Bonfires of San Juan in Alicante

Les Fogueres de Sant Joan, or Bonfires of San Juan, are the official and major festivals of Alicante. During its central days, the city becomes an exhibition of ephemeral art in the open air: satirical monuments, music, gunpowder and coexistence in barracks and racós lead to the Nit de la Cremà.

Celebration date

The main days traditionally go from 20 June to 24. The official calendar begins earlier with the proclamation, the Ninot Parade, the entry of bands and other events; After the cremà the fireworks competition usually continues until 29 June.

View the programme of the Bonfires of San Juan 2026.

The consideration of a local public holiday is approved each year and should not be confused with the full duration of the holidays. In 2026, the City Council established 23 June as a local holiday for Bonfires.

Venue

The commissions plant their adult and children's bonfires in neighbourhoods and squares throughout Alicante. The Town Hall square houses the official monuments; the Plaza de los Luceros concentrates the mascletàs; The offering runs through the centre to the San Nicolás co-cathedral, and the Monumental Palm Tree shoots up from Mount Benacantil. The castles after the big week are held next to the Postiguet when the programme establishes it.

Also check out the festivals of Alicante.

Origin and history

The current festival was born in 1928 at the initiative of José María Py, supported by the Alicante Attraction entity, by converting the ancient customs of the San Juan fire into an organised urban celebration with artistic monuments. In 1929 the anthem and the Managing Committee appeared; The barracks were incorporated in 1931 and the Bellesa del Foc in 1932.

The City Council preserves and explains this evolution in the Fogueres Museum, where documents, posters, clothing and ninots indultats are exhibited, figures saved from the fire by popular vote.

Monumentos, plantà y cremà

Each commission commissions an adult bonfire and another for children from construction artists. The scenes and their ninots combine modeling, color, humor and social criticism. During the plant, the street assembly is completed and a jury awards prizes by category.

At midnight on 24 June, the Monumental Palm Tree announces the cremà. First the official bonfires in the Town Hall square burn and then the monuments distributed throughout the districts, in an operation coordinated by firefighters, security and municipal services.

Main events and traditions

Proclamation, Ninot Parade and Entry Parade of Bands and Commissions.
Plantà of bonfires, facades of barracks and decorated streets.
Daily mascletàs in the Plaza de los Luceros during the central days.
Offering of Flowers to the Virgin of Remedio, patron saint of Alicante.
Desfile Folklórico Internacional, música tradicional y bandas.
Monumental Palm Tree, Nit de la Cremà and subsequent fireworks display competition.

Commissions, barracks and participants

The Federació de les Fogueres de Sant Joan brings together the district commissions, who work throughout the year together with artists, musicians and collaborators. The barracks and racós are meeting and festival spaces. The adult and child Bellesa del Foc and her ladies officially represent the festival, while thousands of revelers, neighbors and visitors participate in parades and events.

Reconocimientos culturales y turísticos

The Bonfires of Alicante obtained the category of Festival of International Tourist Interest in 1983 and were declared Asset of Intangible Cultural Interest in 2013. Both recognitions support the value of a tradition that unites festive art, neighbourhood organisation, music and fire culture.