Spanish municipalities hold coronation ceremonies for 2026 festival queens

Several Spanish municipalities have held ceremonies to proclaim their festival representatives for the 2026 season, marking the start of local patron saint celebrations.

In Sant Joan d'Alacant, the 'El Jardí de la Festa' coronation ceremony took place in Plaça Josep Carreras. Ana Burillo Navarro and Victoria Bravo López were named the Senior and Junior Queens for 2026, respectively. The event, attended by over 1,600 people, included tributes to the outgoing 2025 queens and a memorial for the previous year's florist and town crier. The main festivals are scheduled for September 12th to 16th.

In Alcalà de Xivert, fifteen festival queens were proclaimed during a ceremony in the church square to honor Sant Joan Baptista and the Sagrat Cor de Jesús. The event featured cultural performances themed around water, fire, and earth. Mayor Francisco Juan emphasized the importance of these festivities as a way to preserve local heritage and foster community unity. The celebrations in the town are set to continue through August 31st.