Aroa Sánchez and José Antonio Buigues are revealed as Standard-Bearers for Moros i Cristians 2026

The Moros i Cristians de Xàbia are marching toward their 48th edition and are doing so by unveiling the people who will lead the celebrations in 2026. Aroa Sánchez Lora and José Antonio Buigues Llidó have been named Standard-Bearers for the Moors and Christian sides respectively and will be representing July’s fiesta in honour of Sant Jaume. They will be officially proclaimed as the 2026 Standard-Bearers during the weekend of 6–7 February, as part of a newly revamped Mig Any celebration.

This year, the festival takes another confident step toward full inclusion by appointing its first ever male Standard-Bearer. The milestone follows closely on the heels of last year’s appointment of the first female president of the Junta de Festes. Xàbia has always enjoyed breaking traditional Moros i Cristians moulds. From the very beginning, the role of the Standard-Bearer has existed independently from that of the Captains, enjoying full autonomy and strong symbolic weight at the head of the fiesta. Moreover, almost since its inception, the fiesta has welcomed mixed-gender filaes and allowed mixed squads in the Gala Parades. With José Antonio’s appointment, the celebration moves one step further along that inclusive path.

Aroa Sánchez is 22 years old and becomes the first Moorish Standard-Bearer chosen by the Filà Touaregs since its creation in 2013 and its full official recognition in 2024. She holds a vocational qualification in Care for People in Situations of Dependency and an advanced degree in Social Integration. She is currently studying Primary Education Teaching in Oviedo, with the aim of working in Special Education in the future. Aroa has been part of the festival from a very young age, growing up immersed in the festive spirit, first with the Filà Jalufos and later with the Filà Touaregs, which her family helped to found.

José Antonio Buigues, 25, belongs to the Filà Trabuquers of Xàbia, the oldest filà on the Christian side and, indeed, of the entire fiesta. He is qualified as a Technician in Sports Teaching and Socio-Sports Animation and currently works as a sports coordinator. He has been closely linked to the fiesta since childhood, always within his Trabuquers family. For the past two years he has served as leader of the men’s squad, a role he describes as “very special and important, as it meant taking over from a legendary leader like Fernando Piles”.

Discover More: Fiesta MOROS I CRISTIANS DE XÀBIA – javeamigos.com

Both new Standard-Bearers agree on the “immense pride and good fortune” of holding the role, particularly for José Antonio, who becomes the first man to shoulder the responsibility of representing an entire faction and the fiesta as a whole.

For Aroa, the role means “fulfilling a dream I’ve had since I was a child”. “In my filà, the appointment was made among the youngest members with the longest service, and everyone knew how excited I was about having the chance to live this experience.” For José Antonio, however, the appointment is proof that jokes sometimes have a way of coming true. “For years people teased me, saying I’d end up being Standard-Bearer. When the Junta de Festes approved opening the role to male representation, I decided to step forward and accept.” He also has expert advice close at hand: his sister María was Christian Standard-Bearer in 2018.

Both representatives see the change as entirely natural and face it with excitement. Aroa views the move as “innovative and logical, since many men have been living the fiesta with passion and commitment for years, and this gives them a unique opportunity to represent us firsthand.” José Antonio believes the decision strengthens the fiesta and insists that “the most important thing is that it’s seen as normal, not strange or out of the ordinary”.

Looking ahead to July, both already picture the festivities from their new vantage point. The Moorish Standard-Bearer for 2026 wants to experience everything from the inside, but above all hopes to emerge victorious from the battle and eagerly anticipates the Desembarco, the iconic act recreating the Moorish conquest of the territory. She is also particularly curious about the Gala Parades and what it feels like to experience them alone, high atop her float.

Discover More: BECOMING A MOOR – javeamigos.com

Meanwhile, the new Christian Standard-Bearer wants to savour every moment and every event with enthusiasm, but without the pressure of “being the first”, despite being well aware of the attention it will draw. “I’ll live the fiesta as I always have, with my filà and all the others, but with the added responsibility that comes with being Standard-Bearer.”

Both feel fortunate to represent the fiesta at a time when it is “more open to the public than ever”. José Antonio highlights the strong sense of brotherhood among all participants: “We all know each other, and if we don’t, we’re always eager to. That atmosphere is what makes us great.” He adds, “We need to keep moving in this direction. Little by little, more people are discovering the fiestas and falling in love with it. That’s how new filaes are born, and that’s essential for continued growth.”

Aroa agrees: “The Moros i Cristians are very visible to the public, and that public is essential to the fiesta’s success.” She adds that, as a celebration driven largely by the dedication of its members, fiesta headquarters are always open to friends and family, whether they officially belong to a filà or not. “Even if you’re not part of a filà, you can still experience and feel the fiesta just the same,” José concludes.

Both hope their respective factions will live the fiesta with the same pride and excitement they themselves bring to the role. “We’re going to give it our all, just as we would any other year, to put on a great show and make sure people enjoy it,” José emphasises. Aroa closes by saying, “The fiesta wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of the Junta de Festes and all the filaes who collaborate year after year. I only hope that everyone who comes along experiences it with the same intensity that we will.”