This Tuesday, August 11th, is the day that many veterans have been waiting for months. This afternoon, the municipality officially kicks off the final countdown: the Entrada de la Murta marks the prelude to the August 2026 Festival, and tomorrow, Wednesday, the 12th, the festival explodes in all its grandeur. Let's review everything you need to know about this day and the unforgettable days ahead.
The Entry of the Myrtle: the ritual that ignites everything
This evening, at 7:00 p.m., the traditional Entrada de la Murta will take place, from the Castell-Palau del Boïl to the Albereda area. This is a symbolic act deeply rooted in the festive identity of Bétera : the Mayorals fill the streets of the municipality with the aromatic plant, announcing to the whole town that the great festival can no longer be stopped. For those who want to experience this moment from the beginning, it is the essential meeting point of the day.
The Bétera Festival officially begins today with the Entrada de la Murta. Starting tomorrow, ten days of events will begin that will feature the Monumental Alfabegues, which will take to the streets on August 15th.
Tomorrow Wednesday 12: official start and solar eclipse
Wednesday, August 12 will be a double and unrepeatable date for Bétera . On Wednesday, August 12, the party will officially begin. At 11:00 p.m., the Presentation of the Workers and Mayorals 2026 will arrive at the Alameda and, at 1:00 a.m., the Bétera Artistic Musical Center will perform accompanied by singer Serafín Zubiri.
But August 12 will not only be the start of the Festivities. One of the most unique coincidences this year is that the start of the Festivities of August will also be the day of the total solar eclipse. The next August 12, 2026 will be a date marked on the calendar for astronomy lovers: the Valencian Community will be one of the privileged territories to contemplate one of the most anticipated astronomical phenomena of recent years, a solar eclipse that will attract thousands of people to numerous observation points. A day, therefore, that will combine the sky and the street like never before.
The program: day by day until August 22
A program full of activities for young and old that have been organized with great enthusiasm by the Obreres i Majorals 2026. From August 12 to 22, to enjoy the traditions, customs and signs of identity that write the history of the Festivities and the municipality. These are the key moments that you cannot miss:
- Thursday 13th: Valencian pelota will be the protagonist on Vázquez Mella Street, first with a workshop at 5:30 p.m. and then with a big game at 6:30 p.m. The traditional Paella Competition will begin at 8:00 p.m., while the Invictus Orchestra will liven up the night from 11:30 p.m.
- Friday 14: combination of Shooting and Dragging, the Great Popular Dinner and the Dance, by the l'Aljama Cultural Association. The day will culminate with a discomobile and, at midnight, the traditional Albaes Night.
- Saturday 15 (the big day): the Rodà, offering of giant basils to the Virgin Mary of August, the Cordà on the night of the 15th and the subsequent Coetà. Throughout the route, the Mayorals will throw more than 14 tons of confetti that give the touch of color and fun to this great day.
- Sunday 16: The gunpowder will remain the main event during the morning of Sunday 16 with the Gran Cordà, followed by the Coetà through the streets of Bétera . That same Sunday there will be children's music and a night of tributes to Manolo Escobar and Mocedades.
- Monday 17: The Children's Coetà and the Dog Coetà will arrive, before a Rock Night with Los Inhumanos and Mojinos Escozíos.
- Tuesday 18: The Albereda will host the traditional Torrent Ball, which this year will include a tribute to the Workers and Mayorals of 1976 and 2001. The music will continue with Marlon and a subsequent DJ session.
- Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20: Wednesday the 19th will be the turn of the Great Taconeo Festival, while on Thursday the 20th one of the most participatory activities will take place: the Costume Parade, with confetti, floats and xaranga.
- Saturday 22 (farewell): The Eighth Mass, the making of the bolletas and the procession will precede the farewell of the 2026 Workers and Mayorals. At 11:00 p.m., the 2027 Workers and Mayorals will be presented, before Demarco Flamenco puts the musical finale.
Les Obreres i Mayorals: the human heart of the festival
The protagonists are four women, the Obreres —two single and two married—, accompanied by the large group of Mayorals who finance and organize the events, all wearing costumes handcrafted over months. This year, the four Obreres of the August 2026 Festival have already been presented to the municipality and have worked since the beginning of the year to offer an edition that lives up to expectations.
The offering of basil to the Virgin of August is a tradition passed down for generations in Bétera : the Mayorals' scarves are often passed down from father to son, and the municipal anthem sings of basil as "the fruit of hard work, an exponent of a constancy that brings prosperity."
Security and organization: prepared parties
The Bétera City Council has worked hard in recent months to ensure that the Festivities take place with complete normality and safety. The reinforcement of the security forces, the incorporation of TETRA transmitters for Civil Protection and the revision of the mobility plan for the days of maximum influx of visitors constitute a device worthy of festivals that year after year bring together thousands of people from all over the Camp de Túria region and beyond.
The Bétera City Council evaluates the safety of its August Festivals , consolidating a tradition of rigorous planning that allows residents and visitors to enjoy the festival with all the guarantees. The enthusiasm of the Mayors and Workers, the work of the municipal team and the involvement of the entire Bétera community mean that, year after year, the August Festivals are much more than just one-off events: they are the best expression of who we are as a people.
