Pilota Fair of El Verger
At the heart of the Marina Alta, El Verger holds a summer event each year that celebrates one of the oldest and most deeply rooted sports in Valencian culture: pilota. The Pilota Fair of El Verger, taking place on 4 July 2026, brings together players, fans and curious newcomers for a day centred on this ancient sport that is still actively played in the villages of the comarca.
Pilota valenciana: a sport with deep roots
Pilota valenciana is much more than a sport. It is a symbol of identity, a way of life that has survived for centuries on the streets and in the trinquets — the dedicated courts where the game is played — of Valencian towns. With origins stretching back to the Middle Ages, pilota is played in multiple variants: escala i corda, raspall, galotxa, frare and many other local forms.
Each variant has its own rules, its own court and its own technique. What they all share is the essence: striking a ball with the bare hand or a glove, in a game where cunning, skill and stamina matter as much as raw power.
The fair: a day of pilota for everyone
The Pilota Fair of El Verger structures its programme so that both experienced followers of the sport and first-time visitors find something of interest.
Exhibition matches
Renowned players from the comarca and other Valencian municipalities compete in exhibition matches across the different variants. These matches showcase a high technical level and are designed to reveal the beauty of the sport to newcomers.
Popular tournaments
Alongside the exhibitions, popular participation tournaments are organised where anyone can sign up and try their hand at one of the more accessible variants. The atmosphere is festive and competitive in equal measure.
Introductory activities for young people
Pilota needs new generations. The fair dedicates a significant part of its programme to introductory activities for children and young people, with specialist coaches teaching the basic techniques and the history of the sport.
Exhibition space
An exhibition area documents the history of pilota valenciana: vintage equipment, photographs, trophies and documentation about the variants played in El Verger and the comarca over the years.
El Verger and pilota: a centuries-old bond
El Verger is a town with a long tradition of pilotaires — pilota players. Over the years the municipality has produced players who have competed at the highest level. The local trinquet has been the scene of memorable matches and remains a living space of sporting practice.
Holding the fair each July reflects the municipality’s desire to keep this tradition alive and pass it on to younger generations, who sometimes do not know the richness of this intangible sporting heritage.
El Verger and the Marina Alta
El Verger stands at the mouth of the Girona river, in the heart of the Marina Alta. It is a town of traditional farming — orange groves, market gardens — that has preserved its identity while integrating into the tourist economy of the comarca. The town is close to the sea and to natural landscapes of great value, such as the Girona river estuary.
Holding the fair in high summer turns the day into an opportunity to combine Valencian sporting culture with the pleasures of a summer visit to the comarca: beach, local gastronomy and a festive atmosphere that extends well beyond the matches themselves.
Food, drink and festivities
The Pilota Fair cannot be understood without the festive dimension that accompanies it. Local bars and restaurants set up terraces and offer special menus. The town’s eating houses prepare rice dishes, fideuà and local specialities that round off the day. The Valencian summer atmosphere, with its light, warmth and cheerfulness, permeates the entire event.
Getting to El Verger
El Verger is easily accessible from the main centres of the Marina Alta:
- From Dénia: 10 minutes by car
- From Gandia: 20 minutes via the N-332
- From Benidorm: 35 minutes via the AP-7
- Regular bus service from Dénia and Gandia
Practical information
- Date: 4 July 2026
- Venue: Trinquet and public spaces of El Verger
- Entry: Free
- Language: Valencian / Spanish
- Suitable for: All ages
