The ‘Crida’ announces the imminent start of the Fallas in Benidorm

'Benidorm, Fallas has begun!' Gambo Street in Benidorm was filled with colour and music yesterday, Saturday, to celebrate the traditional 'Crida' of the Fallas festival, an event in which the highest representatives of this festival announce each year the imminent start of the Fallas celebrations, which in the city will run from March 16 to 19. The mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez; the councillor for Fiestas, Mariló Cebreros; And other members of the City Council, including regional deputy José Ramón González de Zárate, accompanied the members of the city's three Fallas commissions – Els Tolls, Rincón de Loix, and Benidorm Centro – at this event, which inaugurates the 2026 Fallas season.

The event began with a parade from Avenida de Europa, along Mediterráneo and Plaza de la Hispanidad, ending at Calle Gambo, where the traditional bandstand was set up to announce to the people of Benidorm and its visitors the start of the quintessential Fallas month.

Once there, the president of Benidorm Local Fallas Board, Pablo Pérez, took to the stage to welcome, one by one, the honour guards of the three commissions. The first to do so was the Fallas Queen of the Els Tolls Fallas Commission, Teresa Peris, who arrived accompanied by her father and the president of the commission, Wenceslao Peris. Next, it was the turn of Nahia Fernández, the children's Fallera Mayor of the Rincón de Loix Fallas committee, along with her children's president, Samuel Cortés, and her president, Javier Rico. The last to take the stage were Thais Jiménez and Jaira Rodríguez, the children's Fallera Mayor and Fallera Mayor of the Benidorm Centro Fallas committee, respectively, accompanied by their presidents, Carlos de Torres and Antonio de Torres.

Afterwards, the Falleras, in a joint speech, proclaimed the approaching festivities and invited residents of Benidorm and tourists to join them and enjoy these celebrations in honour of Saint Joseph. "It's time to show off our traditional dress, for a festival that is an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Let's enjoy it to the fullest and celebrate our culture, traditions, and festivities," they declared.

The president of the Local Fallas Board, Pablo Pérez, took the floor to thank the Benidorm City Council, the Department of Festivals, and the entire city for their support in keeping alive a festival with over half a century of history in the city. He also emphasised the importance of unity among the three commissions to continue enhancing the festival.

Finally, the mayor of Benidorm brought the event to a close, congratulating the members of Els Tolls, Rincón de Loix, and Benidorm Centro on the upcoming main days of these festivities, "which represent the spirit of the Valencian people." Toni Pérez also wished them that the 2026 Fallas would be "another unforgettable year."

The event concluded with the playing of the anthems of Benidorm and the Valencian Community.

Today, Sunday, the Fallas participants of Benidorm continued with the preparations and events prior to the celebration of the Fallas, celebrating their traditional paella competition, which has once again brought together the three commissions in the municipal venue Festa Espai.