This Saturday, August 8, Bétera is experiencing the final stretch of the countdown to the August Festivities 2026 with intensity. There are only four days left until the start of a celebration that will fill the streets of the municipality from August 12 to 22, but the week we have just left behind has been just as eventful: the institutional distribution of basil has once again made the aroma of Bétera travel throughout the Valencian Community, and the City Council has announced important developments in terms of security and staffing of the Local Police. Let's review the most outstanding news of these last few days.
Bétera brings its 'dream aroma' to the entire Valencian Community
As is tradition every August, the Bétera City Council delivers its characteristic basils to institutions, towns and emblematic places in the Valencian Community. In total, this year 2026 there will be 63 specimens of this very popular plant that will fill every corner of the Valencian territory with the "aroma of dreams".
Bétera will live its big days from August 12 to 22 , but this past Tuesday the basils already arrived at the Palau de la Generalitat, the Diputació de Valencia and the City Council of Valencia by the hand of the mayor of Bétera , Elia Verdevío, and the councilor for Festivities, Manuel Pérez, who delivered these majestic plants to the main institutions of the Valencian Community. A gesture that consolidates the image of Bétera as a cultural and festive reference municipality throughout the country.
"Basils are a symbol of Bétera 's identity and it is a source of pride that they are present in institutions such as the Generalitat, the Provincial Council and the City Council of Valencia."
Beyond the regional and provincial institutions, the distribution also extends to neighboring municipalities, organizations and institutions throughout the territory. A network of 63 destinations that turns veteran basils into ambassadors of local identity throughout the Community.
New reinforcement for the Local Police: 9 officers and 3 new vehicles
Bétera has added 9 officers to the Local Police after completing the IVASPE course and is adding three new vehicles to its mobile fleet. This is one of the most significant expansions of the municipal security force in recent years, which comes at a particularly opportune time: right on the eve of the August Festival, when the municipality welcomes thousands of visitors and the pressure on the security and public order services is at its peak.
This addition reinforces the security system that the City Council has been building over the past few months. It should be remembered that, at the beginning of August, the council already acquired ten TETRA transmitters for Civil Protection, an investment aimed at improving coordination in the event of an emergency during the holidays and throughout the year.
The August Festivals, four days away
The events leading up to the August 2026 Festivities of Bétera will begin on Monday 10th with registrations for the Paella Competition and the Children's Coetà. On Tuesday 11th, at 7:00 p.m., the traditional Entrada de la Murta will take place, from the Castell-Palau del Boïl to the Albereda area. On Wednesday 12th August, the festival will officially begin.
At 5:00 p.m. the parade and gathering of the Workers 2026 will take place, accompanied by the Musical Band of Pont-Saint-Martin, a town twinned with Bétera . 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 Musical Artistic Center will perform accompanied by the singer Serafín Zubiri.
Throughout the eleven days of celebrations, the program includes some especially anticipated moments. On Thursday 13, the 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 entertain the night from 11:30 p.m. On Friday 14, it will combine the Tir i Arrossegament, the Gran Sopar Popular and the Dansà, hosted by the Associació Cultural l'Aljama.
On Saturday, August 15, at 8:00 a.m., the gathering for the collection of the Obreres will begin and, at 10:00 a.m., the traditional Rodà de les Alfàbegues will begin from the Hort de les Alfàbegues to the Parish of the Puríssima Concepció. Without a doubt, the most emotional and identity-rich day of the entire festive calendar of the Basque Country.
On Monday 17th, the Coetà Infantil and the Coetà del Gos will arrive, before a Rock Night with Los Inhumanos and Mojinos Escozíos. On Tuesday 18th, the Albereda will host the traditional Ball de Torrent, which this year will include a tribute to the Obreres and Majorals of 1976 and 2001.
Wednesday 19th will be the turn of the Great Taconeo Festival, while on Thursday 20th one of the most participatory activities will take place: the Costume Parade, with confetti, floats and xaranga. Afterwards, King África will perform and the night will continue with a DJ.
On Friday 21st the Orquestra Màxima will perform and on Saturday 22nd the emotional finale will arrive. The Eighth Mass, the making of the bolletes and the procession will precede the farewell of the 2026 Workers and Mayorals. At 11:00 pm the 2027 Workers and Mayorals will be presented, before Demarco Flamenco will put the musical finale.
A unique astronomical coincidence: the eclipse of August 12
One of the most unique coincidences of this year is that the day of the start of the August Festivals will also be the day of the total solar eclipse. The upcoming 12th of August 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.
Bétera is therefore facing a double August 12th: the start of its big festival and a cosmic spectacle that will hardly be repeated in generations. The City Council has insisted on the importance of having approved glasses to observe the phenomenon safely and enjoy it to the fullest.
A town in constant motion
Beyond the festivities, Bétera continues to advance its major municipal projects. The future Fire Department complex, the comprehensive water plan, the two new secondary schools and the modernization of the Horta Vella Business Park mark an institutional agenda that does not stop even in the heat of the summer. The municipality of Camp de Túria demonstrates, once again in August, that it is capable of combining tradition and progress with the same energy.
If you want to stay up to date with all the news in Bétera during the August 2026 Festival, follow the City Council's social networks and visit the municipal website, where you will find the complete program of events and all the practical information you need to enjoy these eleven unforgettable days to the fullest.
