La Tomatina 2026 is celebrated this Wednesday, August 26, in Buñol, Valencia, with thousands of people ready to participate in one of the Spanish festivals with the greatest international projection. The traditional battle will begin at 12:00 hours and will last exactly one hour, until 13:00.
The organization has established a maximum capacity of 22,000 people. To enter the area where the battle takes place, it is necessary to have an official ticket and exchange it for the corresponding wristband. The basic ticket costs 15 euros, an amount that corresponds to the municipal access fee to the venue.
The day begins before the first tomatoes fly. The official information places the "soap pole" at 10:00 hours, while around 11:00 the trucks loaded with tomatoes begin to arrive. The first shell, at 12:00, marks the beginning of La Tomatina and the second, at 13:00, forces the throwing to stop.
What time does La Tomatina 2026 start
The most important time for those who want to follow La Tomatina de Buñol 2026 is noon. The battle officially begins at 12:00 hours on Wednesday, August 26, when the first shell is launched.
From that moment on, participants have exactly 60 minutes to throw tomatoes in the designated streets. At 13:00 a second shell sounds that ends the battle and, from that moment on, it is no longer allowed to continue throwing them.
Before the start, the traditional "soap pole" takes place, scheduled from 10:00. Participants try to reach a ham located at the top of a greased pole. Around 11:00 the trucks transporting the tomatoes begin to arrive at the route.
Schedules of La Tomatina 2026
| Time | What happens in La Tomatina |
|---|---|
| From 09:00 | Official reference to go to exchange the ticket for the wristband |
| 10:00 | The traditional "soap pole" begins |
| 11:00 | The trucks with tomatoes start to enter the route |
| 12:00 | First shell and official start of La Tomatina |
| 13:00 | Second shell and end of the battle |
The organization recommends arriving with sufficient anticipation. Those who have a ticket purchased online must complete a fundamental procedure before access: exchange it for the official wristband.
How much do the tickets for La Tomatina 2026 cost
The official basic entry for La Tomatina 2026 costs 15 euros. It includes access to the battle area and the corresponding exchange for the wristband. The organization explains that this 15 euros corresponds to a municipal fee established to control the capacity and ensure the safety of the event.
There are also packages offered by the Association of Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed of Buñol and the surrounding area. These start from 40 euros and can include, depending on the chosen option, additional services such as cloakroom, official t-shirt, paella, drinks, or activities after La Tomatina.
The organization also warns that, once the purchase is completed and the ticket is issued, the buyer cannot cancel the order. The conditions are based on the exception to the right of withdrawal provided for certain leisure services scheduled for a specific date.
The mobile ticket does not allow direct access
Buying the ticket does not complete the access process by itself. The organization expressly warns that the digital ticket does not serve to enter directly to the La Tomatina area.
The participant can bring the "Print at home" document in PDF format, either printed or on the phone. Afterwards, they must go to one of the designated control points to have their ticket scanned and to receive the official wristband of La Tomatina 2026.
The access rule established by the organization itself is unequivocal: without a wristband, access to the street of the route is not allowed. Therefore, those traveling to Buñol must allow enough time to complete the exchange before the battle begins.
La Tomatina has a maximum capacity of 22,000 people
Participation in the festival stopped being unlimited years ago. La Tomatina 2026 is restricted to a maximum of 22,000 participants, according to the official information published for this edition.
The limitation is precisely linked to the ticketing and access control system. The organization explains that the City Council introduced the limited capacity in 2013 after the enormous influx of previous years posed problems for safely managing a celebration concentrated in a few streets.
La Tomatina was recognized in 2002 as a Festival of International Tourist Interest, a distinction that consolidated the external dimension of a celebration that attracts visitors from numerous countries.
What is prohibited to bring to La Tomatina
The battle has specific rules aimed at reducing the risk of injuries. One of the main ones is that tomatoes must be crushed before throwing them, to reduce the force of the impact against other participants.
Bottles or hard objects that could cause accidents are also not allowed. The organization includes among the items that should not be brought large backpacks, bags, and selfie sticks and asks to maintain a safety distance from the trucks at all times.
It is also prohibited to break or throw t-shirts. And when the second horn sounds at 13:00, participants must immediately stop throwing tomatoes, even if there are still remnants on the streets.
What clothes to wear to La Tomatina in Buñol
The official recommendation is to attend in old clothes that can get dirty or become unusable. Many participants traditionally wear white t-shirts, although it is not an obligation to access the party.
Footwear does require special attention. The organization recommends wearing closed and well-tied shoes and notes that flip-flops are prohibited for safety reasons. The mixture of tomato and liquid on the pavement makes the ground particularly slippery.
It is also advised to bring only the essentials and protect the phone with a waterproof case. The organization notes that the basic entry does not include a cloakroom or luggage service, although certain commercial packs do offer this service.
What happens after 13:00
The second horn officially ends La Tomatina. After 13:00, tomatoes cannot continue to be thrown and the cleaning phase of the streets and the participants themselves begins.
The organization notes that the City Council installs public showers and that traditionally some neighbors also use hoses to help attendees remove the tomato remnants.
The process allows for the gradual recovery of the streets of Buñol after a battle whose duration is strictly limited: it starts at 12:00 and ends exactly one hour later.
How to get to La Tomatina 2026
Buñol is located about 40 kilometers west of Valencia, which makes the Valencian capital one of the main starting points for those traveling to La Tomatina.
The organization identifies the train, the bus, and the private vehicle among the possibilities to travel to the municipality, although it warns of the difficulties of access by car during the day due to roadblocks and the enormous concentration of visitors.
For rail travel, it is advisable to check the updated information from Renfe before leaving, especially because the operation of the Cercanías services may be subject to operational changes.
Where the tradition of La Tomatina comes from
The origin of La Tomatina of Buñol dates back to 1945. The official story places the birth of the festival during a parade of giants and big-heads held on the last Wednesday of August. An altercation ended with several people using tomatoes from a nearby stall to throw at each other.
The following year, some young people decided to repeat that battle by bringing their own tomatoes. The celebration then went through periods of prohibition until in 1957 the neighbors organized what is known as the "burial of the tomato", a protest in the form of a funeral procession that claimed the recovery of the festival.
The tradition eventually became consolidated and gained enormous media projection during the following decades. Currently, the essence continues to concentrate in those 60 minutes between 12:00 and 13:00 on the last Wednesday of August.
La Tomatina 2026: dates and times to remember
For those looking for when La Tomatina 2026 is or what time it starts, the fundamental data is clear. The festival is celebrated tomorrow, Wednesday, August 26, in Buñol; the "soap pole" is scheduled from 10:00; the trucks begin to arrive around 11:00; and the battle officially starts at 12:00 hours.
At 13:00 hours the second shell will sound and the throwing of tomatoes will end. The basic entry costs 15 euros, the capacity is limited to 22,000 participants, and it is mandatory to exchange the ticket for the wristband that allows access to the route.
The combination of date, time, and access is especially important for those traveling specifically to Buñol: August 26, 2026, from 12:00 to 13:00 hours and with a mandatory wristband to enter the La Tomatina area.