La Tomatina 2026: Thousands of revelers paint Spain red in 120-ton tomato fight

The quiet Valencian town of Bunol has transformed into a massive, crimson-soaked battleground as tens of thousands of international revelers descended on the streets for the world's most famous food fight.

As reported , Fleets of trucks rolled into the Plaza del Pueblo dumping roughly 120 metric tons of overripe tomatoes, supplying an hour-long, high-energy spectacle.

Before a single tomato is thrown, festivities begin at 10:00 a.m. with the traditional palo jabón. A towering, heavily greased wooden pole with a prized leg of ham fixed to the top is erected in the Plaza del Pueblo.

The moment an agile participant manages to scramble to the top and dislodge the ham, the green light is given for the main event.

To prevent injuries, participants are required by local ordinance to squash their tomatoes before hurling them, ensuring projectiles don't pack a hard punch.

Turnout is capped at approximately 20,000 ticketed participants-more than double the permanent population of Buñol to keep the iconic street celebration safe and manageable.