This year's festive program promises a wide offering with over 350 activities spread across all city districts, covering proposals for all audiences and ages. Music, children's activities, and the participation of local groups ('peñas') will be central themes of the celebration.
The opening events include the floral offering at 7:15 PM at the Church of the Convent of the Discalced Carmelites, followed by the presentation of the Fair Ladies and the placement of the 'peñas' banner on the Alcalá City Hall balcony. The official opening speech, by the Alcalá de Henares Association for Intellectual Disability (APHISA), is scheduled for 9:45 PM in the Plaza de Cervantes. The night will conclude with a free concert by Efecto Pasillo at 11:45 PM in the same square.
The cultural offerings for the first Saturday are complemented by theater, including the play “La Pasión Infinita” starring Pepón Nieto and “Aldonza La Encarada” by A Scena Teatro at the monumental staircase of Las Escolapias. The 'peñas' will also launch their program with the II Nordic Walking Circuit and street parades accompanied by charanga music, as well as the election of Mister Damo of the Fairs 2026 organized by Peña El Hormigón.
The fairground at Isla del Colegio opens its doors this Friday, August 21, and will be the epicenter of the festivities. The Daytime Fair in Plaza de Cervantes will also start on Friday at 8:00 PM.
Young children will have exclusive activities distributed throughout the neighborhoods, including inflatables and proposals on environmental care at La Casita del O’Donnell. The water slide next to the Gilitos Cultural Center will be another attraction.
The musical lineup stands out with the ‘Los Conciertos de la Muralla’ cycle at the Huerta del Obispo, featuring performances by Loquillo (August 22), Muralla Pop Fest (tributes), Muralla Camp with Fangoria (August 28), and Vanesa Martín (August 29). Sementales Park will offer music from local artists and themed nights.
The Salón Cervantes Theater will present a luxury lineup, starting with ‘La Pasión Infinita’ and concluding with ‘Mejor no decirlo’, starring Imanol Arias and María Barranco. Other shows like Yllana's ‘Gool’ and Borja Rodríguez's ‘Canadá’ will also be shown. The Alcalá Independent Theater (TIA) will present ‘Sueño y Defensa del Ojo del C…’ at the Patio de Santo Tomás de Villanueva.
The ‘Las Noches del Patio’ cycle at La Cisneriana will host music and dance, with the Cristian Pérez Flamenco Ballet, the Camino de Vuelta Spanish Dance Company, and Esquivel, among others.
The Fairs also offer tourist routes such as ‘Get to Know Alcalá with Your Family’ and ‘Heritage in the Moonlight’. Exhibitions include the Giants and Big-Heads display at the Capilla del Oidor and ‘Pincel y Cincel’ at the Quinta de Cervantes. The traditional exhibition of the Armed Forces, State Security Forces, and Firefighters will also take place at the Ciudad Deportiva del Val.
The Bullfighting Fair will be held from August 27 to 30 at the ‘La Estudiantil’ bullring, featuring a bull-reking contest, bullfights with matadors such as Daniel Luque, Emilio de Justo, and Fernando Adrián, and a bull-calf fight.
