La Tomatina
Buñol’s tomato battle, one hour in the streets west of Valencia: official tickets, 22,000 places, the C3 train, paella packs. 2027 date not yet published.
At a glance
- One hour of tomato throwing in the streets of Buñol, west of Valencia
- Capacity capped at 22,000 people, with an official ticket only
- Single entry cost 15 euros in 2026, for access to the battle area alone
- 120,000 kg of tomatoes, grown for the battle and too acidic to eat
- Traditionally held on the last Wednesday of August, says the official site
- Official packs add a plate of paella valenciana and the post-Tomatina party
How the festival runs
Checkpoint and wristband
The official wristband is handed over at the checkpoint. Only with it on can you enter the street of the route.
The battle 1 hour
The first charge was at noon in 2026, and the tomato throwing lasts one hour.
Paella and the post-Tomatina party
For pack holders: a plate of paella valenciana, drinks and the party after the battle.
What to taste
Paella valenciana
The plate included in the official 2026 packs, with drinks, a T-shirt and the post-Tomatina party.
The palo jabón ham
Not a dish but a prize: a cured ham hung at the top of a greased pole, won by whoever climbs to it.
Horchata
Valencia’s cold tiger nut drink, sold across the region in summer.
La Tomatina is a street battle fought with tomatoes in Buñol, a town inland of Valencia, and it lasts exactly one hour. The town council, the Ayuntamiento de Buñol, organises it. The 2026 battle took place on Wednesday 26 August, starting at noon. The official site says the festival is traditionally celebrated on the last Wednesday of August, but the 2027 date had not been published on 14 October 2026.
La Tomatina, from the Plaza del Pueblo to a ticketed battle
The town council traces the battle back to a group of young people passing the time in the Plaza del Pueblo, the town square. It has since grown into a ticketed event.
- Tomatoes: 120,000 kg of a pear-shaped variety, grown for the occasion.
The tomatoes are too acidic to eat, which is why the official packs add a plate of paella valenciana.
Banned, buried, then official
The official history starts on the last Wednesday of August 1945, during the parade of giants and big heads of the patron saint festivities, in honour of San Luis Bertrán. A fall in the procession turned into a brawl, next to a vegetable stall, and the crowd grabbed its tomatoes.
- 1946: the young people come back on the same day, with tomatoes brought from home.
- Early 1950s: the battle is banned for several years. Participants are arrested and fined.
- 1957: the town stages the “entierro del tomate”, a mock funeral with a coffin holding a large tomato and a band playing funeral marches. The festival is then allowed.
- 1983: a report by Javier Basilio on Informe Semanal, the RTVE programme, takes the battle to the whole of Spain.
- 2002: Spain’s tourism authority names it a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest.
- 2013: after nearly 50,000 people crowded a town of 9,000 in 2012, the council caps the battle at 22,000 tickets.
The Museo de la Tomatina, in the Molino de Galán, tells the story all year, with a 270-degree projection room and the festival’s old posters and photographs.
Where the tomatoes come from
The organisers say the 120,000 kg come from Spanish cooperatives: pear tomatoes that do not meet the standards for sale as fresh produce, and that would otherwise be thrown away in the field.
- Tomatina Infantil: a children’s battle for ages 4 to 14, held on the Saturday before the main one.
The food side of a tomato fight
The food comes before and after the battle. The tomatoes never reach a menu.
- Paella valenciana: in 2026 the official packs included a plate of it, drinks, a T-shirt and the post-Tomatina party.
- The palo jabón: participants try to climb a greased pole to reach a ham hung at the top. The ham is the prize.
- Valencia itself: the birthplace of paella, and the natural base for the trip.
Before you go
- Date: the 2027 date had not been published on 14 October 2026. Wait for the official site before booking.
- Ticket: an official ticket is essential, as access to the battle area is limited. The council is not responsible for unofficial ones.
- Price: in 2026 the single entry cost 15 euros and covered access to the battle area only.
- Train: Cercanías line C3 links Valencia with Buñol. The trains fill up fast on Tomatina day.
- Clothes: wear old clothes and closed shoes you can throw away. Everything gets soaked in tomato pulp.
- Filming: the event is photographed and filmed by the town council.
How to get there
- Valenciaabout 40 kmLa Tomatina
Renfe Cercanías line C3 links Valencia with Buñol. On Tomatina day the trains fill up fast.
What a La Tomatina ticket covered in 2026
| Ticket | Battle access | Paella and drinks | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single entry (Entrada única) | Yes | No | 15 euros |
| Packs with partners | Yes | Yes, plus T-shirt, cloakroom and post-Tomatina party | n/a |
Source: La Tomatina official ticket page (2026 edition, read on 14 October 2026).
Frequently asked questions
When is La Tomatina 2027?
Not announced yet. On 14 October 2026 the official site had not published the 2027 date. The 2026 battle was held on Wednesday 26 August, at noon.
How much is a ticket for La Tomatina?
In 2026, 15 euros for the single entry, which covers only access to the battle area. Packs with partners cost more and include paella and drinks.
How long does La Tomatina last?
One hour. The tomato throwing lasts exactly one hour, according to the official site.
Can you eat the tomatoes at La Tomatina?
No. The 120,000 kg of tomatoes are grown for the event and are too acidic to eat.
How do you get to La Tomatina from Valencia?
By train: Renfe Cercanías line C3 runs from Valencia to Buñol, about 40 km west. Take an early one, as they fill up fast.
How many people can take part in La Tomatina?
Up to 22,000, the capacity set by the organisers.
Sources
- La Tomatina (Ayuntamiento de Buñol): official site (2026 date and time, capacity) consulted on October 14, 2026
- La Tomatina: FAQ (tradition, official ticket, distance from Valencia, Cercanías C3, unofficial tickets) consulted on October 14, 2026
- La Tomatina: tickets 2026 (single entry, packs, wristband) consulted on October 14, 2026
- La Tomatina: history (tomatoes, one hour, palo jabón) consulted on October 14, 2026
- Ayuntamiento de Buñol: La Tomatina (origins, Plaza del Pueblo) consulted on October 14, 2026
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