Calpe Town Council today established the Commemorative Committee for the 50th anniversary of the “Moros y Cristianos” festival, a body responsible for designing and coordinating the programme of special events that will take place throughout 2026 and 2027 to mark this anniversary. The aim of the commemoration is to strengthen and raise the profile of the festival and to advance the recognition of the “Moros y Cristianos” Festival in honour of the Santísimo Cristo del Sudor as a Festival of National Tourist Interest.
The committee, attached to the Mayor's Office, is chaired by Mayoress Ana Sala Fernández and has the Councillor for Festivals, Mariola Mulet Ronda, as vice-chair and commissioner for the 50th anniversary. This body includes representatives from the City Council (tourism, culture and communication experts and one representative from each municipal group), the Association of “Moros y Cristianos”, including its president Rocío Pastor Pastor and long-standing members of different groups, as well as the local parish priest, Vicente Martínez Agulló. In total, more than twenty people linked to the world of festivals and municipal management will work together to design the commemoration.
At the first working meeting, the general outline of the commemorative programme was outlined, which will include photography, poster and festive costume competitions, a festive music contest and a series of talks on different aspects of the festival, its history and its evolution in the municipality. The organisation of a grand commemorative gala and a day of festive conviviality has also been proposed.
The committee has also proposed updating a specific socio-economic study to analyse the impact of the “Moros y Cristianos”, festival on the local economy and on Calpe's tourism profile. Looking ahead to 2027, the year in which the 50th anniversary celebrations will culminate, the festival is expected to have a prominent presence at FITUR, where it will be specifically promoted as one of the municipality's main cultural and festive attractions.
At the same time, the Town Council has begun the process of having this commemoration recognised as a Festival of National Tourist Interest.
With the establishment of this commission, Calpe Town Council is taking the first step towards putting together a comprehensive and participatory programme that will highlight half a century of festive history and reinforce the link between the “Moros y Cristianos”, festival and the identity and social life of the town.