Lorraine Williamson
The streets of Buñol turned red on Wednesday as around 22,000 people pelted one another with a record 150 tonnes of tomatoes during La Tomatina 2026. Seven lorries carried the tomatoes through the Valencian town for the 79th edition of the internationally famous food fight, which attracts participants from across Spain and around the world.
A pyrotechnic signal shortly before midday marked the start of the battle, unleashing an hour of organised chaos through the centre of Buñol.
This year’s 150,000kg tomato supply was 30,000kg higher than in 2025. The ripe pear tomatoes were grown specifically for La Tomatina and are not intended for human consumption.
The tomatoes arrived aboard seven lorries. Six followed the main route from San Luis, while a seventh was allocated to Plaza de la Diputación.
Participants had travelled from countries including Australia, the United States, Japan, China and India. Many arrived dressed in white, although shirts and shorts did not stay that colour for long.
An hour-long sea of red
Buñol’s population is fewer than 10,000, meaning the number taking part in La Tomatina was more than double the town’s usual population.
The event reached its full capacity of around 22,000 people this year. After the starting signal, the first lorry moved through the packed streets and began unloading its cargo, rapidly transforming the town centre into a sea of crushed tomatoes.
Some residents joined proceedings from balconies, spraying the crowds below with hoses and buckets of water before and during the battle.
At the end of the hour, the final signal brought the tomato throwing to a halt, and the large-scale clean-up began.
Despite the size and intensity of the event, there were few reported incidents. Municipal sources said four people required treatment after being affected by pepper spray. They were treated and subsequently discharged.
From street fight to international attraction
La Tomatina’s origins date back to the final Wednesday of August 1945.
According to Buñol council’s official history of the festival, a group of young people were watching a parade of giants and big-head figures when they tried to join the procession. A participant fell during the commotion, and a fight broke out near a vegetable stall.
Tomatoes became improvised ammunition.
The young people deliberately repeated the tomato fight the following year, bringing their own supply. Authorities subsequently attempted to prohibit the increasingly popular tradition during the 1950s, but it eventually returned and became an established local celebration.
In 2002, La Tomatina was officially declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest.
More accessible La Tomatina for 2026
This year’s event also placed greater emphasis on accessibility and inclusion.
Buñol council introduced new measures intended to make the celebration easier to navigate and understand for people with disabilities. These included a redesigned and more accessible website and the introduction of informational pictograms.
The council has described its aim as ensuring La Tomatina remains a celebration in which people can participate regardless of their circumstances.
The 2026 event was also broadcast live by RTVE, with the public broadcaster working on a documentary about the festival ahead of another milestone next year.
La Tomatina will reach its 80th edition in 2027, with organisers already looking at ways of marking the anniversary beyond the traditional one-day celebration.