- The fifth edition of “JATO. Meeting of Opportunities in Rural Areas” promoted by the Provincial Council of Cáceres will once again transform the Monumental City of Cáceres into a showcase of the talent, innovation and wealth of the province, from June 5 to 7
- Among the new features is a more inclusive perspective of the Conecta Empleo-TALENTO Forum with the participation of FEXAS and Plena Inclusión, the prominence of the Extremaduran language, and an application to follow the event in real time
The Mayoralgo Palace in Cáceres has reopened its doors for the presentation of the program for the fifth edition of “Jato. Meeting of Opportunities”, one of the initiatives of the Cáceres Provincial Council to showcase talent, culture, innovation and opportunities throughout the province of Cáceres and, in particular, its towns.
From June 5th to 7th, the city of Cáceres will host this well-established and prestigious event, which celebrates the immense value of the province’s rural municipalities as hubs of life, entrepreneurship, creativity, sustainability, and future potential. This was emphasized by the First Vice President for Territory, Equality, and Culture, Esther Gutiérrez, during her address: “Behind the letters of JATO are each of our towns and every rural corner of the province of Cáceres.” In this regard, she argued that the rural world “has ceased to be peripheral and has become a benchmark of modernity, innovation, and the future,” underscoring that these towns “represent not only tradition but also opportunities for the present and future.”
Gutiérrez also emphasized the importance of preserving our essence “to know where we come from and have a clear vision of where we want to go,” advocating for transforming “the resources and strengths of the region into real opportunities.” She also noted that JATO “has already become a benchmark and the best showcase for rural talent in Cáceres,” a space that allows us to highlight “the human, social, economic, business, and cultural heritage of our towns and villages.”
She also noted that this event was created with the aim of changing perceptions of rural areas, showcasing a modern, dynamic reality connected to the major challenges of the 21st century. “JATO puts a face to those who keep villages alive: entrepreneurs, young people, rural women, artisans, local producers, cultural associations, and social groups that drive the transformation of the region through close ties and commitment to their community,” she concluded.
“We, the villages, are not the ‘periphery’, we are the present and the future.”
The JATO 2026 program will feature activities spread across various emblematic spaces in the Old Town. The Plaza de las Comarcas will once again take place in the Plaza Mayor, the artisan market in the Plaza de las Veletas, GastroCáceres in the Plaza San Mateo, the BIOmarket in the Foro de los Balbos, urban art exhibitions, live music, participatory workshops, parades, and professional meetings.
One of the main events will be the 5th Conecta Empleo-TALENTO Forum, which will be held in various venues, including Plaza de San Jorge and the Palacio de Mayoralgo. This forum will bring together companies and startups—especially in the technology sector—students, organizations, and local stakeholders to discuss employment and business opportunities in rural areas.
Among the highlights are business experiences related to sustainability, technological innovation, biotechnology, and the transformation of traditional sectors, with projects such as Moraleja Upcycling, Racket Planner, Finca Casarejo, and Grupo Natac. In addition, the forum will include demonstrations of artificial intelligence, drones, virtual reality, digital manufacturing, and new technologies through the FAB Circular Network and El Círculo.
As the main novelty of this edition, the Forum reinforces its commitment to the inclusion of people with disabilities, incorporating the participation of entities such as Plena Inclusión and FEXAS, with the aim of guaranteeing an accessible and participatory space for all citizens and to champion “talent without barriers”.
Within this framework also lie the activities that will be developed around innovation and digital manufacturing, organized by the FAB Circular Network and El Círculo, and promoted by the Cáceres Provincial Council. During the three days of JATO, the Mayoralgo Palace will host demonstrations, workshops, and experiences related to technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, drones, sensor technology, and digital prototyping, showcasing how innovation can generate new opportunities for development and employment in rural areas.
Another hallmark of JATO, consolidated year after year, is the Artisan and Sustainable Fashion Show, a showcase for the creative talent of designers and promising young talents in the textile sector at the provincial and regional levels. This was precisely one of the highlights of the JATO 2026 presentation, where members of parliament wore garments designed and made by Emma Prieto, from Plasencia, and Águeda Valle, from Moraleja. This fashion show will take place on Sunday, June 7th, at 11:00 a.m. in Plaza de San Jorge.
Gastronomy will also play a leading role in the GastroCáceres space, with the display of 14 quality products (PDO and PGI) and a space for regional chefs, students from hospitality schools and local producers to offer their proposals and recipes based on local products through showcookings, workshops and tastings.
The program will be rounded out with musical performances by Extremaduran groups such as Acetre, Los Niños de los Ojos Rojos, Sínkope, and Diván Du Don; live urban art installations; and workshops on Extremaduran language and culture promoted by OSCEC, an element that takes on special importance this year because, in the words of the First Vice President, “we are going to promote our language and those terms that are almost obsolete because, mistakenly, we have been given the complex of thinking that these words are old-fashioned or that using them makes us speak worse. I think that idea must be dispelled, and we must also take pride in our intangible heritage, which is our language.”
Finally, Esther Gutiérrez called for everyone to “live and spread JATO” and highlighted “the enormous value and opportunities that our villages offer.” “Villages are not the periphery; we are the present and the future,” she concluded.
A connected experience
New this year, JATO 2026 will feature a mobile application that will allow attendees to check the entire program, schedules, locations and news of the event in real time, thus facilitating a more dynamic and accessible experience.
