As Costa Blanca towns gear up for their annual run of high-energy spring fiestas, a different kind of event is quietly gaining attention, one that swaps loud crowds and all-night chaos for wine glasses, live music, and a more elevated social scene.

From Friday May 1- Sunday 3 2026, Vive Teulada Moraira will return to the coastal enclave of Moraira and the nearby historic town of Teulada, bringing with it a weekend of food, drink, and relaxed nightlife that’s fast becoming a favourite among those in the know.

Positioned as a more stylish alternative to traditional fiestas, the event is expected to draw a mix of locals, expats, and visitors looking for a social but laid-back experience at the start of the summer season.

 A festival built around movement, not mayhem

Unlike many of the region’s larger fiestas, which centre around packed plazas and scheduled events, Vive Teulada Moraira takes a different approach.

The format is simple but effective: streets filled with food stalls, wine stands, and cocktail bars, encouraging visitors to move freely between them throughout the evening. The result is a fluid, social atmosphere where people naturally mingle, stopping to sample local dishes and drinks along the way.

Rather than being tied to one location, attendees can build their own experience, moving between different areas as the night unfolds. It’s this sense of flexibility that has helped the event build a reputation as one of the most enjoyable and accessible weekends on the Costa Blanca calendar.

A soundtrack designed for conversation

Music will once again play a central role, but in keeping with the event’s tone, organisers are focusing on live performances and acoustic sets rather than high-volume club-style entertainment.

Bands and musicians will perform across various points in the town, creating a layered atmosphere that enhances the experience without overpowering it. The aim is to keep the energy flowing while still allowing visitors to talk, connect, and enjoy the setting.

This more measured approach has become a defining feature of the festival — and a key reason why it appeals to a slightly different crowd than the region’s more traditional celebrations.

A growing reputation for style and atmosphere

As the event has grown, so too has its reputation for attracting a more polished, style-conscious audience. While still informal, there’s a noticeable shift in tone compared to other local fiestas.

Visitors often treat the weekend as a proper night out, with an emphasis on dressing up and making an occasion of it. This has helped shape the overall feel of the festival, giving it a distinct identity within the Costa Blanca’s busy events calendar.

 A social highlight ahead of summer

With early May marking the transition into the busier tourist season, Vive Teulada Moraira is increasingly seen as a key warm-up event, particularly for groups planning weekend escapes or celebrations.

Its combination of good food, quality drinks, and a relaxed but lively atmosphere makes it especially appealing for birthdays, group trips, and long weekends, without the need for heavy planning.

A festival to watch

As interest continues to grow, Vive Teulada Moraira is positioning itself as one of the Costa Blanca’s standout spring events: not for its scale, but for its atmosphere.

In a region known for its louder, more traditional fiestas, this festival offers something different.

Calpe marked a vibrant return to one of its most cherished traditions this weekend with the Mig Any, the mid-year celebration of its iconic Moros y Cristianos festival, offering a colourful preview of what’s to come in 2026.

A centuries-old tradition at the heart of Costa Blanca culture

Held annually as a symbolic halfway point, the Mig Any is far more than a warm-up event. It plays a key role in sustaining the cultural heartbeat of the town, bringing together filaes (festival groups), local families, and visitors in a shared expression of history, identity and community pride.

Rooted in centuries-old traditions that commemorate the historical clashes between Moors and Christians during the Reconquista, the festival has evolved into one of the Costa Blanca’s most visually striking and socially significant celebrations.

A weekend of ceremonies, music and community spirit

Across the weekend, Calpe’s streets and squares transformed into a hub of activity. Festive dinners in kábilas set the tone on Friday night, while Saturday saw one of the most anticipated moments: the official presentation of the 2026 festival leaders.

This ceremonial handover is central to the Mig Any, symbolising continuity and honour within the participating groups: a key theme also highlighted in local council coverage shared over the weekend.

Family traditions keep the festival alive

Sunday brought a more relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, with a popular paella competition and children’s parades drawing crowds into the heart of the town.

The strong intergenerational participation – from young children stepping into costume for the first time to long-standing members maintaining decades-old roles – remains one of the defining features of the celebration.

Building momentum for the main 2026 festivities

While the main Moros y Cristianos celebrations take place later in the year, the Mig Any offers an essential moment of reconnection – a chance for participants to regroup, celebrate, and build anticipation.

For locals, it’s a reaffirmation of identity; for visitors, an intimate glimpse into one of Spain’s most captivating cultural traditions,  with Calpe now firmly on course for another spectacular festival in 2026.

Teachers across the Valencian Community are preparing for a possible indefinite strike starting on May 11, following a consultation that revealed overwhelming support for industrial action. Thousands of educators took part in the vote, signalling deep frustration within the public education system and a growing willingness to escalate protests.

The proposed start date emerged as the clear preference among respondents, ahead of alternative options such as later dates or shorter, staggered stoppages. While the final decision still requires formal approval at a union assembly, momentum is clearly building toward a prolonged strike that could extend into the final weeks of the academic year.

Deadlock in negotiations fuels unrest

At the heart of the dispute is a breakdown in talks between teaching unions and the regional education authorities. Union representatives argue that months of discussions have failed to produce meaningful progress on key issues affecting both staff and students.

Educators point to a lack of concrete proposals around salary improvements, class sizes, and investment in school infrastructure. After repeated meetings without significant outcomes, unions now describe negotiations as effectively stalled, prompting a shift toward more forceful action.

Among the central demands are measures to restore lost purchasing power, reduce overcrowding in classrooms, expand teaching staff, and improve working conditions across schools. Teachers argue that these changes are essential not only for their profession but also for maintaining education standards.

High participation expected despite concerns

The consultation results suggest that participation in the strike could be substantial. A large majority of teachers indicated they would support industrial action regardless of its format, pointing to widespread dissatisfaction across the sector.

That said, some educators remain hesitant about joining a prolonged strike. Financial pressures are a key concern, as taking part would mean a loss of income. Others worry about the timing, given the proximity to the end of the school year and the potential impact on students’ academic progress.

Even so, the overall sentiment within the profession appears to favour collective action as the only remaining avenue to push for change.

Families voice concern over student impact

The prospect of an indefinite strike has raised concerns among families, particularly as it could disrupt the final stretch of the academic calendar. Parent associations have expressed understanding and even support for teachers’ demands but are urging both sides to reach an agreement quickly to avoid prolonged disruption.

Many families acknowledge the structural challenges facing the education system, including resource shortages, ageing infrastructure, and insufficient specialist staff. These issues, they argue, go beyond labour disputes and directly affect the quality of education students receive.

A critical decision ahead

The coming days will be crucial, as unions prepare to hold a final assembly to confirm whether the strike will go ahead. At the same time, they are calling for renewed talks with the regional government in an effort to break the impasse.

If no agreement is reached, May 11 could mark the beginning of one of the most significant education strikes in the region in recent years—potentially bringing widespread disruption and placing further pressure on authorities to respond to long-standing demands.