Tradition, devotion and activities for all audiences form the core of the Virgen del Carmen festival programme in Torrevieja. The celebrations will culminate on Thursday, 16th July, with the land and maritime procession of the patron saint.
The Department of Festivals of Torrevieja Town Hall, in collaboration with the Fishermen’s Guild, has organised the programme for the 2026 Virgen del Carmen Fiestas. Running until 16th July, the wide-ranging calendar of activities is aimed at all audiences and will once again pay tribute to the patron saint of the city’s sailors and fishermen.
The celebrations combine tradition, popular culture, community life and religious devotion, keeping alive a festival deeply rooted in the maritime history and identity of Torrevieja. Residents and visitors can enjoy events for the whole family before concluding with the solemn maritime procession on 16th July, which is one of the most anticipated moments on the local festive calendar.
The programme started last Saturday, 4th July, with a children’s entertainment show at the Fish Market. This was followed by a charity lunch for children from the ALPE and APANEE centres, an initiative that combines festive cheer with social commitment.
On Saturday, 11th July, at 20:00, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will host a mass in memory of deceased fishermen, performed by the José Hódar Choral Group.
Following the religious ceremony, the traditional floral offering will take place. Accompanied by the Torrevejense Musical Union, the route will run from Zoa Street to the Paseo Juan Aparicio. The event will conclude at the Monument to the Man of the Sea with a performance of the moving Salve Marinera, one of the most significant moments of these celebrations.
On Wednesday, 15th July, the Fish Market will once again host the traditional Paella Contest, which will be enlivened by the Los Solfamidas brass band and will end with the presentation of prizes for the best dishes.
The feast day of the Virgen del Carmen, on Thursday 16th July, will bring together the central events of the programme. The day will start at 08:00 with a Musical Diana that will parade through the streets of the city, waking up residents with a festive atmosphere. At approximately 11:30, the port will host a new edition of the traditional Maritime Cucaña, one of the most popular and participatory activities of these celebrations.
Later in the afternoon, at 19:00, the solemn mass will be celebrated at the Archpriest Church of the Immaculate Conception, also sung by the José Hódar Choral Group. Next, the procession of the Virgen del Carmen will begin through the main streets of the town centre to the port, where the image will be boarded onto a boat for its traditional route across the sea, creating one of the most emotional moments for the city. Afterwards, the image will return to the temple after completing the land route, finishing the day with a fireworks display.
Each year, the Virgen del Carmen Fiestas represent one of the most iconic celebrations in Torrevieja, highlighting the close historical connection between the city and the sea, as well as those who have made fishing a way of life, whilst offering an open programme for the entire community to enjoy days of togetherness, tradition and popular fervor.
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