Karlos Arguiñano begins to set a horizon for his retirement from television after almost four decades in front of the cameras. The Basque chef acknowledges that the moment will come "sooner rather than later" and places 80 years as a possible age to step aside, although he has not set a definitive date and conditions any decision on his health status.
"As long as I have health, count on me", Arguiñano explained when talking about his future. His forecast is to continue for a few more years: "I know that sooner rather than later I will have to start stepping back. Maybe when I turn 80..., although if I am like now, maybe I will go for 81".
The chef will turn 78 years old in September 2026, so that calendar would place a possible farewell around 2028. However, this is not a formal announcement of retirement nor is there currently a date communicated by Antena 3.
Joseba Arguiñano already occupies Fridays
The retirement is being considered while the network has started to introduce a gradual replacement within the program itself. Since June 5, Joseba Arguiñano has been in charge of presenting "Cocina abierta" every Friday, while Karlos continues to lead the show from Monday to Thursday.
Atresmedia presented the move as an expansion of Joseba's role after his growing presence alongside his father. Fridays also feature well-known guests who cook alongside Arguiñano's son.
The premiere also performed well in terms of audience. His first episode as weekly host achieved a 14.7% audience share and nearly 700,000 viewers on average. A month later, on July 3, the program reached a peak of 16.3% with Joseba.
The incorporation allows Antena 3 to test the continuity of the format with another presenter without yet removing its main face.
"Almost all the time has passed"
Arguiñano has spoken in recent months with increasing naturalness about the passage of time. In an interview on "Dos y Medio", from Canal Sur, he explained that, once past 70 years, he begins to contemplate the future differently and summarized that feeling with a phrase: "Almost all the time has passed". Canal Sur aired the conversation with the chef in July.
His approach is not to leave immediately. The age of 80 works, according to his own words, as a reference and not as a fixed date. If he maintains his current physical condition, he even considers extending his activity for another year.
Almost four decades cooking on television
The eventual farewell would put an end to one of the longest trajectories in Spanish television. Arguiñano began his television career in the late eighties and later went through different networks until consolidating his daily program on Antena 3.
"Cocina abierta de Karlos Arguiñano" celebrated in the 2025-2026 season 15 consecutive years on Antena 3. The network highlighted then that the previous season had been the most watched in the history of the show, with an 18.2% share and a daily average of 858,000 viewers.
The program has incorporated other family members over the years. Eva Arguiñano participates with her pastry recipes and Joseba has gradually increased his presence until taking on a full weekly broadcast.
The handover is prepared without a date for goodbye
The evolution of the format allows for a transition to be drawn, although neither Arguiñano nor Atresmedia have announced that Joseba will definitively replace his father.
For now, Karlos maintains four weekly programs and Joseba one. The network continues to promote both spaces and the chef's son maintains competitive results during his Friday broadcasts.
Arguiñano also does not seem willing to turn his retirement into a rigid date. His own formula leaves room: reach 80 and decide then. As long as health allows, he will continue cooking in front of the cameras.