Valencia Approves €340K Las Fallas Funding for 2027–2029 but Rejects 3-Day Ofrenda Proposal

Two major decisions were announced this week that will shape how Valencia's signature spring festival, Las Fallas, unfolds in 2027. The Central Board of Fallas (Junta Central Fallera) approved a funding plan spanning 2027 to 2029. However, Fallas committees failed to extend the flower offering to the Virgin of the Defenceless (Ofrenda de flores a la Virgen de los Desamparados) to three days after falling short of the required votes.

Over the next three years, the city will spend more than €340,000 on celebrating Fallas. €317,088 will go directly into the prize pool, while an additional €24,715 will be allocated as subsidies for cultural activities. The prizes are designed to reward the creative dedication of the Fallas committees, which spend months crafting monuments and performances for the festival.

“Our government team has always recognised that the Fallas committee is the heart and soul of this festival, and we back that up with real action. Today, we are increasing prize money for Fallas participants, building on the €65,000 allocated in 2025. In total, during our current term, we have raised prize funding by €115,000,” stated Santiago Ballester, Councillor for Fallas at Valencia City Council.

Under the new allocation, major fallas monuments will receive upwards of €139,173, while the Cavalcada del Ninot (the traditional costume and figure parade) will receive up to €30,400, and street lighting will be allocated €12,000. The children's category will receive roughly €67,000 in total. The cultural department will distribute remaining funds across Valencian-language theatre, literary competitions, committee presentations, and audiovisual projects.

The first prizes for Fallas committees were introduced in 1887, and the Valencia City Council has officially awarded them since 1901. The Central Board of Fallas evaluates monuments based on originality, artistic craftsmanship, and visual impact. For many committees, these awards bring not only immense prestige but crucial financial support, given that constructing a top-category falla monument can cost tens of thousands of euros.

The second major decision centres on scheduling rather than finances. At an assembly of Fallas committee presidents on July 21, over 62% of votes were cast in favour of expanding the Ofrenda procession to three days instead of the current two. However, the proposal fell just 15 votes short of the required supermajority. As a result, the Ofrenda at Fallas 2027 will proceed according to its traditional two-day schedule on March 17 and 18.

The extension was proposed to accommodate the growing number of registered parade participants and prevent the midnight bottlenecks seen in recent years. Organisers estimate that under the two-day schedule, the procession could regularly stretch past 4:00 AM.

Several alternative measures were discussed at the meeting—from cancelling the night fireworks displays on March 17 and 18 to free up parade hours, to barring committees outside the municipal boundaries of Valencia from participating in the main procession.