Tradition, devotion and activities for all ages at the Virgen del Carmen festivities 2026

The Department of Festivals of the Torrevieja City Council, in collaboration with the Fishermen's Guild, has organized the program for the Virgen del Carmen Festival 2026, which will be celebrated until July 16 with a wide range of activities aimed at all audiences and which will once again pay tribute to the patron saint of the city's sailors and fishermen.

The celebrations combine tradition, popular culture, community, and religious devotion, keeping alive festivities deeply rooted in the history and maritime identity of Torrevieja, in which residents and visitors can enjoy events for the whole family before culminating in the solemn maritime procession on July 16, one of the most anticipated moments of the local festive calendar.

The program began last Saturday, July 4, with a children's entertainment show at the Fish Market and, later, a charity lunch was held for the children of the ALPE and APANEE centers, in an initiative that combines the festive character with social commitment.

On Saturday, July 11, at 8:00 p.m., the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will host a mass in memory of the deceased fishermen, which will be performed by the José Hódar Choir.

Following the religious service, the traditional floral offering will take place, accompanied by the Torrevieja Musical Union, with a procession from Zoa Street to the Juan Aparicio Promenade. The event will conclude at the Monument to the Seaman with the performance of the moving Salve Marinera, one of the most significant moments of these festivities.

On Wednesday, July 15, the Fish Market will once again be the setting for the traditional Paella Competition, which will be enlivened by the Los Solfamidas brass band and will end with the awarding of prizes to the best creations.

The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, on Thursday, July 16, will be the focus of the main events of the program. The day will begin at 8:00 a.m. with a musical procession through the city streets, waking residents with a festive atmosphere. At approximately 11:30 a.m., the port will host another edition of the traditional Maritime Greasy Pole Climbing Contest, one of the most popular and well-attended activities of these festivities.

Later in the afternoon, at 7:00 p.m., a solemn Mass will be celebrated in the Archpriest Church of the Immaculate Conception, with music provided by the José Hódar Choir. Following the Mass, the procession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel will begin, winding through the main streets of the city center to the port. There, the statue will be placed on a boat for its traditional journey across the sea, one of the most moving events for the city. Afterward, the statue will return to the church after completing the land procession, and the day will conclude with a fireworks display.

The Virgen del Carmen festivities are one of Torrevieja's most representative celebrations each year, highlighting the city's close historical connection with the sea and with those who have made fishing a way of life, while offering a program open to all citizens to enjoy days of coexistence, tradition and popular fervor.