Ethanol steam reforming was studied over Ni/MgAl 2 O 4 -CeO 2 catalysts. The catalysts were prepared using different impregnation media (ethanol or water) and Ni precursors (nitrate or acetate). The use of an alcoholic solution did not affect the specific surface area, but promoted the NiO formation reducible at lower temperature affecting the Ni-support interactions and the Ce 3+ /Ce 4+ initial ratios. All catalysts were highly active in the reforming reaction of ethanol with a high initial conversion of ethanol under more severe conditions than those commonly used in literature. The best catalytic behavior was found over the catalyst prepared from an ethanolic solution of Ni(NO 3 ) 2 . This sample showed a high Ce 3+ /Ce 4+ ratio, an adequate interaction Ni-support and an average Ni diameter around 28 nm. This catalyst was stable under the reforming conditions used in this work: initial ethanol concentration: 9.4%, reaction temperature: 650 °C, W/F = 49 g min mol −1 C 2 H 5 OH and reaction time: 40 h. The ethanol conversion was almost complete with H 2 selectivity around 78%.