Buen finde! Here is your round-up of culture news and weekend highlights for 19–22 June.
Reminder: Monday, 23 June, is a public holiday for the Festival of San Juan. Most shops will be closed.

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Festivals Weekend

It’s a double festival weekend in Valencia!

Corpus Christi events begin on Friday, 20 June, with Las Rocas—11 monumental wooden floats that will be transferred to Plaza de la Virgen. Performances and activities will take place on Saturday, but the main event is the colorful parade and mascletà on Sunday, 22 June.

Full schedule of Corpus Christi events – Visit Valencia

San Juan, celebrated on Monday, 23 June, brings bonfires to the beach. The Ayuntamiento will distribute free firewood at Malvarrosa and Cabanyal beaches. This is one of Valencia’s most popular summer festivals, so expect large crowds and late-night celebrations. Extra public transport will be available. Each municipality sets its own rules for bonfires, so check ahead.

Official guidance for San Juan – Valencia City Council

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Award-winning Food

Two Spanish restaurants, Etxebarri and DiverXO, are finalists for the title of Best Restaurant in the World this weekend in Turin, Italy.

Etxebarri and DiverXO compete for the throne – Las Provincias

Meanwhile, Valencian restaurant Enboga has won top honors at the International Fideuà competition in Gandía, where 34 cooking teams from 9 countries competed.

Enboga wins top fideuà prize – Las Provincias

Still hungry? Check out the Ruta de Paquito, where 19 bars and restaurants are celebrating the iconic lamb sandwich, or paquito.

Find participating venues

It’s also your last chance to catch Champions Burger, a family-friendly burger fest with 24 contenders, held on the pitch at Mestalla Stadium.

More info – Champions Burger Valencia

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Summer Film Fest

Cinema Jove, Valencia’s youth film festival, opens this weekend with a special focus on the early films of Ridley Scott—including Alien and Blade Runner. All screenings are VOSE (original version with Spanish subtitles).

View full Cinema Jove program

La Rambleta also launches its Cine de Verano series of outdoor films, running through 12 July. Most are VOSE, though some foreign films may be dubbed. Check ahead to be sure.

Cine de Verano schedule

Solax Cinema, a new outdoor pop-up, is screening One for the Money this Saturday in the courtyard of the L’Iber Museum in El Carmen. They have a rotating list of films for the summer.

Solax Cinema on Instagram

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Live Music

Thursday, 19 June – Berklee Ensemble Nights wraps up at CaixaForum with final performances by the KneeBody Ensemble (Albert Palau) and the Mediterranean Ensemble (Perico Sambeat).

More details – Berklee Valencia

Friday, 20 June – The Nits Voramar festival kicks off at the Marina, with a diverse lineup including Cuban hip-hop legends Orishas and indie-rock favorites Wilco.

Full schedule – Nits Voramar

Saturday, 21 June – The Palau de la Música presents a free outdoor concert featuring Valencia’s Symphony Orchestra and the Spanish Cinema Soundtrack Orchestra in the Turia Gardens.

Event details – Palau de la Música

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Literary Events

Thursday, 19 June – Club Hemingway is hosting its English-language Open Mic Night for creative writing and storytelling at Radio City, El Carmen.

Club Hemingway on Instagram

Next weekend: Book Lovers in Ruzafa will hold their Open Mic night. Seats are limited, so be sure to book ahead.

Event info – Book Lovers Instagram

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Sports & Performance

Valencia Basket faces off against Real Madrid in the Endesa League final this Friday and Sunday at the Movistar Arena in Madrid.

More info – Valencia Basket

Also this weekend, catch Contorsions, Valencia’s annual acrobatics festival. All performances are free, though some indoor shows require booking. The festival opens with an outdoor show at Plaza de la Virgen on Thursday, 19 June.

Full program – Contorsions

Looking ahead to next weekend, the Royal Yacht Club of Valencia will host the Queen’s Trophy Regatta, with over 110 boats competing.

More info – Trofeo de la Reina

Bon dia! Here is your news update for Monday, 16 June.

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Politics in Valencia and Spain

Sánchez government rocked by corruption scandal and cabinet reshuffle
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is under mounting pressure after Santo Cerdán, the PSOE’s number three, was directly implicated in an alleged kickback scheme involving public contracts. Several Valencian companies are involved, and police have searched the home of former minister José Luis Ábalos in Valencia. Following the revelations, Ábalos’s properties were vandalized with paint. In response to the growing scandal, Sánchez has reshuffled his cabinet to contain the political fallout.
“What is the UCO and what do they investigate?” – El País
“The PSOE faces its worst crisis as Sánchez reshuffles to avoid early elections” – Valencia Plaza
“The Valencian company linked to the Koldo case” – Valencia Plaza
“Home of former minister Ábalos defaced following new corruption reports” – Las Provincias

Gibraltar accord reached
Spain and the UK have finally reached a political agreement on integrating Gibraltar into the EU’s border-free zone.
“A new chapter for Gibraltar?” – El País

Pride flag stokes controversy at Ayuntamiento
The rainbow flag has become a political football for the feud between Valencia’s Socialist party and the governing Partido Popular. The PP’s alliance with the far-right party, Vox, has attempted to roll back laws protecting trans rights. Now the Socialist party is demanding that the mayor’s office display the rainbow flag during the 28 June Pride Day parade to show its commitment to LGBTI rights.
“The rainbow flag renews tension at Ayuntamiento” – Levante

