Alicante Three Kings Parade 2027: a practical guide

What is the Three Kings Parade?

In Spain, Christmas presents are brought by the Three Kings (the Three Wise Men) on the night of 5 to 6 January, and that afternoon Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar parade through the city on floats, throwing sweets to the children. It is a free family celebration and the last big event of the Christmas season.

In Alicante it closes the council's "Navidad Gigante", the Christmas of the record-breaking giant nativity figures in Plaza del Ayuntamiento. In 2026 more than 55,000 people came out to watch (City Council). In Valencian, the council programme calls it the Cavalcada dels Reis Mags d'Orient.

When is the Alicante Three Kings Parade in 2027?

It will be on the afternoon of Tuesday 5 January 2027. The time and route have not been published yet: in 2026 the council announced the new starting point and the chair sale on 12 December (City Council). We will update this guide then.

How it went in 2026:

• 17:00: the Kings arrive at the port, at the Escaleritas de la Reina steps (Alicante Tourism).
• 18:00: they greet children at the Plaza de Toros bullring, by invitation (Christmas programme).
• 19:00: the parade leaves Avenida de la Estación, by the Palacio Provincial (City Council).
• About 21:25: it ends in Plaza del Ayuntamiento, with a message from the Kings on a stage in front of City Hall, interpreted into sign language (City Council).

The Kings' arrival at the port and the bullring greeting

In 2026 the Kings arrived at the port of Alicante, at the Escaleritas de la Reina steps, at 17:00, two hours before the parade (Alicante Tourism). About 1,000 children were waiting; there were photos with the Kings and last-minute letter collection (City Council).

They then went to the Plaza de Toros, where there was a children's show from 17:00 to 18:00 and the Kings' greeting at 18:00. Entry was by invitation, announced on the council website (Christmas programme). Before setting off, they had a short reception at the Palacio Provincial, the provincial government building (Alicante Tourism).

The parade route, street by street

The 2027 route is still to be confirmed. The 2026 route, according to the municipal tourist board (Alicante Tourism):

1. Avenida de la Estación (start, by the Palacio Provincial).
2. Plaza de los Luceros.
3. Avenida de Alfonso el Sabio.
4. Rambla de Méndez Núñez.
5. Calle Rafael Altamira.
6. Plaza del Ayuntamiento (finish).

Starting from Avenida de la Estación was new in 2026: until then the parade had started at Luceros (City Council).

About 1,300 people took part, in three "trains" (a fun one, a biblical one and a commercial one), with 24 floats, led by the Municipal Symphony Band (City Council).

No times are published for each stretch. It leaves at 19:00 and reached City Hall at about 21:25: Luceros sees it first, the Rambla about halfway, and Calle Altamira and Plaza del Ayuntamiento at the end.

Chairs: how many and where to buy them

In 2026 there were about 8,000 chairs, 1,700 more than in previous years, placed along the new stretch between Avenida de la Estación and Luceros. They went on sale on Friday 26 December at 10:00: 60% online at vivaticket.es and 40% at the Plaza de Toros box office (City Council).

The council did not publish the 2026 price. The 2027 sale will probably be announced in December: if you want a chair, watch out for the date.

Without a chair, the Rambla and Avenida de Alfonso el Sabio are wide and give you more room than Calle Altamira or Plaza del Ayuntamiento, where the finale draws the crowds.

Sweets, gifts and tips

• Sweets: in 2026 the parade handed out more than 10,000 kilos of soft gluten-free sweets and more than 20,000 gifts. The royal floats had helpers handing out safety-approved toys (City Council). A bag helps.
• Arrive early: with more than 55,000 people in 2026, it pays to find your spot before the start.
• With children: agree on a meeting point away from the route in case you get separated, and do not step into the road for sweets.
• Rain: in 2026 the council confirmed the parade on the day itself, with rain in the forecast, and moved the previous evening's parade indoors (Alicante Tourism). If the weather looks bad, check the council or tourism news that morning.
• Accessibility: the final message was interpreted into sign language. The council did not publish reserved areas for people with reduced mobility or a quiet stretch.
• Kings' Night: children leave their shoes out before going to bed so the Kings can leave the presents there.

Before the parade: the Royal Mail Carriers

Over Christmas 2025-2026:

• Royal Mail Carriers' Camp (Campamento de las Carteras Reales): in Plaza Gabriel Miró, from 26 December to 4 January, booked in advance at citaprevia.alicante.es. For the first time it was inclusive, with pictograms and headphones for people with hearing problems (City Council).
• Royal Mail Carriers' Parade: the evening before, 4 January at 18:00, planned from Plaza de España to the end of the Rambla, with letter collection. In 2026 it was moved into the Rafael Pastor sports hall because rain was forecast (Alicante Tourism).
• Royal mail carriers at the markets: on 3 and 5 January, 11:00 to 13:00, at the Central, Babel, Benalúa and Carolinas markets (City Council).

On 5 January 2026 there were also neighbourhood parades in Villafranqueza (18:30), Ciudad Jardín (18:30) and Albufereta-Playa Blanca (19:00) (Christmas programme).

Road closures, buses and tram

In 2026 the council published no notice of road closures or bus diversions for the parade, and the 2027 route may change. What we do know:

• Plaza del Ayuntamiento: since 7 January 2026 only city buses and taxis can pass, on a single lane between Jorge Juan and Altamira (City Council). You cannot drive to the finish.
• Free Christmas bus: in 2025-2026 it ran from 22 December to 6 January, 9:00 to 22:30, every 10 minutes, on a loop via the Rambla, Luceros, the station, Calle Portugal, Federico Soto and the Teatro (City Council). While the parade is on, expect it not to be able to cross the route.
• TRAM: Luceros station is right on the route. The TRAM published no special service for the 2026 parade.
• From the airport: the C-6 bus stops at Luceros and Alfonso el Sabio, on the route (airport guide). If you arrive on the afternoon of the 5th, check whether it is diverted.

Live traffic information is on the council's "Alicante se Mueve" app. The easiest option is to walk: the whole route is in the centre.

What is open and closed on 6 January?

Wednesday 6 January 2027, Epiphany, is a public holiday across Spain (BOE). What the official websites say:

• Castillo de Santa Bárbara: closed on 6 January (Castillo de Santa Bárbara).
• MARQ, Archaeological Museum: open on Sundays and holidays from 10:00 to 14:00; its website does not mention 6 January (MARQ).
• MACA, Contemporary Art Museum: Sundays and holidays 10:00 to 14:00; its website does not mention 6 January (MACA).
• Mercado Central: open Monday to Saturday, with no holiday hours given. On 5 January, the eve of a holiday, it opens 7:00 to 15:00 (Alicante Tourism).
• Free Christmas bus: in 2026 it ran until 6 January.
• Shops: the 2027 calendar of holiday opening days for the Valencia region has not been published yet.

In 2026 there were also neighbourhood events on the 6th: the Kings' arrival at La Cañada del Fenollar (9:00 to 14:30) and the La Pau de Verdegás parade (19:00) (Christmas programme). For more ideas, see the Alicante events calendar.

More Christmas in Alicante

The giant nativity scene, the lights, the markets and New Year's Eve are in our Christmas in Alicante guide. Concerts and plans for those days are in the Alicante events calendar.

If you are coming for the parade, book a place to stay near the centre early, so you can walk there and back.