Welcome to El Bulli: New Netflix Series Blends 1980s Culinary History With 2025 Future Timeline
Netflix has confirmed a November 20, 2026, release date for “Welcome to El Bulli,” a six-episode limited series chronicling the rise of culinary pioneer Ferran Adrià. The series will be available to subscribers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Western Europe, and Latin America, following a distribution deal handled by New Regency.
The drama stars Miquel Fernández as Ferran Adrià and Mónica López as Glòria Canabach. Developed originally under the title “Gènesi” (Genesis) for the Catalan broadcaster 3Cat, the production bridges the gap between a historical biopic and speculative fiction. It utilizes a dual-timeline structure, intertwining the 1980s origins of molecular gastronomy at the famed restaurant with a near-future narrative set in 2025.
Culinary Authenticity and Production
To maintain the technical precision required for a story about elBulli, the production team recreated more than 70 original dishes from the restaurant’s history. These culinary sequences were filmed under the direct supervision of Adrià and a trio of legacy elBulli chefs: Marc Cuspinera, Alain Devahive, and Eduard Bosch. This technical oversight ensured that the “techno-emotional” cooking style that defined the restaurant is represented accurately on screen.
While the 1980s timeline tracks the actual development of the restaurant’s influential menu, the 2025 storyline serves as a fictional narrative device to explore the establishment’s long-term legacy. Mónica López’s character, Glòria Canabach, is a food critic who returns to Catalonia to reopen a family business, allowing the series to reflect on the impact of Adrià’s work through a contemporary lens.
Release Details and Future Prospects
The series held its premiere at the San Sebastian Film Festival on September 21, 2026, within the “Other Activities” section. Netflix plans to offer the series with both Spanish and English dubbed versions, though it remains a Catalan production at its core.
Although Netflix is currently marketing “Welcome to El Bulli” as a limited series, Ferran Adrià has already publicly advocated for further expansion. Following the premiere, Adrià stated that a second season is “essential” to explain the remaining aspects of the elBulli story and the evolution of the elBullifoundation. No official announcement regarding a renewal has been made by the streaming platform.
