Marbella last night kicked off the San Bernabé Fair 2026 with the opening speech by Aurelio Gómez Gutiérrez, a worker in the Fiesta delegation for over four decades. The celebration will run until June 14.
The San Bernabé Fair in Marbella is now underway. The speech by Aurelio Gómez Gutiérrez, an employee of the Fiesta delegation for more than forty years, inaugurated the Semana Grande before the audience gathered on the terraces of the Marina. The celebrations will continue until June 14.
Gómez reflected on his journey since joining the old Fiesta Commission in late 1986. He recalled the auctions for attractions, the trips around Andalusia to promote the fair, and the technological and organisational changes the event has undergone over these four decades.
“If I've learned anything in 40 years, it's that the fair never turns out exactly as planned; it turns out better, worse, or simply different, but it always goes ahead thanks to the many people who work to ensure Marbella can enjoy it.”
The speaker expressed his gratitude to colleagues, collaborators, and political leaders, highlighting traditions such as the Romería de San Bernabé and the Day Fair. He also addressed the queens, ladies, king, and knight of this edition, wishing them an unforgettable experience.
The mayor, Ángeles Muñoz, congratulated Gómez after his speech and emphasised his commitment to the city. The mayor noted that the colleagues from the Fiesta delegation, along with councillor Yolanda Marín, agreed that “there was no better person” to take on this role for having experienced the fair from within for over 40 years.
“You are a man committed not only to this delegation but to this city, and you have allowed us to enjoy a journey through four decades of Marbella and its transformation.”
Muñoz added that Aurelio Gómez “represents what lies behind each of the delegations of this Town Hall” and thanked, on behalf of the municipality, the work of public employees who make large-scale events possible.
Following the speech, the coronation and band presentations took place. In the youth category, the queen is Lucía Sánchez, accompanied by Julia Álvarez, Angelina Pino, Daniela Pinilla, and Amaia Villada. In the children's category, Claudia Gómez was crowned queen alongside Martina Cazorla, Cataleya Esquivel, Ariadna González, and Isabel María Ramírez. The child king is Hugo Aguilar and the knight is Rubén Jiménez. Ainara García was chosen Miss Congeniality, with Lola García and Sofía Agüera as ladies, and María del Carmen Cervantes is this year's Popular Queen.
The inaugural evening concluded with the fireworks display ‘Prism Effect’, which lit up the beach of El Faro. The San Bernabé Fair 2026 will run until June 14.
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