Villanueva de los Infantes kicks off its 2026 Fair and Festivals with an opening address by José Manuel Fernández Almazán

Villanueva de los Infantes has officially inaugurated its 2026 Fair and Festivities with an emotional ceremony that brought together hundreds of residents and visitors last night in the iconic Plaza Mayor to kick off days of celebration, gathering, and community.

The event began with the traditional handover of the flag between last year's "Quinta" and those taking over this year. Six young people born in 2009, chosen by lottery, will be in charge of representing the youth of Villanueva de los Infantes during these days.

Following this, the mayor, Carmen María Montalbán, presented a gift to Eugenio Aparicio, the author of the poster announcing this year's festival book.

The Councilor for Festivities, Ana Belén Rodríguez Gallego, was in charge of introducing the town crier and listing the merits that led to his selection. Rodríguez Gallego particularly highlighted the role of young people and their responsibility in preserving traditions: “The future of our traditions lies with them. They will be the ones to keep the pride of belonging to this town alive and who, many years from now, will tell the new generations what it was like to experience the fair of Villanueva de los Infantes.”

For his part, Fernández Almazán structured his proclamation into five acts, dedicated to the five writers who are part of the Senda de las Musas: Cervantes, Quevedo, Azorín, Lorca, and Lope de Vega. Five authors linked to the literary image of Villanueva de los Infantes, a monumental and silent municipality where literature has left an indelible mark.

The proclamation took as its common thread the well-known phrase by Lope de Vega, “Let it be called Villanueva de las Musas and not Villanueva de los Infantes,” a true compliment to the town that the town crier wanted to reclaim and highlight.

Throughout his five acts, Fernández Almazán wove the town's literary history with his own personal history, recovering memories and experiences shared in his hometown with his friends, his family, and also evoking those who are no longer with us.

The proclamation concluded with a plea against depopulation and a call to open a light of opportunity for the future, reclaiming the value of Villanueva de los Infantes and the need to continue building a municipality with possibilities for new generations. After the proclamation, the sashes were imposed on the ladies and gentlemen of the Fair and Festivities, one of the most anticipated moments of the event.

The mayor, Carmen María Montalbán, was in charge of closing the ceremony, focusing on the people, the true protagonists of the festivities: “those who live here all year round, those who return because they still feel Infantes is their home, and those who choose our town to share these days with us.”

The event was attended by the Municipal Corporation and other authorities, including Senator Raúl Valero; the Provincial Delegate for Economy, Business and Employment, Miguel Ángel Díaz Brazales; and Provincial Deputy Carlos Martín de la Leona.

The ceremony was hosted by Irene Tercero and featured musical performances by Paula Ortiz and Daniel Mayor.

Afterwards, the authorities, accompanied by the Santa Cecilia Musical Group, the ladies and gentlemen, and numerous residents, headed to the Church of San Andrés to carry out the traditional Floral Offering to the patron saints, the Virgen de la Antigua and Santo Tomás de Villanueva.

The celebration continued at the old Sagrado Corazón school, where the inauguration of the senior citizens' dance took place. After the toast, the raising of the flags, the ribbon-cutting, and the inaugural dance, the 2026 Fair and Festivities of Villanueva de los Infantes were officially inaugurated.