Nit de l'Albà or Night of the Dawn of Elche
La Nit de l'Albà, Night of the Dawn in Spanish, is the great collective offering of light and gunpowder that Elche dedicates to its patron saint, the Virgin of the Assumption. During the night, the city is not limited to contemplating a castle: individuals, entities and pyrotechnics participate in a coordinated succession of rockets and palm trees that culminates in a moment of silence and in the Palm Tree of the Virgin.
Date and duration
It is celebrated every 13 August, within the cycle of Elche patron saint festivities. The municipal firing usually begins at 11:15 p.m. and ends at midnight, when the Palm Tree of the Virgin is launched. The festival does not constitute a public holiday in itself: it is integrated into the big days dedicated to the Assumption, whose solemnity is 15 August.
View the Night of Albà 2026 programme.
Where is it celebrated
Palm trees shoot up from numerous points in Elche, with a special concentration around the Basilica of Santa María. The final palm tree emerges from the basilica's bell tower and can be seen from rooftops, terraces, streets and open spaces in much of the city. Due to the nature of the act, the City Council establishes security measures and areas with regulated access each year.
Also consult the festivals of the municipality of Elche.
Origin and documented history
The municipal tourist portal places its roots at the end of the Middle Ages, linked to the beginning of the Festa or Misteri d'Elx. Families offered a rocket to the Virgin for each child, a custom that over time transformed into dedications to relatives and loved ones. Municipal documents from the 16th century already describe luminaries, rockets and shots from the town's towers.
In 1935 the call was established cohete ofrenda. The great midnight palm tree is documented in the 19th century and, since 1969, it has been launched from the bell tower of Santa María to gain height and visibility.
How the Nit de l'Albà goes
- Hundreds of colored palm trees shoot up in an orderly and alternating manner from different places.
- Neighbors and families participate with rockets and authorized pyrotechnics, preserving the community nature of the offering.
- Minutes before twelve the shooting stops, the urban lighting goes out and the alarm rings. Gloria Patri del Misteri d'Elx.
- At midnight, the Palm Tree of the Virgin illuminates the sky from the tower of Santa María.
- Afterwards, it is traditional to share watermelon in houses and terraces, while other events of the August festivities continue.
Organisation, participation and security
Elche City Council coordinates the official shooting and sponsorship of palm trees with individuals, businesses, companies, associations and entities. Each sponsored palm tree can carry a dedication. The population of Elche is both protagonist and spectator, but the use of pyrotechnics requires respecting municipal instructions, safety distances and access restrictions published for each edition.
Tourist recognition and relationship with the Misteri
The Night of l'Albà was declared Festival of National Tourist Interest in 2021. The recognition corresponds to this pyrotechnic celebration; It should not be confused with the UNESCO declaration of the Misteri d'Elx, although both traditions are closely linked in the calendar and in the devotion to the Virgin of the Assumption.