Parade of the Three Wise Men of Alcoy

Alcoy welcomes Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar with a centenary celebration in which the entire city participates. The 5 January Parade is the outcome of the Alcoyan Christmas trilogy: first they arrive Les Pastoretes and the Royal Side, and during the parade the pages carry gifts to the homes.

Celebration date

The Parade is celebrated every year at dusk on 5 January. The Royal Party tours the city on 4 January and Les Pastoretes It takes place on the previous Sunday or holiday according to protected tradition. These celebrations do not in themselves turn 5 January into a public holiday; the work calendar is approved separately.

View the official programme of the Three Kings Parade of Alcoy 2026.

Tour and characteristic places

The royal procession enters from the El Camí area and passes through the Centre and the Zona Alta. The Plaça d'Espanya concentrates the Adoration, one of the culminating moments, while the Preventorium and the Sant Cristòfol hill are linked to the Royal Camp and the light signals that announce the proximity of the Kings.

You can also explore festivals in Alcoy and the municipality's local festival calendar.

Origin and history

The City Council documents the history of the party in 1866 and the celebration continued since 1885. Due to this history, it is presented as one of the oldest parades of Kings in Spain. In November 2001 it was declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest and the ritual complex is protected as an Asset of Intangible Cultural Interest.

The Real Side and the donkeys

Since 1923, the Ambassador announces the arrival of Their Majesties on 4 January through a verse text written in Valencian. The procession incorporates characters from the Betlem of Tirisiti and some donkeys with mailboxes, where children and adults leave their letters. The Pregó del Tio Piam It evokes a 19th century tradition in which children would go out to welcome the Kings.

The Cabalgata and its traditions

  • Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar advance on camels accompanied by escorts and servants.
  • Pages and torchbearers form an essential part of the procession; The pages distribute the orders to the houses located along the route.
  • Decorated cars, floats, music bands and local dance groups complete the procession.
  • The Adoration of the Kings in Plaça d'Espanya ceremonially closes the arrival.

Organisation and participation

The Festival Department of the Alcoy City Council organises the Parade with the collaboration of the San Jorge Association and numerous local entities. More than a thousand people take on roles in the procession, from musicians and dancers to pages, torch bearers, escorts and those in charge of cars and floats.

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