This weekend, from September 18 to 20, Catarroja experiences a peak in the Sant Miquel 2026 Major Festivals. Music, festive culture, and traditions will fill the streets with a program highlighted by the inauguration of the Mundial 82 Fairground this Friday with the Orquestra Tokyo Band, and the celebration on Saturday of the XXXII Moors and Christians Festival.
The first major night at the new venue, prepared to host high-attendance events with improved organization, comfort, services, and security, will begin this Friday, September 18, at 11:00 PM with the performance by the Orquestra Tokyo Band. The Mundial 82 will feature double access, entry control, four surveillance cameras, enhanced lighting, and drone surveillance. The City Council has increased municipal spending on security, prevention, and self-protection by 23.9% compared to 2025, with a deployment including Local Police, Civil Protection, and private security.
A Violet Point for support in case of aggression or discomfort, and sentinel bracelets as a preventive tool to detect possible alterations or substances in drinks are also being introduced. The venue includes a covered stage, a food truck area, a bar service managed by local associations, and a nursing area for families.
The mayor of Catarroja, Lorena Silvent, emphasized the goal «to ensure that the major festival concerts have a well-prepared space from start to finish», aiming to organize the program effectively, enhance prevention, and offer more services for attendees' peace of mind.
On Saturday, the celebration of the XXXII Moors and Christians Festival will concentrate much of the program around the Plaça del Mercat, reinstating the Castell Fester as a central element. This castle, featured in symbolic acts, is part of the “L’espiga es torna daurada” project, which seeks to reconnect the patron saint festivals with the rice harvest and blessing.
The Councilor for Festivals, Nuria Marín, stated that «recovering the castle also means recovering a part of our festival's image and ritual». Saturday's events will begin at 8:00 PM with the Nit de l’Entrada at the Mercat Municipal, followed at 10:00 PM by the band parade, which will include the premiere of the pasodoble “Catarrogins”. The Grand Entry of Moors and Christians will commence at 10:30 PM.
The 2026 captaincies are held by the Filà Ballesters de Sant Jordi (Christian side) and the Filà Karihambra (Moorish side). The program will continue on Sunday, September 20, with sports, family, musical, and traditional activities, consolidating the central days of the Major Festivals.
Lorena Silvent invited «both the residents of Catarroja and visitors from the entire region to come out and enjoy a weekend that combines major spectacles with some of the traditions that best explain who we are as a people».
