The Tomatina 2026: how to live the tomato battle from Valencia

On the last Wednesday of August, a town of 10,000 inhabitants 38 kilometers from Valencia turns into the largest tomato battlefield in the world for one hour. The Tomatina de Buñol is undoubtedly one of the most delirious and exciting events there is.

And almost everyone who goes to Valencia sleeps there.

The date: August 26, 2026

La Tomatina is always celebrated on the last Wednesday of August. In 2026, that is the **Wednesday 26th of August**. It is the 80th edition of the festival — a figure worth celebrating with tomatoes.

How the Tomatina works (what you need to know first)

The battle lasts exactly one hour: from 12:00 to 13:00. Six trucks unload more than 120,000 kilograms of tomatoes in the Plaza del Pueblo in Buñol. 20,000 participants — the official limit since 2013, when the entry system was established — throw them without rest for 60 minutes.

At 13:00 the final signal sounds. Cleaning begins. The tomato juice leaves the skin incredibly smooth — this is real, not marketing.

Tickets are mandatory and essential

Since 2013, you can't enter without an official ticket. Price: from 15€. Tickets sell out quickly — if your date is already set, buy months in advance at latomatina.info.

What to bring (and what not to bring)

• ✅ Old clothes that you can throw away afterwards — literally, not metaphorically
• ✅ Closed footwear that you can lose — flip-flops get caught in the ground
• ✅ Diving goggles or eye protection — the tomato acid in the eyes hurts
• ✅ Waterproof pouch for the phone
• ❌ Expensive clothes
• ❌ Jewelry
• ❌ Camera without waterproof case
• ❌ Open bags

How to get from Valencia to Buñol

Buñol is 38 kilometers west of Valencia on the A-3.

By train (the most practical option)

Renfe has direct services Valencia-Buñol on Tomatina day with special schedules. Time: about 50 minutes. The train leaves very early — check specific schedules on renfe.com in advance and buy the return ticket before it sells out.

On an organized bus

Several operators offer bus service from Valencia with departures very early (6:00-7:00) and return in the afternoon. They usually include admission to the festival. Convenient if you don't want to manage the train on your own.

By car

Possible but not recommended: the access roads to Buñol are closed several hours before the festival. If you are traveling by car, park outside and access by foot or local transport.

Why Valencia is the perfect base — and not Buñol

Buñol has 10,000 inhabitants and a minimum capacity for accommodation. The vast majority of the 20,000 participants in the Tomatina stay in Valencia, which has everything that Buñol cannot offer: quality hotels and apartments, restaurants, direct transport, and a city where to spend the rest of the day.

The logic is simple: you arrive in Valencia the day before, you sleep well, you wake up early for the train or the bus, you live the battle, you return, you shower in the apartment, and you have the whole afternoon and evening of Valencia ahead of you.

The Gran Turia apartments have a kitchen, two bedrooms, and the perfect location for this plan. The train station and bus departure points are less than 15 minutes away on foot.