Behind the red chaos of Buñol lies a festival with extraordinary numbers. How many tomatoes get thrown? How many people have attended over the years? How long does the battle actually last? We’ve gathered all the official data and the most surprising curiosities about La Tomatina, from the 2024 and 2025 editions to the historic 80th anniversary in 2026.
The symbolic number: 80
2026 marks the 80th edition of La Tomatina. The first documented battle dates back to 1945, when a group of young people in Buñol started throwing tomatoes during the Giants and Big-Heads parade. From that spontaneous, chaotic moment, one of the world’s most famous festivals was born.
Attendance over the years: from zero to 50,000 (and back down)
| Year | Estimated attendance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1945 | A handful | The first spontaneous battle |
| 1980s | ~5,000 | Gradual growth after TV coverage |
| 2000s | ~20,000-30,000 | International tourist boom |
| 2012 | ~50,000 | All-time attendance record |
| 2013 | 20,000 (cap) | Introduction of paid ticketing |
| 2024 | 22,000 | Official figure from Buñol Town Council |
| 2025 | ~20,000 | Stable edition, tickets sold out months in advance |
| 2026 | 20,000 (cap) | 80th edition |
Before 2013 there was no limit at all: Buñol, a town of around 9,000 residents, was flooded by up to 50,000 people. The introduction of ticketing reduced numbers but significantly improved the quality and safety of the experience.
The tomatoes: 120 tonnes in 60 minutes
Every year between 120 and 150 tonnes of tomatoes are used – roughly 120,000 to 150,000 kg of overripe fruit hurled through the streets in a single hour. These aren’t supermarket tomatoes: they are specially grown for La Tomatina, below standard for human consumption but perfect for squashing and throwing.
With the cap of 20,000 participants, that works out to around 6 to 7.5 kg of tomatoes per person to throw in 60 minutes.
Seven trucks carry the tomatoes through the streets of Buñol during the battle.
The duration: exactly 60 minutes
The battle lasts precisely one hour, from 11:00 to 12:00. The start and finish signals are given by a rocket (cohete). Not a minute more: when the second rocket fires, everyone stops. Anyone who keeps throwing after the stop signal is escorted out by security staff.
Where the tomatoes come from
The tomatoes used at La Tomatina come mainly from Extremadura and Murcia, where they are grown in large quantities at low cost. They would never reach a supermarket shelf – their sole purpose is to become ammunition for the battle.
The Palo Jabón: the unbeatable record
Before the battle, the traditional Palo Jabón (greasy pole) takes place: a very tall pole coated in slippery soap with a ham on top. Whoever manages to climb it and grab the ham officially starts the festivities. In most editions nobody makes it – the crowd keeps splashing water on the pole to make it even more impossible. The years when someone actually reaches the top are celebrated as legendary moments by the people of Buñol.
Franco’s ban and the “tomato funeral”
La Tomatina has not always been legal. In the 1950s, the regime of Francisco Franco banned it for lacking religious significance. Participants who insisted on taking part were arrested.
The response from the people of Buñol was brilliantly absurd: in 1957 they staged the “tomato funeral” – a mock funeral procession carrying a coffin with a giant tomato inside, accompanied by a band playing funeral marches through the streets. The protest was so surreal and powerful that the authorities gave in, and La Tomatina was officially recognised as a local festival.
International recognition: 2002
In 2002, La Tomatina was declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest by the Spanish Government – the highest honour for a folkloric event. From that point, the flow of international visitors exploded, with people travelling from more than 60 different countries every year.
The numbers from the 2025 edition
The 2025 edition took place on 27th August and was another record-quality event:
- ~22,000 participants from around the world
- 120 tonnes of tomatoes used
- 7 trucks in action during the battle
- Tickets sold out months in advance
What to expect from the 80th edition – 2026
La Tomatina 2026 takes place on 26th August and is the most anticipated edition in years. For the 80th anniversary, special events are expected in the days leading up to the battle, greater international presence and commemorative initiatives throughout Buñol. Tickets are already on sale and expected to sell out earlier than usual.
This is an edition not to miss: being in Buñol on 26th August 2026 means being part of a piece of Spanish history.
