Festivals in Moors and Christians of Alcoy

Date and duration

The traditional reference is the festival of Saint George, 23 April, but the Festive Trilogy can be moved to other days in April or early May to accommodate the calendar. The Association of Saint George and the City Council confirm each edition: first the Day of the Entries is celebrated, then the Day of Saint George and finally the Day of the Alardo or battle.

View the Moors and Christians programme of Alcoy 2026.

Local public holidays are approved for each year and should not be confused with the traditional holiday rule.

Places and festive tour

The Plaza de España and the ephemeral castle are the heart of the events. The Partidor marks the exit of the Entries, which descend through Sant Nicolau, cross the square and continue along Sant Llorenç to Avenida del País Valencià. The churches of San Jorge and Santa María host the main services, while processions, reveilles and displays run through the streets of the centre.

Also check out the festivals of Alcoy.

Origin and history

Tradition relates the patronage of Saint George to the defence of Alcoy against the attack of Al-Azraq on 23 April 1276. There is evidence of a chapel dedicated to the saint shortly after 1300 and documentation of religious celebrations in 1412. In 1552 the City Council organised a harquebucery competition that is among the antecedents of the Alardo.

In 1672, separate companies of Moors and Christians were already documented. After the interruption caused by the War of Succession, a chronicle from 1741 describes a parade of captains and officers, a precursor to the Entries, and the taking and recovery of a castle through embassies. In 1743 the apparition of Saint George was added. In the middle of the 18th century, the three-day structure was established and is still in force.

The three days of the Trilogy

• Entry Day: Diana at dawn, Christian Entrance in the morning and Moray Entrance in the afternoon, with captaincies, alfereces, squads, pageants and bands.
• Día de San Jorge: Second Diana, procession of the Relic, high mass, Diana Vespertina del Cavallet, general procession and Retreta.
• Día del Alardo: Smuggling, guerrillas, post offices, embassies and gun battles; The taking of the castle changes hands and the Apparition of Saint George closes the festive story.

Previous acts, music and clothing

The Glory announces the party after Easter, followed by the Infant Glory, the entraetes, the transfer of Sant Jordi el Xicotet, the triduum and Musicians' Day. The Festa del Pasdoble culminates with the Festival Anthem in the Plaza de España and gives way to the Nit de l'Olla.

Las catorce filaes Each side retains its own names, costumes and headquarters. Pasodobles, Moorish marches and Christian marches accompany the events and have turned festive music into an inseparable feature of Alcoy. Designers, artisans, musicians, choreographers, makeup artists, coachbuilders and gunsmiths participate in a highly complex collective scenography.

Organisation and participation

The Association of San Jorge and the Alcoy City Council manage and safeguard the festival. Captains and second lieutenants from both sides, sergeants, ambassadors, Sant Jordiet, Mossèn Torregrossa, musicians, members of the filaes, clergy, authorities, support staff and the public.

Reconocimientos culturales y turísticos

The festival has been declared of International Tourist Interest since 1980. In 2019 it was declared an Asset of Intangible Cultural Interest by the Consell, which highlighted its continuity, music, clothing, crafts, documentary heritage and ability to articulate Alcoyan social life.

Sources

• Associació de Sant Jordi: history of the festival.
• Alcoy City Council: structure and festive events.
• BOE: declaración como Bien de Interés Cultural Inmaterial.