Santa Pola Patronal and Moors and Christians Festival 2026 programme

Santa Pola honours Virgen de Loreto from 31 August to 8 September 2026. The official programme spans the Moors and Christians sequence, festival groups, music, gunpowder events and the patron's religious observances.

Please note: the schedule may be changed at short notice. Check the official source before travelling and follow safety directions at all gunpowder events.

Monday 31 August

  • 20:30, Plaza de la Glorieta: ceremonial festival lighting switched on.
  • 22:30, Plaza de la Glorieta: official opening address by Pepe Andreu Garzón.
  • After the address: opening of the barracas.

Tuesday 1 September

  • 09:00: Despertà.
  • 10:00, Levante beach opposite the Town Hall: Moorish Landing with arquebus fire.
  • 11:30, Plaza de la Comunidad Valenciana: the Association anthem is performed.
  • 12:00: musical parade by the Asociación Festero Cultural de Moros y Cristianos with Banda Unió Musical de Santa Pola, Associació Musical Mare de Déu de Loreto and Colla El Freu, leaving Plaza de la Comunidad Valenciana.
  • 13:30, Avenida de los Baños: Mascletà.
  • 19:00: festival officers' entrance from Calle Elche at Ramón y Cajal to the Castle; Moorish Embassy before the fortress; Sostracà from Calle Muelle to the Castle; surrender and capture of the Castle; Moorish Entrance from the port along Calle Muelle and Christian Withdrawal from the Castle to the port.
  • 21:30, Auditorio El Palmeral: music and dancing.
  • 22:30: festivities at kábilas, cuartelillos and barracas.

Wednesday 2 September

  • 09:00: Despertà.
  • 12:00: musical parade by the Asociación Festero Cultural de Moros y Cristianos with Banda Unió Musical de Santa Pola and Colla El Freu, leaving the Glorieta.
  • 15:00: Cohetà.
  • 18:30: Christian Embassy before the fortress; Christian Reconquest with staged arquebus fighting from Calle Muelle to the Castle, surrender and handover of the keys; Christian Entrance from the port along Calle Muelle and Moorish Withdrawal from the Castle to the port.
  • 21:30, Auditorio El Palmeral: music and dancing.
  • 22:30: festivities at kábilas, cuartelillos and barracas.

Thursday 3 September

  • 09:00: Despertà.
  • 15:00: Cohetà.
  • 20:00: bands enter from Calle Muelle to El Palmeral.
  • 20:30: Moors and Christians Entrance from El Palmeral along Calle Elche, Glorieta, Calle Muelle and Avenida Pérez Ojeda, ending at the corner of Calle San Antonio.
  • 22:30, Auditorio El Palmeral: music and dancing.
  • 23:00: festivities at kábilas, cuartelillos and barracas.

Friday 4 September

  • 09:00: Despertà.
  • 10:00: musical parade and visit to the festival groups' decorated streets with Associació Musical Mare de Déu de Loreto, leaving the Glorieta.
  • 15:00: Cohetà.
  • 21:30, Auditorio El Palmeral: music and dancing.
  • 22:00, Calle Elche: Sopar del Cabasset.
  • 22:30: festivities at kábilas, cuartelillos and barracas.

Saturday 5 September

  • 09:00: Despertà.
  • 10:00, Baluarte del Duque: decorated-street competition prizes.
  • 11:00, Glorieta: breakfast party with children's games.
  • 11:30, Club Náutico Santa Pola: Virgen de Loreto cruising-yacht regatta.
  • 15:00: Cohetà.
  • 18:00: bicycle circuit arranged by the road-safety park.
  • 20:00, Glorieta: children's Correbous.
  • 21:30, Auditorio El Palmeral: music and dancing.
  • 23:00: Correfocs along Calle Muelle, Glorieta and nearby streets.
  • 23:00: festivities at kábilas, cuartelillos and barracas.

Sunday 6 September

  • 09:00: Despertà.
  • 15:00: Cohetà.
  • 20:30: Multicolour Parade by the festival groups from El Palmeral along Calle Elche, Glorieta, Calle Muelle and Avenida Pérez Ojeda, ending at the corner of Calle San Antonio.
  • 22:30, Auditorio El Palmeral: music and dancing.
  • 22:30: festivities at kábilas, cuartelillos and barracas.
  • 01:00, Levante beach breakwater: firework display.

Monday 7 September

  • 09:00: Despertà.
  • 15:00: Cohetà.
  • 19:00, Plaza del Mercado de Abastos: festival participants gather for the floral offering.
  • 19:30: the offering sets out along Calle Mayor, Ángel, Elche and Castillo.
  • 20:00, Castle chapel: floral offering to Virgen de Loreto.
  • 21:30, Auditorio El Palmeral: music and dancing.
  • 22:30, Castle-Fortress courtyard: serenade to Virgen de Loreto by Banda Unió Musical de Santa Pola and Coral Levantina Antonio Espinosa.
  • 01:00, Avenida de los Baños: night-time Mascletà.

Tuesday 8 September

  • 08:45: Despertà.
  • 09:00, Castle-Fortress courtyard: solemn Mass honouring Virgen de Loreto, in front of the chapel.
  • 10:30, Castle precinct: performance of the original Virgen de Loreto motet.
  • 13:30, Avenida de los Baños: powerful Mascletà.
  • 20:00: solemn procession of the patron from her chapel along Castillo, Cruz, Colón, Mercado, Mayor, Ángel and Elche, returning to the Castle.
  • 01:00, Levante beach breakwater: grand firework display and a powerful final shell.

Related information and sources

Read the permanent guide to Santa Pola's Our Lady of Loreto Patronal Festival.