La Tomatina: Your Guide to Spain’s Tomato Festival

La Tomatina in Buñol

La Tomatina is the world-famous tomato fight held every year in Buñol, a small town about 38 km west of Valencia, Spain. It takes place on the last Wednesday of August — the next one is Wednesday, August 25, 2027. Here is what to know about its history, how tickets work, and how to fit it into a wider trip to Spain.

La Tomatina at a Glance

History and Origins:

La Tomatina dates back to 1945, when a scuffle broke out among young people during a parade of giant and big-headed figures in Buñol’s main square, and they grabbed tomatoes from a nearby market stall to throw at each other. The following year people came back with their own tomatoes, and a tradition was born. The festival was banned in the early 1950s under Franco, but townspeople pushed back — famously staging a mock “tomato funeral” in 1957 — and it was soon reinstated as an official event.

What to Expect:

1. The Tomato Battle: Trucks bring tonnes of overripe tomatoes into the center of town, and for about an hour the streets turn red as thousands of people pelt one another. In 2015 alone, almost 145,000 kg of tomatoes were thrown. Afterward, the streets are hosed down — the acidity of the tomatoes helps leave them surprisingly clean.

2. The Palo Jabón: Before the fight starts, revelers try to climb a greased pole with a ham tied to the top, while the crowd sings and dances around it.

3. Tickets and Crowd Limits: Since 2013, La Tomatina has been a ticketed event with attendance capped at around 20,000 people, to keep the crowds manageable in a town of roughly 9,000 residents. Tickets can sell out, so it pays to secure yours early.

4. The Rules: Squash tomatoes before you throw them, throw nothing but tomatoes, don’t tear other people’s clothing, and stop when the signal sounds to end the battle. Wear old clothes and closed shoes you can throw away, and goggles are a good idea.

Planning a Trip Around La Tomatina

Buñol is an easy day trip from Valencia, so most visitors base themselves in the city and make a single morning of the festival. That leaves plenty of time to enjoy Valencia itself — its old town, the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, and paella in the region where it was born — before continuing on to other parts of Spain. Juniper Tours plans private, custom trips, so we can build your Spain itinerary around the festival date, with hotels, transfers and private local guides arranged for the rest of your journey.