Whats on in Alicante this week sees the city edging ever closer to its biggest celebration of the year. The temperatures are creeping upwards, the terraces are fuller, and there is a growing sense that Alicante is about to swap its usual relaxed rhythm for the organised chaos of Hogueras.
The official festivities begin this week with the Pregón (the official opening speech of the Hogueras) and the Cabalgata del Ninot, two events that mark the start of a month-long celebration that transforms the city. While visitors often compare Hogueras to Valencia’s Fallas, Alicante’s festival has its own distinct character, shaped by the sea, the neighbourhood commissions and a healthy obsession with gunpowder.
Many people are surprised to learn that Hogueras is not simply a local fiesta. The Bonfires of Saint John (Hogueras de San Juan) were officially declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest in 1983, recognising their cultural importance and attracting visitors from across Spain and beyond.
If you’re new to Alicante or would like to understand the traditions behind the festival, have a look at our guide:
Alongside the first major Hogueras events, this week also brings the inspiring Mar Solidaria water sports event, exhibitions, live music, language exchanges and plenty of opportunities to enjoy Alicante before the city becomes completely consumed by giant papier-mâché sculptures and enough fireworks to keep every local dog awake until July.
Whats on in Alicante This Week….Hogueras officially begin!!!!
Pregón de Hogueras
Friday 5 June – 21:00
Plaza del Ayuntamiento
The official opening proclamation of the 2026 Hogueras celebrations takes place this evening. Alicante musician Adrián Gomis ‘Funzo’ will deliver the Pregón from the Town Hall balcony after a parade that begins at Plaza de España (near the plaza de toros) at 19:30.
This is the moment when Alicante collectively declares, “Ja estem en Fogueres!” – “We’re in Hogueras!”
Free
Fiesta del Pregón
Friday 5 June – 23:00 onwards
Ocean Race Area (Puerto)
Once the formalities are over, the celebrations move to the waterfront. Expect music, crowds and a lively atmosphere as Alicante officially welcomes the start of Hogueras season.
Free
Cabalgata del Ninot
Saturday 6 June – 19:00
One of the most entertaining events in the run-up to Hogueras. The commissions parade through the city wearing elaborate costumes and presenting satirical scenes that poke fun at politics, celebrities and current affairs.
Route: Alfonso X El Sabio → Rambla → Altamira → Plaza del Ayuntamiento
Free
Mar Solidaria
VIII Mar Solidaria
Saturday 6 June – 10:00 to 14:00
Club Náutico Costa Blanca (Albufereta)
One of Alicante’s most uplifting events returns. More than 300 people with disabilities will take part in adapted water sports including sailing, paddle boarding, kayaking, diving and swimming.
The event is organised entirely by volunteers and local organisations who believe the sea should be accessible to everyone, regardless of physical or intellectual ability.
Even if you’re not participating, it’s worth heading along to support the participants and enjoy the atmosphere. It is a genuinely heart-warming event and one of the most inspiring mornings on Alicante’s calendar.
Free to watch
Website: https://www.marsolidaria.org/#evento
Mascletà – Pólvora Tot L’Any
Sunday 7 June – 14:00 (Tip: arrive 30 mins before to soak up the atmosphere, have a beer and a tapa)
Avenida UNICEF (Virgen del Remedio, near Parque Lo Morant)
The next mascletà in the pre-Hogueras programme takes place near Parc de lo Morant (Get off the tram at Maestro Alonso and follow the crowds) . If you’re unfamiliar with a mascletà, imagine standing inside a drum while somebody repeatedly hits it with a sledgehammer. Then make it louder.
Free
Exhibitions and Museums
Exposición del Ninot
Daily until 14 June
La Lonja del Pescado (Puerto)
The annual Ninot Exhibition remains one of the best-value attractions in Alicante. This is where the figures from this year’s Hogueras monuments are displayed before they head out onto the streets later this month.
Visitors can vote for their favourite Ninot, helping decide which one will be spared from the flames during the Cremà.
If you’ve never been before, simply walk to the far end of the marina towards La Lonja del Pescado. You’ll pass the market stalls and artisan kiosks that line the waterfront, and the exhibition hall is just beyond them on the port side.
MACA (Old Town)
One of Spain’s finest collections of contemporary art, housed in a beautifully restored historic building beside the Basilica of Santa María.
Free entry
MARQ Museum
A consistently excellent archaeological museum covering thousands of years of Alicante’s history.
Museo del Agua (Old Town)
Discover how water shaped Alicante’s development from medieval times to the modern city.
Free entry
Regular Weekly Events
Language Exchange
Monday
El Gato Cool (Centro, Calle Santos Médicos 4)
Meet locals, expats and travellers while practising languages in a relaxed atmosphere.
Free
Cardio Walk to Santa Bárbara Castle
Tuesday – 18:30
Meet at Plaza del Carmen (Old Town)
A sociable walk through the Old Town and up to the castle. The views are excellent and somehow the climb always feels easier when there are twenty other people puffing alongside you.
Free
Pub Games Night
Wednesday – 19:30
Jendrix
Board games, quizzes and general competitive silliness.
Free
Open Mic Night
Thursday – From 19:00
El Gato Cool (Centro, Calle Santos Médicos 4)
Musicians, poets, comedians and performers are all welcome. Things usually start around 19:00, although the audience and atmosphere tend to build from around 20:00 onwards.
Free
Looking for Something Different?
Don’t forget Alicante’s beaches, Santa Bárbara Castle, the Explanada, Mercado Central and the city’s growing number of rooftop bars. With summer now firmly on the horizon, simply wandering around the centre and watching the Hogueras monuments gradually appear can be an activity in itself.
Alicante Self-Guided Walking Tour
If you’d like to explore the city’s history at your own pace, our self-guided walking tour takes you from the Old Town to the waterfront, uncovering stories that many visitors miss.
https://voicemap.me/tour/alicante/spain-s-city-of-light-alicante-s-history-and-highlights
