On Thursday, July 2, Tapas launched a new edition of The Ibiza Issue, SpainMedia’s summer special dedicated to the island’s hedonism, gastronomy, and atmosphere of freedom. The launch took place at the recently renovated Finca Gandía Blasco – already one of the island’s most unique venues – where the publishing world once again came together with the worlds of creativity, design, and culture to officially kick off the summer at a party attended by more than 300 people.
The event brought together creatives from a wide range of fields, artists, representatives from the gastronomy and cultural sectors, political figures, and guests connected to the world of magazines, in an evening event designed to unveil the cover of the new issue and celebrate a publication that, year after year, has established itself as one of Ibiza’s premier summer events.
The party was sponsored by Renault, Converse, Belvedere, and Cervezas San Miguel, who provided the backdrop for a meticulously planned event where music, cocktails, cuisine, and design once again took center stage. Actor Taz Skylar, star of the Netflix series ‘One Piece’, is the cover boy for The Ibiza Issue 2026. “I had a great time and I’d like to thank the entire team for believing in me. I’m proud of how it turned out and very happy to be in Ibiza for the first time.”
Throughout the evening, attendees enjoyed an atmosphere imbued with the free spirit that characterizes both the magazine and Ibiza itself. Conversations between creators and professionals from the worlds of publishing, gastronomy, and culture mingled with music and a culinary offering designed to turn the magazine’s launch into an experience that transcends the printed page. And, of course, there was a giant screen to follow the progress of the Spanish national team in its World Cup match against Austria. La Roja didn’t want to spoil the festive atmosphere and joined in the celebrations by qualifying for the round of 16.
Pedro Matutes, president of the Academy of Gastronomy of Ibiza and Formentera (AGIF), highlighted Tapas’ commitment to Ibiza, which has been on the cover for six years. “Thank you, Tapas, for growing in Ibiza and for taking the island’s flavors much further.” In this regard, Matutes emphasized the power of gastronomy as “one of the driving forces of quality tourism,“ since “those who visit us are looking for experiences, many of which are gastronomic.”
Andrés Rodríguez, president and founder of the SpainMedia publishing group, spoke about Ibiza’s connection with the world of cultural publications. “There has always been a strong magazine culture on this island,” he noted, emphasizing that Ibiza “is a global brand, a melting pot, a powerful amplifier of a thousand stories, as well as an island that has been invaded on numerous occasions throughout history.” In this regard, he argued that the island “must defend itself and manage its own sustainability” in the face of growing tourism. Finally, he paid tribute to the migrants who arrive each year in small boats in the Pitiüses archipelago. “We live in a paradise, but it’s a paradise in quotation marks.”
For her part, María Fajarnés, Councillor for Economic Development of the Ibiza Island Council, expressed her gratitude for the tapas proposal, highlighting the fact that “it’s incredible that a leading publication like yours dedicates its cover to promoting our culture.” She added, “We have to talk about the flavors of Ibiza, because our cuisine reflects our history and our roots.”
A summer tradition
With this new issue, The Ibiza Issue reaffirms a tradition that began years ago and has made each issue a tribute to the island’s contemporary identity. In 2025, the cover star was Nathy Peluso, whose cover was unveiled at a celebration at Los Enamorados in Portinatx. A year earlier, multidisciplinary designer and artist Marcelo Burlon was the star of an issue that was presented at his brutalist-style villa. Both events solidified the experiential nature of a publication that has successfully turned each launch into a cultural event.
The 2026 edition maintains this same philosophy, showcasing Ibiza as the perfect setting to bring together talent, creativity, and gastronomy for an evening designed to celebrate the start of summer through the lens of tapas. The launch once again proved that *The Ibiza Issue* is much more than just a special edition of the magazine. It is a celebration of the Mediterranean lifestyle and Ibiza’s ability to bring together, each summer, some of the most influential voices and projects in contemporary creativity at an event that has become a must-attend date on the island’s calendar.
