Mar de Jávea Festival to return for Easter 2026 despite ongoing local controversy

Some debates in Xàbia never seem to go away, and the Mar de Jávea Festival in La Fontana is a prime example. The event will hold its third edition in 2026, but it continues to divide opinion. Business owners in the Arenal area opposed the first two editions, not because of the festival’s musical quality, which they acknowledge has improved each year, but because it is held during Semana Santa, traditionally a time for family-oriented tourism.

Last year, they warned that staging the festival on those dates threatened the town’s peaceful atmosphere, bringing excessive noise, overcrowding, and too many hours of live music. The criticism prompted a sharp response from mayor Rosa Cardona (PP), who claimed the business association did not truly represent local entrepreneurs. The association fired back, saying Cardona was out of touch and that the festival had triggered a wave of complaints from their customers. The public exchange became one of the liveliest disputes of the season.

Despite that, little has changed. This week, organizers announced that the 3rd Mar de Jávea Festival will once again take place during the Easter holiday, on Friday and Saturday, April 3th and 4th, 2026. They said the event will “once again transform La Fontana into the epicenter of live music on the Costa Blanca.”

A first preview of the lineup has also been released, featuring some well-known Spanish pop-rock bands that are expected to draw large crowds. La La Love You, Pignoise, Íñigo Quintero, and Efecto Mariposa are among the first confirmed acts, described by organizers as “representing the best of contemporary Spanish pop-rock.”

According to the festival’s organizers, the 2025 edition attracted more than 16,000 attendees and featured over 18 hours of live music. They also emphasized the festival’s economic benefits, arguing that it “not only brings major names in live music to Xàbia, but also boosts the local economy through thousands of visitors who energize sectors such as hospitality, retail, and transport.”

José Luis Iravedra, CEO of Disparate Entertainment, the company behind the event, said the goal from the start has been “to build a high-quality festival featuring some of Spain’s most prominent artists.” He added that the team wants Mar de Jávea “to be a first-class musical experience and a genuine driver of local activity with a positive impact on the community.”

Iravedra also noted that the festival enjoys institutional backing from the Xàbia local government, the Valencian regional government, and Turisme Comunitat Valenciana. Ticket sales and additional lineup announcements are expected in the coming weeks.

Adapted from an original article published in La Marina Plaza: El Festival Mar de Jávea que los empresarios rechazan por ser en Semana Santa presenta el cartel para 2026