American football fever fires up Mijas as Champions Burger kicks off bigger than ever

Mijas Councillors turned out in force this week to launch Spain’s official best-burger championship at the Las Lagunas fairground in Mijas. The Champions Burger runs from 20 August to 6 September and arrives bigger, bolder and more American than last year’s smash hit.

Seventeen top food trucks will battle it out for the public’s vote on the road to the national title. Local favourite Dak Burger returns as home team after winning hearts last summer. Malaga’s own Bsmash, Gottan and Burger Chao bring their adventurous takes, while Cordoba’s Nolito’s rolls out the legendary Diamante Azul that swept the board in 2025.

Game-day atmosphere takes over

Organisers have thrown the full NFL playbook at the event under the new “The Big Game” banner. Red, blue and white dominate the set, complete with access tunnels, interactive zones and lighting that feels straight out of a Super Bowl half-time show. Fans can wander the expanded site, sample premium grilled meats cooked live over open flames, and still leave room for the supporting acts.

More space this year goes to proper sides. Ybarra trucks dish up proper crispy chips while Cheeck’s keeps the fried chicken coming. Street-food lovers get a whole new corner devoted to individual cheesecakes under the Champions Cheesecake banner. Five of Spain’s sharpest pastry teams serve viral versions loaded with pistachio, Dubai cream, Nesquik rain, Osito Lulu biscuits, smoked or cured cheeses, and other unexpected twists.

Unusual ingredients that push the limits

Competitors are not playing it safe. Expect pretzel-style brioche buns and coloured artisan breads, glossy glazes, gratin finishes, mac-and-cheese croquettes, wood-smoked elements, savoury jams, crunchy toppings and aromatic cheeses that go far beyond the usual cheddar. Every detail, from the bun to the final flourish, counts towards the score when the public votes via QR code on their tickets.

José Morales, co-founder of the series, put it simply: the event has turned burger culture into a proper national championship since 2018, mixing serious cooking with pure entertainment. Last year’s tour hit 57 cities, drew more than eight million visitors and even crossed into Paris and Porto. Mijas is now part of the 2026 Big Game route that will keep rolling through Spain, France and Portugal.

Free entry means anyone can walk in, taste, vote and help decide which three burgers make the local podium. The overall “Best Burger in Spain” crown comes later once the full tour results are in. Parking suffered last year under the sheer weight of the popularity of the event. Ther council remind everyone that there should be plenty of parking spaces laid on this year up beside Maria Zambrano school and in the car park in Camino Campanales.

For full participant lists and opening times, check the official page at thechampionsburger.com/es/mijas.

Councillor Mario Bravo kept the American theme going right to the end of the launch. Echoing the famous NASCAR call, he told EWN: “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.” Let’s eat!