Valencia Weekend: Fiesta de la Virgen de los Desamparados
Buen Finde! There’s plenty to fill this spring weekend. It’s the Fiesta de la Virgen de los Desamparados with fireworks, processions, and a mascletà. Valencia is also gearing up for food festival season, starting with Urbanitas del Vino and La Ruta de los Cocques. Plus, Valencia Photo launches its 2026 edition this weekend.
A heads-up before you head out on Thursday: A taxi strike will cause traffic diversions and road closures across the city centre from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Plan accordingly.
Fiesta de la Virgen de los Desamparados
Valencia’s festival in honour of its patron saint, the Virgin of the Forsaken, takes place this weekend. The programme includes choir concerts, traditional dance, and religious processions through Ciutat Vella. Expect fireworks at midnight on Saturday, and on Sunday, a mascletà takes place at Plaza del Ayuntamiento, in addition to the main procession from the Basilica.
Full program: Visit Valencia — Fiesta de la Virgen
If you have a sweet tooth, it’s a good time to indulge in Geprudetes, the sweet almond and pumpkin cakes sugar-dusted with the image of the Virgin Mary, affectionately known as La Gepdrudeta, or the little hunchback, for the heavy cloak draped across her shoulders.
For more reading: Les Geperudetes regresan a los hornos de Valencia: así es el dulce que acompaña la fiesta de la Virgen – Valencia Bonita
Visual Art & Exhibitions
Valencia Photo opens its 2026 edition this weekend, running through 12 June across multiple venues citywide. This year, the festival is collaborating with OceanFest and the dance festival 10 Sentidos, with exhibitions, photographer talks, and workshops at galleries and public plazas.
Full programme: Valencia Photo
Food & Gastronomy
La Ruta de les Coques, Valencia’s celebration of the traditional open-faced coca, is in its final stretch — running until 18 May across participating bars and restaurants citywide. Venues are putting their own spin on this classic snack, and diners vote for their favourites. Worth doing this weekend before it closes.
Participating restaurants: La Ruta de les Coques
Also getting underway: Urbanitas del Vino, the second edition of a wine festival showcasing producers from the Utiel-Requena region, runs from 7 May through 21 June in the maritime neighbourhoods of Cabanyal and Malvarossa. Wine tastings, tours, and events — booking recommended for specific sessions.
More info: Urbanitas del Vino
Feria del Libro
The last few days of Valencia’s annual book fair at Jardines Viveros runs through Sunday, 10 May. Book stalls, author signings, readings, and talks — most events in Spanish and Valencian. Free entry and no booking needed, with plenty of food stalls and cafes to keep you fuelled. A good weekend to go if you haven’t made it yet.
More Info: Feria del Libro
Live Music
Jardi Electronic opens at the Jardín de las Hespérides in the Botanic neighbourhood on Saturday, 9 May. This open-air electronic music series has moved from Parque Central to a new location this year. Booking recommended.
Tickets and details: Instagram Jardi Electronic
Fem Ho Jazz Festival runs 9–10 May and 17 May at Centre Cultural La Beneficència in El Carmen, organised by Valencia’s Diputació. Free entry.
More Info: Fem Ho Jazz
Salomé at Les Arts — final performance on 9 May before the production closes. The next opera at Les Arts is Turandot in June.
Tickets and program: Les Arts
Sense Sentits — an immersive choral performance at the Centre del Carme on 10 May, drawing on medieval and contemporary classical music. Free entry.
More details: CCCC
Community Calendar
English Theatre Valencia has 2 events coming up this May. Poetry reading of Robert Frost on Sunday, 10 May at Olhops. Plus, a new play reading and discussion on 27 May.
Acting in English has a full program of events. Including a new Creative Writing Group with Julia Rainer on Wednesday, 13 May. Plus, Sangeeta Singh is debuting an independent film screening of the 2017 Palestinian film, Wajib, on Sunday, 17 May.
The Shape of Her opens on Friday evening, 8 May, an exhibition of visual arts works by five women artists at El Mago Libre in Botanico.
The Giving Table hosts its 2nd charity dinner on Saturday, 23 May in support of the Palestinian refugee community here in Valencia. Organizers put together dinners at local restaurants, with a portion going to charities. For more details, join via their WhatsApp Community.
Padel Social at Padel Alboraya on 31 May — €12 to enter, open to all levels. You’ll be matched with a partner and grouped by ability for a series of short matches. Message the admins in the WhatsApp community for details. Join via WhatsApp community
Coming Up
VLC Negra (18 – 24 May): Valencia’s crime fiction festival returns. This year’s edition is dedicated to Agatha Christie. Most sessions are in Spanish, though some international authors may be moderated bilingually. Free, booking recommended for individual talks.
10 Sentidos (14 – 26 May): Valencia’s dance and literature festival with a special focus this year on Palestinian traditional dance. Collaborating with Valencia Photo and OceanFest.
OceanFest (18–24 May): Based at the Oceanographic and various venues. A full week of talks, workshops, music, and performance around ocean themes.
Deleste Festival (22–23 May): Outdoor musical festival at Jardines Viveros. This year’s headline acts include Primal Scream and Röyksopp. Tickets required.
Featured Image courtesy of 19Tarrestnom65, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
