The celebrations will take place from September 16th to 20th, and the festivities kick off the weekend before.
Mequinenza is already in the final countdown to its 'La Santa' festivities. In a week's time, on Wednesday, September 16, the town will kick off five days of celebrations that will last until Sunday the 20th and which this year include nearly 70 events. But before that, on the 12th and 13th of this month, the festivities will begin.
Mequinenza faces the weekend before its main festivities with a program that combines sport, culture and tradition, and which has a high participation in several of its proposals.
On Saturday, September 12th , the day's activities will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the 21st Annual "Villa de Mequinenza" Regional Fishing Competition , with over 30 participants. At 10:00 a.m., the Grand Popular Clay Pigeon Shooting Competition and the Paella Competition will take place . This event returns after two decades, with 223 participants and 26 paellas. The municipal swimming pools will offer a free water park from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., coinciding with its last day of operation and with free admission. In the afternoon, the Volleyball Tournament (4:00 p.m.), the Three-Point Contest (6:00 p.m.), and, at 7:30 p.m., the opening of the Grup d'Art painting exhibition in the Miguel Ibarz Hall will be held. At the opening, Ingrid Godia Blasco will also receive her prize for winning the cover design for the Festival Program. The day will end at 8 pm with an afternoon gathering in the Plaza del Cine , enlivened by Surprise and with the distribution of sandwiches.
On Sunday, September 13th , at 10:00 AM, the 29th Annual Bike Day will be celebrated , organized by the Mequinenza Cycling Club and the Town Hall, with around 300 participants registered. Upon arrival, the Town Hall square will host a refreshing children's playground . In the afternoon, at 6:00 PM, one of the most characteristic events of the Pre-Festivities will take place: the parade of floats, giants, big-headed figures, and ninots (papier -mâché figures), featuring the 2026 "Mequinensans and Mequinensanes" (local residents and children), the Mequinenza Brotherhood's Bugle and Drum Band, and the Pintakoda Brass Band, with the collaboration of the La Dona Association and the Kurkon's, No t'ho perdos, Desfasats, Fem lo que volem, Ja pots contar, Foc a la barraca, No estem bé del cap, Que mes done, and Bufagateres social clubs. The program will conclude at 7:30 p.m. in the Goya Room with a concert by the “Rondalla del Poble”.
As Luis Esteve, the Mequinenza Festival Councillor, explained a few days ago, the program combines activities for all audiences with a significant musical focus, which will have two main stages: the Town Hall Square , one of the nerve centers of the festivities, and the Interpeñas Tent , located in the truck parking lot, next to the area where the peñas gather.
Music will be one of the main attractions of this edition, with Fangoria as the headliner and other names such as the Colombian artist Buxxi , the local group Full Flamingos and the cover band Fugados de Alcatraz.
Fangoria, the great concert of 'La Santa'
On Friday, September 18th at 23:00 PM, the Interpeñas Tent will host a concert by Fangoria , the duo formed by Alaska and Nacho Canut and one of the most recognizable names in Spanish pop. This performance will be the only show of the festival requiring a ticket, priced at €22 . Tickets can be purchased online.
The concert will feature some of the band's greatest hits, spanning more than three decades, as well as their current musical offerings. Among the duo's best-known songs are 'A quién le importa' (Who Cares), 'Ni tú ni nadie' (Neither You Nor Anyone Else), 'Geometría polisentimental' (Polysentimental Geometry), 'Retorciendo palabras' (Twisting Words), 'Miro la vida pasar' (I Watch Life Go By), and 'Dramas y comedias' (Dramas and Comedies).
The night will continue afterwards with a throwback session by DJs Javi Huescar, Manuel López (MAMOMO) and José Lorenzo.
The councilor for festivities, Luís Esteve, has thanked everyone for the work done to bring a performance of the level of Fangoria, one of the most recognized groups in our country , to the Bajo/Baix Cinca.
The Interpeñas Tent, epicenter of the night
The Interpeñas Tent will host three of the great musical nights of 'La Santa'.
On Thursday the 17th, Full Flamingos , a local band, will take the stage to present their own songs to the Mequinenza audience. The evening will continue with Fugados de Alcatraz and DJ End.
Fangoria will perform on Friday, and on Saturday the 19th, Buxxi will take center stage . The Colombian artist will bring an international flavor to the festivities with a free concert featuring Latin, urban, and Caribbean sounds. The night will be rounded out with DJ sets from Abel Puttoy, Matt Song, and Xavi G.
In addition, all performances and shows programmed by the City Council will be free, with the exception of the Fangoria concert.
Five nights of orchestras and activities in the Town Hall Square
The Town Hall Square will once again be one of the main meeting points of 'La Santa', with a musical program designed for all audiences and five consecutive days of orchestras.
Junior’s will perform on Wednesday the 16th ; Nueva Alaska on Thursday the 17th ; Melodía on Friday the 18th ; Welcome Band on Saturday the 19th ; and Banda Sonora on Sunday the 20th , who will close the festivities. All performances are free.
The square will also host other events in the festival program, including children's performances and shows that will complete the program during the five days.
43 peñas and one of the most active spaces of the festivities
Next to the Interpeñas Tent is the peñas area, one of the busiest spots during 'La Santa', especially among young people.
This year, 43 clubs will participate in the festivities, making this area one of the main meeting places during the festive days.
The program thus seeks to maintain a balance between major concerts, orchestral performances, family activities and proposals linked to community participation and the traditions of Mequinenza.
Tradition, participation and activities for all audiences
Music will be one of the main attractions, but not the only one. The 'La Santa' program includes nearly 70 activities and maintains traditional offerings that are part of the festival's identity.
Among them is the Street Decoration Contest , which will allow residents to decorate their streets and which this year will award prizes such as a lamb for the winning street, a ham for the second-placed street and a shoulder of ham for the third-placed street.
The Paella Competition is also back , an activity that returns to the festivities almost two decades after its last celebration and that will bring together clubs, groups and neighbors around gastronomy and conviviality.
The official start of the festivities will take place on Wednesday, September 16th at 13:00 PM in the Town Hall Square, where the Mequinenza Women's Association 'La Dona' will be in charge of lighting the rocket that will mark the beginning of 'La Santa' 2026. The choice also represents a recognition of an entity that next year will celebrate 40 years of history and that has played a prominent role in the social and cultural life of Mequinenza.
The town is now facing the final days before the festivities that will once again fill its streets with activity. In a week's time, 'La Santa' 2026 begins, and Mequinenza is preparing for five days in which music, local clubs, traditions, and activities for all ages will take center stage.
