La Tomatina, date in 2026
David Chelly, 15 January 2026
Date and how it works
Tomatoes raining down as far as the eye can see — that's the atmosphere of La Tomatina in the streets of Buñol, near Valencia. The festival is held every last Wednesday of August. In 2026, La Tomatina takes place on 26 August. The battle itself lasts an hour, in the heart of the town, in a cordoned-off, capacity-limited area.
The Tomatina festival
Thousands of participants come from every corner of the world for this event, whose highlight is the tomato fight. It forms part of the local late-August festivities linked to the patronal celebrations of Buñol, and the town has gradually structured the event to manage the crowds. La Tomatina was awarded the title of Fiesta of International Tourist Interest in 2002, which boosted its visibility and appeal. Since 2013, access has been controlled through a ticketing system to limit crowd numbers and improve safety, which means it's necessary to plan ahead to take part.
Rules and how it unfolds
The day begins with the palo jabón, a traditional challenge involving a greased pole topped with a ham, then the starting signal for the battle is given at noon. The trucks move slowly forward and unload the tomatoes into the throwing area. The end is marked by a second signal, around 1pm, and throwing must stop immediately. The rules issued by the organisers are simple and strict: no bottles or hard objects, no tearing clothes, tomatoes must be squashed before being thrown, keep a safe distance from the trucks, and follow safety instructions without argument. For comfort, protective goggles and closed shoes are a good idea, and old clothes save you regrets, as the crowd and the ground become extremely slippery.
History of La Tomatina
This tradition, with its hazy origins, has existed since 1945. According to the most widely accepted version, it all started with a scuffle during a parade of giant figures in the town. In the chaos, tomatoes grabbed from market stalls were said to have been used as projectiles. The following year, the idea was reportedly repeated deliberately, and the practice then grew until it became a popular annual event. The authorities tried to ban the festival in the early 1950s, which sparked a lasting protest. In 1957, a symbolic mock funeral procession featuring a coffin containing a tomato left a mark on people's minds and helped bring about the official return of La Tomatina. Today, the event has become a well-oiled affair, shorter and more tightly organised, yet true to its original spirit — a collective catharsis, noisy, joyful and entirely red.