La Tomatina
August 26
About La Tomatina
La Tomatina is the world’s largest tomato fight, a one-hour street battle held every year in the small town of Buñol near Valencia, Spain. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday, 26 August, when tens of thousands of people pelt one another with over a hundred tonnes of overripe tomatoes until the streets run red. Organised by Buñol town council, it is one of Spain’s most famous and most chaotic public celebrations.
The Story Behind La Tomatina
The origins of La Tomatina are rooted in a single unplanned scuffle. According to the most widely accepted account, the festival began in August 1945 during the parade of the Gigantes y Cabezudos, the towering “giants and big-heads” papier-mache figures that traditionally march through Spanish town festivals. As young people jostled to take part in the procession in Buñol’s main square, one of them was knocked over and, in a fit of temper, began lashing out. A market stall stacked with vegetables stood nearby, and tomatoes were soon flying. The local police broke up the brawl, but the idea had taken hold.
The following year, the young people of the town returned to the same spot on the last Wednesday of August, this time bringing their own tomatoes from home to recreate the fight. What started as mischief quickly became an annual ritual. The authorities of the era were not amused, and through the late 1940s and 1950s the event was banned more than once. Participants were arrested, and at one point the festival was suppressed entirely under Spain’s then-restrictive public order rules. Each ban only seemed to strengthen the town’s determination to keep the tradition alive.
Local pressure eventually won out. La Tomatina was officially permitted in 1957 after residents staged a mock “tomato funeral”, parading a coffin containing a giant tomato through the streets accompanied by a band playing funeral marches. The protest captured the affection the town had developed for its strange new custom, and the council relented. From that point on the festival was formally recognised and supported by Buñol town council, which has organised it ever since.
For decades La Tomatina remained a largely local affair, but its fame spread steadily through travel writing, photography and, later, television. By the 2000s it had become a fixture on the international festival circuit, drawing visitors from across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australia. The crowds grew so large that in 2013 the council introduced official ticketing, capping attendance at around 20,000 people to keep the narrow streets safe. Today it stands as one of the most recognised town festivals in the world.
When and Where is La Tomatina Celebrated?
La Tomatina takes place on the last Wednesday of August each year. In 2026 that falls on Wednesday, 26 August. The event is held in the centre of Buñol, a town of around 9,000 residents roughly 38 kilometres west of Valencia in eastern Spain. The fight itself is concentrated in and around the Plaza del Pueblo and the surrounding streets, which are lined with buildings whose residents traditionally cover their windows and walls with plastic sheeting to protect them from the barrage.
The tomato fight lasts only about one hour. A water cannon or rocket signals the start at around 11am, and a second signal brings the battle to a close, after which fire trucks and residents with hoses wash down the streets and participants alike. Because the date shifts each year, the table below shows the next five occurrences.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday, 26 August |
| 2027 | Wednesday, 25 August |
| 2028 | Wednesday, 30 August |
| 2029 | Wednesday, 29 August |
| 2030 | Wednesday, 28 August |
Traditions and Customs
La Tomatina has built up its own set of rituals over the decades, several of which are now firmly established parts of the day:
- The palo jabón – Before the tomatoes fly, a greased pole with a ham fixed to the top is erected in the square. Tradition holds that the fight does not begin in earnest until someone manages to climb the slippery pole and dislodge the ham, though in practice the signal cannon often starts proceedings regardless.
- Crushing the tomatoes – Participants are expected to squash each tomato in their hand before throwing it. The rule exists for safety, ensuring no one is hurt by a firm, unripe fruit travelling at speed.
- Protecting the town – Residents and shopkeepers along the route cover their windows, doors and walls with large plastic sheets, turning the streets into a sealed arena and shielding the historic buildings from the acidic pulp.
- The lorries of tomatoes – Several large trucks loaded with overripe tomatoes, typically grown in Extremadura where they are cheaper, trundle into the square and tip their cargo onto the crowd to supply the ammunition.
- The great clean-up – When the second signal sounds, the fighting stops at once. Fire engines hose down the streets, and the acidity of the tomato juice leaves the cobblestones unusually clean, a detail locals note with pride.
Ways to Experience La Tomatina
Whether you plan to travel to Buñol or simply want to join in the spirit of the day from afar, there are plenty of ways to take part:
- Buy an official ticket – Since 2013 entry has been capped and ticketed. Secure a place through the official channels well in advance, as the 20,000 slots sell out quickly.
- Dress for the chaos – Seasoned participants wear old clothes they can throw away, closed shoes with a good grip, and goggles to protect their eyes from the stinging juice. Leave anything valuable behind.
- Arrive early – The streets fill long before the first signal. Getting into position in good time lets you soak up the build-up, including the music, the foam and the climbing of the greased pole.
- Explore Buñol and Valencia – Make a trip of it. The medieval Buñol castle and the nearby city of Valencia, with its beaches and futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, are well worth the visit alongside the festival.
- Host your own tomato party – If Spain is out of reach, gather friends for a tomato-themed gathering at home, from gazpacho and bruschetta to a tongue-in-cheek garden tomato toss.
- Share the experience online – Photographs and videos of the red-stained crowds are among the most striking images in festival travel. Posting them helps spread awareness of one of Spain’s most distinctive traditions.
Facts and Figures
- More than 100 tonnes of overripe tomatoes are thrown during the hour-long fight each year, with some estimates ranging higher still.
- Around 20,000 people take part, a figure fixed by the official ticket cap introduced in 2013.
- The festival traces its origins to August 1945 and was officially recognised in 1957 after a mock “tomato funeral” protest.
- Buñol itself has a population of only around 9,000, meaning participants vastly outnumber residents on the day.
- The whole tomato fight lasts roughly one hour, bookended by water-cannon signals to start and finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is La Tomatina?
La Tomatina is an annual festival in Buñol, Spain, in which thousands of people throw overripe tomatoes at one another for about an hour. Widely described as the world’s biggest food fight, it is organised by the town council and is held in the streets around the Plaza del Pueblo.
When is La Tomatina in 2026?
La Tomatina 2026 takes place on Wednesday, 26 August. The festival is always held on the last Wednesday of August, so the exact date shifts slightly from year to year.
Do you need a ticket for La Tomatina?
Yes. Since 2013, entry to the tomato fight has been limited to around 20,000 people and requires an official ticket. The cap was introduced to keep the small town’s narrow streets safe as the festival’s international fame grew.
Spread the Word
Share La Tomatina with your friends, family and followers using #LaTomatina and #LaTomatina2026. Whether you mark the occasion by travelling to Buñol or simply spreading the word about Spain’s most colourful festival, every bit of awareness helps keep this remarkable tradition alive.
Related Awareness Days
- National Gazpacho Day – A celebration of the chilled Spanish tomato soup, another beloved use for the festival’s signature fruit.
- World Tourism Day – Marks the global importance of travel and cultural events like La Tomatina to local economies.
- National Tomato Day – A day devoted to the humble tomato in all its culinary forms.
Links
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