Moors and Christians of Calp 2026: 50th anniversary

2026 dates: 21 to 26 October, according to the festival’s official website (the Valencian Region tourist office gives 21 to 25). As of 10 October the timetable has not been published yet, so we don’t give you times that haven’t been confirmed. Check morosycristianos.calpe.es before you go.

The essentials

Calp’s Moors and Christians (Moros y Cristianos) are held every October in honour of the Santíssim Crist de la Suor, the town’s patron and its “Perpetual Mayor” since 1949. The festival in its current form dates from 1977, and 2026-2027 marks its 50th anniversary, with a commemorative programme that runs beyond festival week.

This year it comes with a new title: on 9 September 2026 Spain’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism declared it a Festival of National Tourist Interest. It had been a Festival of Regional Tourist Interest since 2013.

What sets it apart from other towns’ Moors and Christians is that it doesn’t re-enact a generic Reconquista battle but a local event: the pirate raid Calp suffered in 1744.

2026 dates	21-26 October (main day: Thursday 22)
Where	Old town, Avenida Gabriel Miró and Arenal-Bol beach
Price	Street events are free
Organiser	Asociación de Moros y Cristianos “Santíssim Crist de la Suor”
Official programme	morosycristianos.calpe.es

The events not to miss

The 2026 order and times depend on the official programme. These are the events that make up the festival and where they take place:

• Opening proclamation and raising of the banners (pregón e izada de estandartes). They open the festival.
• The Landing (Desembarco). Sailing boats crewed by members of the filaes (festival troupes) come ashore on Arenal-Bol beach, re-enacting the raiders’ arrival by sea, and the first battle is fought on the sand. It’s the most photogenic event and best watched from the promenade.
• The Moorish and Christian Entrances (Entradas). The parades of the filaes, with each side’s captains and standard-bearers, costumes, ballets, festival music and gunpowder. They run along Avenida Gabriel Miró to Arenal-Bol beach.
• The Miracle (El Miracle). Folk theatre in the Plaza Mayor portraying the town’s defence against the 1744 raid. It’s the second battle and the part most specific to Calp.
• 22 October, feast of the Santíssim Crist de la Suor. Open-air Mass in the Plaza Mayor in the morning; procession through the old town in the afternoon.

Practical tips

• Arrive early for the Landing and the Entrances. They draw the biggest crowds and the Arenal-Bol promenade fills up.
• The Miracle and the procession are in the old town, with narrow, sloping streets: not the place for pushchairs at the busiest moments.
• By public transport: Calp has a TRAM stop (line 9, Benidorm-Dénia).
• Several events involve gunpowder. Bear it in mind if you’re with small children or a dog.

More on Calp

• Calp town guide
• Calp’s beaches, including Arenal-Bol
• Penyal d’Ifac: remember the climb to the summit requires a booked time slot
• Virgen de las Nieves festival, Calp’s other big festival, in August

Sources: the festival’s official website (morosycristianos.calpe.es), Calp Town Council, and the National Tourist Interest declaration reported on 9 and 11 September 2026 by La Marina Alta and COPE Dénia.