What is La Tomatina?

Adobe Free Stock / Cavan for Adobe

Ever wondered what it feels like to be pelted by overripe tomatoes while standing in a quaint Spanish town square?

No? Well, you may be missing out on the legendary, slimy and outright weird event that attracts 20,000 people to the town of Buñol each August - La Tomatina.

What Is La Tomatina?

La Tomatina is an annual tomato-throwing festival and arguably the world's biggest food fight.

One minute you're standing in a peaceful Spanish town.

The next, you're dodging 150,000 kilos of squashed tomatoes like you're in some sort of fruit-based battleground.

Where Is La Tomatina?

La Tomatina happens in Buñol, a small town about 40 minutes west of Valencia.

The entire event takes place in the town's main square and surrounding streets. It's intimate enough to feel personal, yet big enough to feel epic.

What is the History of La Tomatina? 

La Tomatina started in 1945 during a parade in Buñol. Nobody knows exactly why, but a spontaneous tomato fight broke out.

Maybe someone got hangry. Maybe it was just a way to liven up an average Wednesday. Either way, it stuck.

Authorities weren't impressed and banned La Tomatina in the 1950s. However, the locals weren't having it.

In 1957, the people of Buñol held a tomato funeral protest - because nothing says civil disobedience like mourning fruit.

Somewhat surprisingly, it worked. The pressure forced the local authorities to lift the ban in 1959 and La Tomatina has been going strong ever since.

By the mid-to-late 20th century, La Tomatina had gained serious traction.

In 2002, Spain officially declared it a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest.

That's basically the government saying Spain is committed to keeping La Tomatina physically and culturally on the map.

Why Is La Tomatina Celebrated?

Or to put it another way; why do thousands of people travel to Spain to throw food at each other?

Simply put, pure unadulterated joy. There's something beautifully absurd about a massive food fight with no deeper meaning.

It's chaos for chaos' sake. In a world of complicated problems, sometimes you just need to throw a tomato.

And it seems a lot of us are fully on board. The festival attracts global visitors, plenty of media attention and is even featured in travel guides the world over.

When Is La Tomatina?

La Tomatina falls on Wednesday 27th August 2025.

And this year is a special one as the event celebrates its 80th anniversary. 

What Happens at La Tomatina?

Basically, La Tomatina is a festival that sees crowds engage in a large-scale tomato fight.

Starting at midday, the chaos lasts for around one hour.

It's like a very messy lunch break that somehow became world famous.

You might be forgiven for assuming that tomatoes kick off proceedings. But in fact, the first course of the day is a good old joint of ham.

The Palo Jabón event is a 'greasy pole' contest, which sees brave souls try to climb up a pole to retrieve a ham. Yes, a ham. Spain doesn't mess about when it comes to cured meat prizes.

Once someone grabs the ham, the tomato fun begins. A loud bang signals the start of the throwing. 

Then, 20,000 people armed with over 150,000 kilos of squashed tomatoes are let loose.

Wikimedia Commons / flydime

What are the Rules of La Tomatina?

The official rules of La Tomatina are straightforward. They're designed to keep everyone safe during the festival's chaotic tomato fight.

• You must squash the tomatoes before throwing them to avoid hurting anyone.
• Don't tear or throw other people's clothes.
• Everyone must stop throwing tomatoes immediately at the second firecracker/loud bang.
• Participants must always follow instructions from security and event staff.
• Bringing hard objects into the fight is forbidden.

After the event, fire trucks and hoses wash down the streets and participants.

You might be wondering how on Earth this small town manages a clean-up on such an epic scale?

Luckily, Mother Nature lends a helping hand. Along with the massive hose-down, the natural acidity of the tomatoes helps to sanitise the town.

Once the dust has settled, La Tomatina leaves the streets of Buñol looking oddly clean.

It's perhaps the only instance on Earth of organised chaos having a positive impact on local communities.

Where Do the Tomatoes Come From?

At first glance, it may seem that a food fight on this scale is a bit of a waste. After all, isn't that a perfectly good tomato you've just lobbed at a stranger?

Well, not exactly. The tomatoes used in La Tomatina don't come from your local supermarket.

They're a specific, low-grade variety grown just for the festival on a farm in Extremadura, a region in the southwest of Spain.

Adobe Free Stock / beerfan

Deliberately overripe and soft, they're perfect for squishing and hurling without causing any real harm.

Think of them more as fleshy, red projectiles than a key ingredient for a Bolognese.

When the last Wednesday of August rolls around, six huge lorries turn up in Buñol, packed to the gills with these mushy beauties.

It's a precisely organised operation, with the 150,000 kilograms of fruit being dumped in a series of strategic drops down the main street.

So, while it looks like pure chaos, there's a serious amount of planning and cooperation involved.

All things considered, it could be said that the festival isn't a massive waste of food.

Rather, it's an inventive way of attracting visitors to Buñol while using a crop that isn't fit for consumption.

And, let's be honest, it's probably a lot more fun to throw this type of tomato than to eat it.

Adobe Free Stock / jonnysek

The Cultural Impact of La Tomatina

La Tomatina isn't just a local Spanish oddity anymore; it's gone global.

The festival features in the Bollywood film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, as well as in video games and travel documentaries.

Other countries have tried copying it - Colombia, China, Costa Rica and even Reno, USA host their own versions. 

But for many travellers, nothing beats the original.

Maybe there's just something special about doing this in the town where it all started. Where a random food fight became a cultural phenomenon.

Wikimedia Commons / flydime

How to Experience La Tomatina: A Guide for Travellers

As you might expect, hitting an event as wild as La Tomatina requires a little planning.

Here are some things you'll need to consider and factor in ahead of time. 

Do you Need a Ticket for La Tomatina?

Since 2013, you need tickets to attend La Tomatina.

Authorities cap attendance at 20,000 for safety reasons. So, it's best to book early or risk watching from the sidelines with major tomato FOMO.

La Tomatina Packing List

To get the most out of the world's biggest food fight, here are the essential items for your La Tomatina packing list:

• Old clothes: The tomato pulp and acidity will likely ruin your clothes, so it's best to wear something you're not attached to. 
• Closed-toed shoes: These are highly recommended to avoid injury and keep the mess out.
• Goggles: Protect your eyes from the tomato pulp and seeds - goggles are a crucial item you won't want to forget.
• Waterproof Camera and/or Phone Case: If you want to capture the chaos, you'll need a waterproof camera and/or phone case. Essential for gathering that all-important visual proof that you were there.
• An eSIM for Spain: If you didn't post it, did it even happen? Staying online is all part of the fun and a Soaish eSIM is the best way to do it. 

Where to Stay for La Tomatina 

It's a good idea to book accommodation in Valencia, not Buñol.

Buñol has limited accommodation options and prices inevitably skyrocket in the area during festival time.

How to Get to La Tomatina 

As most people stay in Valencia, they tend to commute to Buñol by train or bus. 

The journey is relatively hassle-free and takes around 40 minutes each way.

Wikimedia Commons / Rui Reis 

Stay Connected on Your La Tomatina Travels

Thinking of joining the glorious mess that is La Tomatina? Don't forget to grab an eSIM for Spain before you go.

You'll need it to navigate the tomato-splattered streets and share your sauce-covered selfies with the world.

Just browse your Spanish eSIM options and choose how much data you need.

Then install and activate your eSIM over Wi-Fi to stay in control of your data spending.

After all, getting pelted by overripe vegetables is messy enough without adding data charges to the mix.

FAQs - What is La Tomatina?