New reasons to travel to Valencia in 2026

The city celebrates the Third Jubilee Year of the Holy Chalice and inaugurates new spaces that enrich its cultural offer.
Green will be the color of the year with original urban gardens, the XII Gay Games will arrive with a message of inclusion, and the Valencian sky will offer a unique spectacle with the total solar eclipse of August.

Third Jubilee Year of the Holy Chalice: history and Valencian splendor

Valencia is preparing to show the world one of the most venerated relics of Christianity and to demonstrate that only a city with the greatest economic, artistic, and social splendor of the Mediterranean in the 15th century could become the seat of this coveted treasure. From October 30, on the occasion of the III Jubilee Year of the Holy Chalice, visitors will be able to enjoy a unique experience: obtaining plenary indulgence, a privilege reserved for such exceptional occasions. In addition, every Friday a two-hour guided tour departs from the Tourist Office in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, exploring the history and symbolism of the sacred relic.

Valencia, capital of art: new museum for Sorolla

In 2026, Valencia will take a decisive step in its cultural projection with the opening of the Sorolla Museum at the Palace of Communications, in the very heart of the city. This space will bring together more than 220 works by the Valencian painter, loaned by the Hispanic Society of America, and will turn Valencia into the European headquarters of a benchmark in Hispanic art. The new museum adds to other recent projects such as El Paleontológic, an interactive museum that hosts one of the best fossil collections in Europe.

The city goes green

Valencia continues to expand its green spaces in 2026 with renaturalization projects. Next to the Botanical Garden and the Jesuit Church, the Trini Simó Garden will add 8,000 square meters of Mediterranean agricultural landscape, including traditional horticultural crops. At the foot of the Serranos Towers, a section of the Turia Garden will be transformed into a paradise for pollinating insects. In addition, more than 60 green areas will be enhanced with native flora, ponds, and shelters for birds and bats. With European funding and expert guidance, Valencia advances towards a greener, healthier city connected with nature.

Night of total darkness: Valencia, protagonist city of the 2026 solar eclipse

On August 12, 2026, Valencia will be one of the main European urban enclaves from which a total solar eclipse can be observed, a unique astronomical phenomenon that will not occur again in the Iberian Peninsula until 2090. Although it will still be daylight, at around 8:32 p.m. the city will be plunged into total darkness for just over a minute, as if night had arrived early, before returning to the evening light. Open spaces facing west are expected to be the best observation points. An unmissable event for astronomy lovers.

The XII Gay Games: sport, diversity, and inclusion in Valencia

From June 27 to July 4, 2026, Valencia will become the global epicenter of equality and sport with the XII Gay Games. With more than 3,000 participants and 37 disciplines open to all genders, the city will celebrate inclusion, achievement, and participation. This international event not only offers sports competitions but also cultural and social activities that consolidate Valencia as an open, modern city proud of its diversity.

The Church of Santos Juanes shines again

After more than four years of restoration, the Church of Santos Juanes (1692), in the historic center, recovers its baroque splendor. Antonio Palomino’s frescoes, sculptures, stuccoes, and gilding have been restored with maximum precision, returning the temple to its original majesty. This architectural and artistic jewel enhances the city’s cultural offer, combining devotion, art, and heritage. An essential visit to discover Valencia’s cultural wealth.

Roig Arena: the new cultural and sports heart of Valencia

The Roig Arena has transformed the city’s cultural and sporting life. With a capacity for more than one million attendees per year, it hosts concerts, major events, and Valencia Basket matches. It also offers gastronomic options open daily to the public and an underground parking lot with 1,000 spaces. With an investment of 400 million euros led by Valencian businessman Juan Roig, this venue, considered among the best arenas in the world, is already an urban icon redefining leisure in Valencia.

Valencia, stage of great sporting events in 2026

The Roig Arena will host the first major sporting event of the year: the Basketball King’s Cup (February 19–22), followed just a week later by the Volleyball King’s Cup. On April 19, the Ironman Valencia will take place, and the S.M. La Reina Trophy will arrive in early July at the Royal Nautical Club. In early November and December, the Half Marathon and Marathon will be held, both with a new lottery-based registration system to ensure equal participation opportunities. The Motorcycle Grand Prix (November 20–22) completes a unique sporting calendar with disciplines for athletes, spectators, and tourists seeking thrills.

Valencia, safe destination and leader in healthcare with new private hospitals

In 2026, Valencia strengthens its leadership in healthcare with the opening of new private hospitals, forming a new healthcare hub in the south of the city. The Ascires Biomedical Hospital will be equipped with cutting-edge medical technology for detecting and treating complex pathologies; the Vithas Valencia Turia Hospital will offer advanced technology and comprehensive care in a state-of-the-art building; and Quirónsalud, the reference hospital for Roig Arena and Valencia Basket, is working on the opening of a new hospital with 116 rooms and 16 operating theaters. The city completes this offer with established centers such as IMSKE of the Ribera group (specialized in traumatology and rehabilitation), INCOT Institute of Quirónsalud (a leader in orthopedics), and internationally recognized fertility clinics. Valencia thus positions itself as a safe destination and leader in health tourism in the Mediterranean.