Thousands of public transport users across the Valencian Community will continue to benefit from reduced fares after the regional government confirmed that current discounts will remain in place until December 31, 2026.

The extension, approved by the Valencian government (the Consell), means discounted travel on regional public transport networks including TRAM d’Alacant, Metrovalencia, the Alicante Metropolitan Transport (TAM) system and Castellón’s metropolitan services. The existing measures had been due to expire on June 30.

What discounts will continue?

The package keeps several key reductions designed to make public transport more affordable for families and regular commuters.

Children aged up to and including 14 will continue to travel free of charge, while young people under 31 will still receive a 50 per cent discount on eligible travel passes.

Regular users will also benefit from at least a 40 per cent reduction on season tickets and multi-trip passes. The Generalitat says it will continue contributing an additional 20 per cent towards the discount alongside funding provided by the Spanish government.

Sustainable travel remains the goal

Regional officials say the extension is intended to encourage more people to choose public transport while helping households cope with everyday travel costs.

The discounts apply across the Valencian Community’s main regional transport systems, including TRAM d’Alacant, Metrovalencia, TAM in Alicante and metropolitan transport services in Castellón.

Residents of municipalities affected by the devastating October 2024 DANA floods will also continue to receive free public transport passes until the end of 2026 under the existing support scheme. However, the reductions do not apply to Renfe Cercanías tickets that include Zone D.

Relief for regular commuters

The extension offers welcome certainty for commuters, students and families who rely on public transport every day, ensuring fares remain significantly lower for another six months.

The measure forms part of a wider package of transport support being maintained across Spain during 2026 as governments continue efforts to promote sustainable mobility while easing the financial pressure of daily travel.

By Lottie Verrier • Published: 29 Jun 2026 • 11:56 • 2 minutes read

50 permanent sculptures displayed among thousands of trees, shrubs and flowering plants
Credit: Klein-Schreuder

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The streets of Pego were transformed into a spectacular open-air theatre on Saturday June 27 evening as the town’s annual Moors and Christians festival reached its colourful climax with the much-anticipated Entrada, one of the most important events in the Marina Alta festive calendar.

Crowds packed the route as elaborately dressed participants from the town’s Moorish and Christian groups marched through the historic centre accompanied by powerful brass bands, dramatic choreography and lavish pageantry.

The procession saw the Christian side lead the parade, followed by the 2026 Ambassador, the Filà Templaries, and the Captaincy, Filà Feixucs, before the Moorish side brought the evening to a spectacular close with richly decorated costumes, music and theatrical performances.

For many residents, the Entrada is the defining moment of the four-day festival, blending centuries-old tradition with months of preparation by the local filaes, or festival groups.

A tradition rooted in centuries of history

While today’s celebrations are renowned for their dazzling costumes and festive atmosphere, the origins of the Moors and Christians festivals lie in the history of medieval Spain.

The celebrations commemorate the struggles between Muslim and Christian kingdoms during the Reconquista, when Christian forces gradually reclaimed territory across the Iberian Peninsula between the eighth and fifteenth centuries.

Rather than recreating individual historical battles, modern festivals celebrate the region’s shared cultural heritage through symbolic parades, theatrical embassies, music and colourful displays that have become a defining tradition across the Valencian Community.

In Pego, the festival has become inseparable from the town’s patron saint celebrations in honour of the Santísimo Ecce-Homo, creating almost two weeks of festivities combining religious ceremonies, concerts, family entertainment and historical spectacle. The patron saint festivities date back to the eighteenth century, while the Moors and Christians celebrations have grown into the town’s flagship annual event.

Music, costumes and community spirit

Although visitors are often captivated by the extravagant costumes, towering headdresses and flowing robes, the festival is equally famous for its music.

Every parade is accompanied by traditional pasodobles, Christian marches and Moorish marches, creating the distinctive soundtrack that has become synonymous with the celebrations across Alicante province.

Behind every squad is months of work, with local groups spending much of the year designing costumes, rehearsing formations and preparing elaborate floats and performances.

The festival also highlights the strong community spirit of Pego, with generations of the same families often belonging to the same filà, passing traditions from parents to children.

One of Marina Alta’s most colourful weekends

The Entrada formed the centrepiece of a packed programme running from 25 to 28 June, which also included the traditional Entrance of the Bands, early morning dianas, embassies, informal parades and a children’s Moors and Christians parade on Sunday.

For residents, it is the highlight of the year. For visitors, it offers a chance to experience one of the Costa Blanca’s most spectacular cultural traditions, where history, music and community pride combine to turn the streets of Pego into a living stage.