Seville's Feria de Abril 2026 opens on Monday as its most expensive edition yet, with drink and food prices 8-10% higher than last year. The city council has spent a record 4.5 million euros, while private caseta consumptions exceed 22 euros for a ham plate and 17 euros for a rebujito jug. Business owners blame rising product costs, staff shortages, and labor expenses.
Seville's Feria de Abril kicks off on Monday with the traditional pescaíto dinner and alumbrao, the lighting of over 250,000 bulbs on the fairground's gateway. Cristóbal Tripero, president of the Asociación de Titulares de Casetas (Atica), states private caseta prices have risen 8-10% from last year due to higher product costs, staff shortages, wage increases, and distribution expenses.
Examples include 22-25 euros for a ham plate, 26 euros for prawns or clams, 11 euros for croquettes, 15 euros for fish, and 4.5 euros for montaditos. A rebujito jug ranges from 12 to 17 euros, with beer over two euros per glass. Public casetas, regulated by the city council, are cheaper: 1.40 euros for beer, 7.50 euros for rebujito, and 14 euros for a full menu.
"I have 600 euros: 300 in gift vouchers and 300 from me. Once spent, the Feria is over," says Santiago González, a 22-year-old Sevillian earning 1,200 euros monthly, whose family spent over 1,000 euros on caseta membership fees. Hostelry businessman Manuel Chavela adds: "Costs have skyrocketed and we can't absorb them; we have to pass them on."
The city has allocated 4.5 million euros for setup, including 3.2 million for electrical grid with Endesa and 1.8 million for landscaping, estimating a 1.4 billion euro economic impact. Over 3,000 municipal workers, including 1,000 local police, ensure operations. "All our devices are prepared for a good Feria," says mayor José Luis Sanz. The event ends Sunday with 24,805-euro fireworks.