Falles of Valencia

Background

The Falles are Valencia's biggest festival and were inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016. The festival is linked to a spring custom of the city's carpenters and to the feast of their patron saint, Saint Joseph (19 March), although accounts of its origin differ. From 1 to 19 March, a deafening firecracker display (mascletà) shakes the Town Hall Square every early afternoon. On 15 March the fallas figures are completed in each neighbourhood (the plantà), and on 17 and 18 March falleros in traditional dress process to offer flowers to the Virgin, covering a giant statue of her in blossoms. There are fireworks every night from 15 to 18 March, the grandest being the Night of Fire (Nit del Foc) late on 18 March. On the burning night of 19 March (the cremà), the fallas figures across the city go up in flames. During the festival there is also an exhibition of ninots (falla figures), and you can visit the Fallas Museum.

Local customs

• The mascletà in the Town Hall Square
• a walk around the neighbourhood fallas
• the flower offering to the Virgin
• the Night of Fire fireworks
• the cremà
• the ninot exhibition and the Fallas Museum

Travel tips

• The festival is fixed every year from 15 to 19 March, with lead-up events from 1 March
• the detailed programme is subject to announcement by Valencia City Council. Most street events are free
• grandstand seats and similar arrangements are subject to official announcement. Much of the city centre is closed to traffic during the festival, so walking or public transport is best, and accommodation fills up early, so book well ahead.

2027 schedule

• In 2027 the Falles follow the usual 15–19 March pattern, with the cremà on 19 March
• the detailed programme is pending official announcement.