Thousands participate in annual La Tomatina festival in Spain

Thousands of people gathered in the Spanish town of Bunol on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, for the annual La Tomatina festival. During the hour-long event, participants engaged in a massive tomato fight, using approximately 165 tons of overripe tomatoes. Trucks moved through the crowds to deliver the produce, which stained the streets and participants' clothing red. Organizers expected an attendance of over 20,000 people, with international tourists making up about 40% of the crowd in recent years.

The tradition originated from a spontaneous food fight in 1945. Although the event was banned by Francisco Franco in the 1950s, it was later reinstated and has evolved into a significant global tourism event. Its popularity saw a particular surge in visitors from India following the 2011 Bollywood film 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,' which featured the festival. The event is held annually on the last Wednesday of August, drawing crowds from across the globe to the Valencia region.