Bucharest will host its first qualifying stage for the 2026 Paella World Championship this weekend on Kiseleff Boulevard, with twelve competitors vying for a spot in the Valencia Grand Final. The event, part of the Bucharest Street Food Festival, will feature live flamenco performances and authentic Valencian paella prepared by a Spanish chef, as part of a broader effort by organizers to promote Romania on the international gastronomic map and strengthen cultural ties between Romania and Spain.