CA, US & World
La Tomatina 2026: 22,000 Revelers Turn Spain Red
Thousands of revelers turned the streets of Buñol, Spain, bright red Wednesday as they took part in La Tomatina, one of the world's most famous food fights.
About 22,000 people participated in this year's event, which takes place on the last Wednesday of August. The one-hour celebration featured approximately 150,000 kilograms — more than 330,000 pounds — of specially grown tomatoes that were brought into the town for the massive battle.
Participants packed into the streets as trucks carried loads of ripe tomatoes through the crowd. The tomatoes are intentionally selected for the festival and are not intended for consumption. Participants are encouraged to crush the tomatoes before throwing them to reduce the risk of injuries.
La Tomatina dates back to 1945, when a spontaneous fight broke out during a parade in Buñol. According to the town's official history, young people became involved in an altercation near a vegetable stand and began throwing tomatoes at one another. The following year, participants repeated the tomato fight on purpose.
Authorities eventually banned the event in the early 1950s, but residents continued pushing for its return. After another cancellation in 1957, locals staged a symbolic “tomato funeral” in protest. The festival was eventually allowed to return and became an official local celebration.
The event grew in popularity across Spain before becoming an international attraction. La Tomatina was officially recognized as a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest in 2002.
Today, roughly 40% of participants come from outside Spain, with visitors traveling from countries around the world. The festival has become particularly popular among international tourists, including visitors from India, Japan and other countries.
And after the hour-long food fight ends, the tomato-covered streets are cleaned up, bringing an end to another very messy — and very red — day in Buñol.
Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.
By: NBC Palm Springs
August 26, 2026
Latest Instagram Posts
Did you SEE what viewers spotted behind Brad during the Roggin Report? Eagle-eyed viewers were convinced there was something… a little questionable… sitting outside his window. But was it really a naughty garden sculpture? Or was there a much more innocent explanation hiding in plain sight? Let’s just say Brad had some explaining to do. Watch the full story and see what REALLY caused all the commotion at NBCPalmSprings.com. #RogginReport #FredRoggin #PalmSprings #CoachellaValley #NBCPalmSprings YouSawWhat OnlyInTheDesert DesertLife
Thousands of revelers took over the streets of Buñol for La Tomatina — the world’s most famous tomato fight! 🇪🇸 About 22,000 people joined the one-hour food fight, with a whopping 330,000+ pounds of tomatoes getting tossed, smashed and… well, basically turned into salsa. 😂🍅 Would you jump into this tomato madness or watch from a safe, tomato-free distance? 👀 #LaTomatina #LaTomatina2026 #Spain #Bunol #TomatoFight FoodFight Travel Festival SpainTravel NBCPalmSprings
Our Kai Beech talks with the owner of Real Italian Deli in Palm Desert about why using the best ingredients matters — even when it cuts into profits. From making their own bread to carefully choosing what goes into every sandwich, quality is at the core of the business. 🥪🇮🇹 #PalmDesert #RealItalianDeli #CoachellaValley #LocalBusiness #ItalianDeli Sandwiches PalmDesertEats NBCPalmSprings
Did you know that a tablespoon of olive oil per day is great for your health? Starkie Sours shares why in this Wellness Wednesday tip! 🥗
Dolly Parton’s Lasting Impact on LGBTQ+ Community Dolly Parton’s music touched generations — and her message of acceptance left a lasting impact on the LGBTQ+ community. ❤️🏳️🌈 In Provincetown, Massachusetts, members of the queer community are remembering the country music legend and the influence her allyship had on their lives. #DollyParton #LGBTQ #LGBTQCommunity #MusicLegend #Provincetown #CountryMusic #NBCPalmSprings
Title: Dolly’s Final Song Is Set for 2046 Dolly Parton has left fans one final musical gift. 🎶 The country music legend recorded an unreleased song that is set to be released on what would have been her 100th birthday in 2046. Parton died Tuesday in Nashville at age 80 following what her publicist described as a brief battle with cancer. Her music and legacy will live on for generations. ❤️ #DollyParton #CountryMusic #MusicLegend #Entertainment #Nashville #NBCPalmSprings
☕️ Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. Favorite Dolly song? 🎶
BREAKING NEWS: Country artist Dolly Parton has died at 80 following prolonged issues. Our Maria Noble Valdez has more here. Be sure to stay tuned nbcpalmsprings.com for more information. #dollyparton #breakingnews #nbcpalmsprings
📘Make your child the main character in a book, or give someone a special keepsake.📕 Thalia discovered this app and wanted to share it with all of you: Bookestry.com
Meet Kaydee, the newest visitor to the Big Bear Valley Eagle Nest! Kaydee has been making herself right at home — and on Sunday, she gave viewers some seriously adorable head tilts while checking out her reflection in the camera dome. Experts believe Kaydee is female based on her size compared with Shadow, who she’s recently been spotted hanging out with following the death of Shadow’s longtime partner, Jackie. Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets, Sandy and Luna, fledged a few weeks ago and are now out on their own. For now, we’re happy to follow along with Kaydee’s sweet adventures! ❤️🦅 #BigBear #BigBearValley #BaldEagle #KaydeeTheEagle #ShadowTheEagle EagleNest CaliforniaWildlife Wildlife NBCPalmSprings