From 2 to 5 October 2026, Gandia celebrates the Fira i Festes in honour of Sant Francesc de Borja, the city’s biggest festival: four days of drums at dawn, free concerts, markets in the Centre Històric and fireworks into the small hours. If you are going to be in town on those dates, here is what you need to know before heading out. For our guests we have put together a complete guide at firaifestes.com, with the programme event by event, how to get there, where to eat and tips for coming with children. Here are the essentials; for the details, see the guide.
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What is the Fira i Festes de Gandia?
The Fira began as a market fair seven centuries ago and today it is the week when Gandia takes to the streets. It combines the patron saint festivities of Sant Francesc de Borja, the Duke of Gandia who became a saint, with a cultural programme spread across squares, promenades and theatres. The 2026 edition brings together 161 activities, including 49 concerts and 45 performing arts shows. The poster, by the illustrator Lluch, puts the spotlight on the character who opens the festival; you can see it, along with a decade of previous posters, in the posters section of the guide.
The Tio de la Porra opens the festival
It all begins on Friday 2 October at 09:00 in the Plaça Major. The Tio de la Porra, a mock herald with a bicorne hat and a truncheon, takes command of the city and his drum bands march off to the schools to interrupt lessons. In 2026 more than 230 Tios de la Porra take part. At 13:00 the bands return to the Plaça Major for a joint dance, and at 20:30 the character bids farewell with Obrim la Fira, the opening show with a fireworks display.
Free concerts and music for everyone
For the second year running, all the concerts at the Parc de la Festa are free. The main stage is set up in the Parc d’Ausiàs March, outdoors and standing, with Chanel, Omar Montes and Cali y El Dandee as headliners, alongside bands from the Valencian scene and several tribute acts. Away from the park, Música de Sempre doubles its capacity in the Plaça del Prado with tributes to Rocío Jurado and the Dúo Dinámico, and the Teatre Serrano stages one indoor show each night, with paid admission.
Tradition, markets and fireworks
The Fira has a traditional side that is well worth seeking out between concerts:
- Els Mercats de la Fira: from 2 to 5 October, a medieval-themed market with artisan food in the streets of the Centre Històric.
- Muixeranga: Saturday 3 at 19:00, human towers and stick dances in the Plaça Major.
- Correfoc: in the early hours of Sunday 4 to Monday 5, at 00:30, along the Passeig de les Germanies.
- Mascletà: Monday 5 at 14:00 on the Avinguda Marqués de Campo.
- Procession of Sant Francesc de Borja: Monday 5 at 20:00 from the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria; when it ends, a fireworks barrage closes the Fira.
- Funfair: in the Parc d’Ausiàs March, open from 25 September to 12 October, well beyond the main days.
Tips for enjoying it from the hotel
Hotel Borgia is right in the centre, a few minutes’ walk from the Plaça Major, the Palau Ducal and the Passeig de les Germanies: everything is done on foot. The concerts are standing and require no booking, and October nights get chilly: bring a light jacket. If you eat out, fideuà remains the signature dish all over the city.
The full programme by day and time is in the complete programme on firaifestes.com, together with how to get there and where to park and an explanation of what the Fira is for anyone experiencing it for the first time.