Štip hosts Pastrmalijada 2026 gastronomic festival

The annual gastronomic festival ‘Pastrmalijada 2026’ has commenced in Štip, North Macedonia. The event opened with the traditional cutting of a giant 2.10-meter-long pastrmalija. To prepare this specialty, baker Nikolče Malinov and his team used 17 kilograms of fresh pork, 20 kilograms of flour, and four liters of oil.

Scheduled for September 18 and 19, the festival takes place at two locations: the ‘Vančo Prke’ promenade and the City Stadium. Despite rising raw material and operational costs, organizers have set the price of the specialty at 250 denars to ensure accessibility for the large number of visitors expected.

In addition to the culinary offerings, the festival features a cultural and musical program including performances by Jovan Jovanov, Elmir Mekić, and Balkan music star Željko Joksimović. Štip Mayor Ivan Jordanov noted that the event is expected to boost the local economy and has coordinated with authorities to manage the influx of domestic and international tourists.