Altea’s historic balconies become an open-air art gallery this summer.
Photo Credit: Altea Department of Culture

Calpe’s beachfront Creampop Festival offers free indie music this summer.
Photo Credit: Community of Valencia

Benidorm is welcoming the climax of the 6th International Mermaids & Mermen Convention this weekend. Crowds have gathered at Aqua Natura for performances, competitions and family fun that turn the resort into Europe’s mermaiding capital for five days.

What on earth is Mermaiding?

Mermaiding mixes swimming, breath-hold diving, artistic movement and marine education. Performers wear realistic-looking tails and glide underwater while sharing stories about ocean life. The activity grew from late twentieth-century roots in the United States, Canada, Australia and the Philippines. It now features official certifications, sports contests and professional shows in aquariums and theme parks worldwide. Other than entertainment, mermaiding serves as a practical way to teach respect for seas and coastal ecosystems.

Star performers arrive in Benidorm

Artists and instructors from France, Germany, Switzerland, China, the United States, Colombia and Spain have come to Aqua Natura Benidorm this week. Claire La Sirène, first professional mermaid of France and director of the Paris Aquarium team, has joined Ingrid Miss Mermaid, 2016 Miss Mermaid France and International title holder plus PADI instructor. Capitol Merman, a veterinarian and Netflix-linked triton who co-founded Syren Symposium, also attends. Mermaid Germany, founder of Merlympics and a leading European figure, appears alongside Mermaid Tanidia of Geneva Mermaids, Mermaid Zheng of Braveeer Tails, Thessa Mermaid of Thessa Mermaid Academy, and tritons Damon, Gabriel and Luis Amor. These guests lead water shows, workshops and public meet-and-greets that introduce visitors to professional techniques and career paths.

Programme focuses on competition and family fun

The Certamen Posidonia competition 2026 forms the centrepiece of the event. Rounds test technique, creativity and underwater storytelling before finals in the marine tank. Daily sessions add international exhibitions, training workshops, educational talks, boat trips and themed parties.

On July 11, Aqua Natura Benidorm is staging a special family day filled with mermaid encounters, marine activities and playful learning. Organisers Sirenas Spain and Divertysub designed every element to suit all ages and experience levels while keeping safety and fun central.

Benidorm strengthens its event credentials

By hosting this sixth edition Benidorm is making its reputation for fresh, international tourism experiences. The resort already draws millions each year with beaches and nightlife. Events such as the mermaiding convention add depth through sport, culture and sustainability themes. Partnerships with Sirenas Spain, Divertysub and Aqua Natura expand the city’s calendar and attract new visitor profiles who value active, educational holidays. Terra Natura Benidorm supports the wider project with its immersive animal and nature zones that teach conservation of more than 150 species, many threatened in the wild.

Attendance figures have climbed past two thousand in recent years. Growth reflects rising global interest in mermaiding as both performance art and environmental platform. Benidorm gains visibility as a year-round destination capable of staging specialised gatherings that mix spectacle with substance. Visitors leave with new skills, stronger ocean awareness and memories of a resort that continues to reinvent itself through creative programming.