave the commemoration a distinctive character: rather than celebrating a victory over the Carlists, the city placed the emphasis on peace, fellowship and reconciliation between those who had been on opposing sides. Families, neighbours and former combatants came together again, and the special meals were served not only to soldiers but also to Carlist prisoners and people in hospital.

This spirit of reconciliation gave rise to the name “Menu of Peace”, a designation still championed by the Cofradía del Desarme. The end of the Carlist Wars also coincided with Lent, which led to the usual meat and cured meats in military meals being replaced by cod. This gave rise to chickpeas with cod and spinach, regarded as the true gastronomic origin of the celebration and still served today as the first course of the Desarme Menu. Tradition later linked this menu to the commemoration of 19 October, when the fallen were remembered and soldiers were served what became known as the Desarme menu.

The three-course menu known today developed gradually. At the end of the 19th century, as the celebration moved from barracks, homes and official banquets into Oviedo’s restaurants, Oviedo-style tripe was added. Much later, during the second half of the 20th century, rice pudding was added as dessert, completing the three-course structure that has survived to the present day.

This is how today’s Desarme Menu took shape: chickpeas with cod and spinach, Oviedo-style tripe and rice pudding. Rather than commemorating a military victory, the tradition has evolved into a celebration of peace, coexistence and sharing a meal together, becoming one of Oviedo’s distinctive gastronomic traditions.

Over the years, the festival has added historical re-enactments, cultural activities, competitions, music, poetry and gatherings of gastronomic brotherhoods, eventually receiving recognition as a Festival of National Tourist Interest in Spain.

Practical tips

• Book well in advance for 19 October: restaurants and cider houses are usually in high demand.
• The historic centre, El Fontán and other central areas are where much of the festival atmosphere is concentrated.
• Check the programme before travelling, as new activities may be added and times may change.
• You can combine El Desarme events with a visit to Oviedo’s historic centre and its main monuments.

*Dates and activities may be changed by the organisers.