What to do in Valencia this fortnight, starting today, September 26, and running until October 6, 2026, has more than enough answers: the city and the rest of the Valencian Community are hosting a street circus festival, large-scale exhibitions, opera, concerts, and even a modernist festival just outside Alicante. We'll review, section by section, the plans worth adding to your calendar.
ValenCirc 2026: the circus takes over the streets of Valencia
The circus returns to the streets, squares, gardens, theaters, libraries, and cultural spaces of Valencia and other municipalities with a new edition of ValenCirc, the festival dedicated to contemporary circus, now in its 14th year. From September 26 to October 12, 2026, the event will feature more than 75 activities, including shows, workshops, and parallel events, most of which are free.
The program kicks off on Saturday, September 26th with the BOBAS Parade, by Cia. Jimena Cavalletti and other companies, at 7:00 pm at the Teatre El Musical. On Sunday the 27th, there will be another performance at 6:00 pm, while at noon you can see Pasillo 3, by Circo Sombra & Cia. If you prefer to wait until the long weekend, on Friday, October 2nd, the Sala Matilde Salvador at La Nau will host Abans de caure, by Barreto and La Victoria, at 7:00 pm, one of the highlights before the festival closes on October 12th.
What exhibitions can we visit these days in Valencia?
Valencian museums also have reason to celebrate. The free, unprecedented exhibition "Rubens in Valencia" at the Museum of Fine Arts can be visited until October 4th, while the immersive journey through the lost temples of Egypt remains open until October 5th. Those looking for more flexible plans can enjoy the exhibition and activities "Alice's Worlds," as well as the exhibition "Cristina de Middel. Apotheosis Now," both of which are open until October 12th. And for those who prefer natural heritage, the exhibition on L'Albufera at the IVAM in Valencia continues until October 18th.
Concerts, opera and live music for all tastes
This week's musical agenda combines a wide range of genres. On October 1st, La K'onga takes to the stage at Sala Moon as part of their Cuartetour Europa 2026, while the Palau de les Arts revives a classic: on October 2nd, Georges Bizet's opera "Carmen" will be performed at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, the same night Andrés Suárez performs at Sala Moon. October 3rd brings the Candlelight sessions, with "Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer" and "Candlelight: The Innate Law" at the Ateneo Mercantil in Valencia, in addition to the Film Symphony Orchestra's 26/27 tour at the Sala Iturbi in the Palau de la Música. The following day, October 4th, the Agrupació Musical Sant Isidre participates in the El Palau amb les Bandes series, also at the Palau de la Música.
What are the plans for leaving the city of Valencia?
If you're looking for a change of scenery, Alcoy is the perfect choice this weekend. For a week, Alcoy steps back more than a century to recapture the atmosphere of the early 20th century with its Modernist Fair, featuring costumed characters, music, guided tours, tastings, and activities that allow you to discover its extraordinary architectural heritage. The 2026 edition is dedicated to the Alcoy-born composer Gonzalo Barrachina, author of the music for the Festival Anthem, and takes place from September 21st to 27th in Alcoy, Alicante, so we still have time for its final stretch this Saturday and Sunday.
Sports, fireworks and other events of the week
The agenda for these ten days also includes sport and the most boisterous traditions. On October 5th, the final of the 52 Super Series 2026 will be held in La Marina de Valencia, while the city will also host the International Pyrotechnics Congress and the Children's Moors and Christians Parade in Plaza del Tossal that same day, a festive preview of the October long weekend.
How do we organize these ten days in Valencia?
With so many options, the most practical approach is to choose two or three plans per weekend and leave room for sightseeing: a morning at the ValenCirc circus, an afternoon at a free museum with Rubens, and an evening at a concert or Candlelight Festival perfectly fill a full weekend in Valencia. If you're up for venturing outside the city, Sunday is a good day to visit Alcoy before its Modernist Fair ends. And if you prefer to stay near the sea, October 5th at La Marina de Valencia offers the chance to combine high-level sailing competition with the atmosphere of the Moors and Christians festival in the historic center.
The images in the news story are for creative purposes only and do not reflect the reality of what is presented.
