BUÑOL, Spain | About 22,000 revelers from Spain and abroad descended on the Valencian town of Buñol on Wednesday for La Tomatina, the world-famous food fight that turned streets red under an estimated 150 to 165 tons of overripe tomatoes.
The annual event, held on the last Wednesday of August, attracted visitors from countries including India, Japan and Italy. The one-hour tomato battle featured participants throwing specially selected overripe tomatoes at one another, with organizers requiring revelers to crush the tomatoes before throwing them to reduce the risk of injury.
The 2026 celebration also drew strong international attention, with more than 400 journalists and 45 international media organizations covering the event, according to Spanish newspaper El País. Special safety and accessibility measures were introduced, including harnesses for people riding on the tomato trucks and designated facilities for participants with disabilities.
La Tomatina traces its origins to 1945, when a spontaneous fight involving young people broke out during a local parade in Buñol. The tomato throwing became an annual tradition despite being temporarily prohibited during the 1950s under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Residents eventually protested the ban, helping secure the festival’s return in 1957. The event later developed into an international tourist attraction.
Its international popularity grew significantly after media coverage in the 1980s. The 2011 Indian film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, which featured the festival, also helped make La Tomatina particularly popular among Indian tourists. About 40 percent of participants now come from outside Spain, according to AP.
The festival was officially recognized as a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest in 2002. Since 2013, participation has been capped at about 20,000 in most editions to protect the small town from being overwhelmed, although this year’s reported attendance was around 22,000.
After the battle, firefighters and municipal crews wash the tomato pulp from Buñol’s streets, allowing the town to quickly return to normal. What began as a spontaneous street fight more than eight decades ago has become one of Spain’s most recognizable international festivals.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
