Xàbia’s Moros i Cristians Kick Off Their 48th Edition with a Festive Bang

The Moors & Cristians Xàbia has officially launched its 48th edition. This year’s Mig Any celebration marks a turning point, closing one chapter for outgoing representatives and welcoming new faces who will become the fiesta’s leading figures in honour of Sant Jaume. For the first time, the celebration was fully concentrated in Duanes de la Mar, boosting participation and restoring the fiesta’s open, community-focused spirit.

Last Friday’s ceremony on Avenida Lepanto featured standout honourees. Ángel José Mestre Puig and Victoria Hernández López were named the 2026 Captains of the Filà Al-Tarik’s. Meanwhile, Aroa Sánchez Lora of Filà Touaregs and José Antonio Buigues Llidó of Filà Trabuquers de Xàbia were proclaimed the 2026 Moorish and Christian Standard Bearers. These four now serve as the public faces of the festival for the year ahead.

The event made history: José Antonio Buigues is the first male ever to hold the title of Christian Flag Bearer, while Aroa Sánchez becomes the first female Moorish Flag Bearer appointed by her Filà since its founding in 2013. Filà Al-Tarik’s celebrates its third Captaincy.

Presented by Carmen Torres and Alberto Cardona in front of nearly 400 attendees, the ceremony began with José Antonio, Christian Flag Bearer 2026, meeting Xàbia’s mayor, Rosa Cardona, along with the councillor for responsible for Fiestas, Mavi Pérez (CpJ), and the President of the Junta de Festes, Mónica Leal, to receive his ceremonial sash. Aroa followed suit, officially leading the Moorish troops. When Captains Ángel and Victoria were introduced, the audience rose to applaud. Filà Al-Tarik’s takes over from Filà Pirates de Sant Jaume and embarks on a year filled with dedication, excitement, and hard work.

The evening also honored the efforts of 2025’s leaders. The outgoing Flag Bearers, Elvira Vives Segarra (Filà Schaitans) and Ana Bisquert Ribes (Filà Bandoleres), and the Captains of Filà Pirates de Sant Jaume, Rosa Zamora Selva and José Leal Reina, were recognized for their outstanding representation of the festival over the past year. Although Elvira Vives could not attend, her dedication and joyful presence remain part of the festival’s history. Bisquert delivered heartfelt farewell words on behalf of herself and her colleague.

Adding to the festivities, the group Endanza performed, and the new Filà Fúries was officially introduced, bringing the total number of Filaes to 14 and balancing the Moorish and Christian sides of the festival.

In her closing remarks, Mónica Leal praised the bold decision to adopt a new Mig Any format. Throughout the evening, the fiesta’s origins in 1996 and its evolution were remembered, along with the last time it was celebrated in public 15 years ago. Leal congratulated everyone for embracing a new model that has revived the original spirit of Mig Any, a fiesta open to residents and visitors alike.

The event concluded with the mayor and fiesta councillor for Fiestas thanking Mónica for her initiative and congratulating the new representatives for the exciting year ahead.

The Mig Any 2026 presentation not only celebrated past achievements and honored previous leaders but also looked to the future with optimism, showing a festival that continues to grow, evolve, and embrace values like equality and community participation without losing its unique identity.