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Changing City

Metro reopening in L’Horta Sud delayed again
Repairs to Metro Line 1 in the flood-damaged Zona Cero area have been delayed once more, now expected to reopen in late June.
“Metro delays frustrate commuters in southern Valencia” – Valencia Extra

Valencia becomes Spain’s busiest—and most congested—airport
Despite record-breaking passenger numbers, airport expansion plans in both Valencia and Alicante remain on hold.
“Valencia Airport is Spain’s most congested” – Levante
“Airport expansion projects on hold despite record numbers” – Valencia Extra

Noise complaints lead to new restrictions
The city is cutting back terrace hours in student-heavy zones like Plaza del Cedro and Honduras due to rising nighttime noise complaints. Meanwhile, residents near the City of Arts and Sciences presented evidence that summer music festivals are producing decibel levels well above the legal limit.
“Valencia shortens terrace hours in student-heavy neighborhoods” – Valencia Plaza
“Decibel levels near Les Arts more than double the legal limit, residents say” – Las Provincias

Port plan opens for public comment
A new zoning proposal for the southern zone of Valencia’s port is now available for public consultation.
“Public can weigh in on port development plan” – Valencia Plaza

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Crime and Policing

Armed robbery cases spark concern — but violent crime overall is down
Police made arrests in two separate violent robbery cases: one at Malvarrosa beach, where three suspects nearly beat a man to death over a phone; and another in Monserrat, where a gang broke into homes and threatened families with knives. Despite the headlines, police say violent robberies have fallen nearly 15% this quarter.
“Three arrested for attempted murder at Malvarrosa beach” – Las Provincias
“Police dismantle home-invasion gang that threatened families with knives” – El País

School violence cases spark outrage
A school is under scrutiny for its handling of a 2023 assault case during a class trip, in which several minors were accused of gang sexual assault. The alleged victim left the school, while those accused remained with little apparent oversight.
“Minors accused of gang sexual assault remain in school under vague ‘non-explicit’ surveillance” – El País
In another incident, six students were arrested for ambushing a peer with sticks and makeshift weapons outside a school.
“Six minors arrested for assault with sticks” – El País

Second Turia River drowning in a week
Police are searching for the body of a young man who is believed to have drowned at the Acequia de Tormos dam in the Turia River. It is the second incident in a week in the same area. The river used to be a popular place to cool off in the summer heat. The area is no longer safe for swimming, however, with flood debris and wreckage still piled up on the banks and bed of the river.
“Turia disappearance: Police searching for young man where another drowned 7 days ago” — Levante

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Environment and Climate

Mediterranean sea temperatures soar
Sea surface temperatures have already reached 25ºC—more typical of mid-summer—raising alarm about marine life and potential heatwaves.
“Mediterranean already at peak summer temperatures” – Las Provincias

Mysterious white spill closes La Safor beaches
Seven beaches in La Safor were closed after a viscous white substance washed ashore. Although tests found no toxicity, red flags were raised as a precaution.
“No toxicity found in mysterious white beach spill” – Valencia Plaza

Tourist arrested for damaging stalactite
A tourist was arrested for breaking off a natural stalactite during a guided tour of Les Coves de Sant Josep, a major underground river and protected natural site near Castellón.
“Tourist arrested for stalactite break” – El País

El Perellonet to be the first district powered by solar
The Valencia City Council has greenlit a pilot project to make the beach community of El Perellonet the first district in Valencia to be completely powered by renewable energy. The photovoltaic panels will provide shade for municipal parking while powering the area.
“El Perellonet to be first in solar power project” — Valencia Plaza

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Housing and Economy

Valencia’s housing market gets global spotlight
A New York Times feature highlighted Valencia’s surging demand for high-end housing, showcasing a $1.4 million property as an example of the city’s shifting real estate market.
“A $1.4 million home in r, Spain” – The New York Times

Elon Musk vs. Amancio Ortega over Valencian land
Two billionaires are vying for strategic industrial land near Valencia, potentially for a battery plant.
“Battle over industrial land heats up” – Las Provincias

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Sports News

Valencia Basket makes Endesa League finals
The men’s team has defeated Tenerife to reach Spain’s Endesa League finals for the third time in club history.
“Can Valencia Basket win the Endesa League?” – Sport

Teen tennis star from Valencia becomes world number one
A Valencian teenager has taken the top spot in international tennis rankings, following in the footsteps of Alcaraz and Nadal.
“Valencian tennis player reaches global #1 ranking” – Las Provincias

100 days of silence from Valencia CF’s owner
Fans grow increasingly frustrated as Kiat Lim, the club’s new owner, has yet to make any public statements or appearances.
“100 days of silence from Valencia CF’s owner” – Las Provincias

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Culture News

“Spaniards speak in sounds”: Uruguayan influencer breaks it down
A viral video by a Uruguayan content creator based in Valencia has sparked laughs — and recognition –among Spanish speakers, poking fun at how Castilian Spanish often replaces words with expressive but ambiguous sounds.
“They’re from another world” – Las Provincias