The Hogueras and Barracas festivals in San Vicente del Raspeig officially commence this Friday, July 10th, with the inaugural Pregón, which this year will be delivered by foguerer artists Eliot García and Alejandro López. The mayor, Pachi Pascual, along with the Councilor for Festivities, Cristian Gil, the president of the Federation of Hogueras and Barracas, Mercedes Lillo, and the advisor to the Presidency of the Federation, Juan Antonio Navarro, have presented the 2026 program.
The mayor highlighted the commitment to more powerful mascletás, with a total of over 300 kilograms of gunpowder distributed across three days (July 17th, 18th, and 19th). The first mascletà will be by Turis (106 kg), the second by Coheters Dragons (120 kg) with a special show, and the third by Palancia (102 kg).
For the first time, the Hogueras of San Vicente will have international projection. Next August, a monument inspired by the festivals will be erected and burned in the Portuguese municipality of Campo Maior. This event, taking place from August 8th to 13th, will include a parade and a mascletà, with foguerers and barraquers traveling accompanied by the mayor and the Councilor for Festivities.
The program includes the inauguration of the Ninot Exhibition, the presentation of the Official Book, and the lighting of the decorations this Thursday. On Friday, after the parade, the Pregón will be held, moved forward to avoid coinciding with the Spanish National Football Team's match.
Activities will continue on Saturday with the twentieth anniversary of the L’Embolic barraca and the Ninot Parade. On Tuesday, July 14th, awards will be presented, and the official Hogueras will be erected ('plantà al tombe'), followed by a nighttime mascletà.
Starting Wednesday, work will begin on erecting the nine adult and children's hogueras. On Thursday, the jury will decide the awards, and the racós and barracas will open. Friday will feature the traditional parade of barracas and the announcement of awards, followed by the mascletà contest in Juan XIII park.
On Saturday afternoon, the offering to the Virgen del Carmen Coronada will take place, and on Sunday, the mascletà contests will conclude, followed by the burning of the various hogueras.
This year, a new barraca will be established, and four streets will be decorated, including a gesture of solidarity following a recent misogynistic murder. The Councilor for Festivities highlighted the improvement in pyrotechnics and the restoration of the 'ninots indultats' (pardoned figures), which are exhibited at the Town Hall.
Tourism routes dedicated to the festivals have been organized, departing from Plaza de España on July 17th, 18th, and 19th, with two daily sessions. The activity is free with prior reservation.
A special security and cleaning operation has been coordinated, including a waste segregation campaign. There will also be a fixed and mobile Violet Point, and drug tests will be distributed.
