Every January, Benissa holds its biggest winter festival, the Fira i Porrat de Sant Antoni. It runs for ten days in honour of Saint Anthony the Abbot, patron saint of animals. Over two weekends, pine trees are dragged into town by horses and burned in a bonfire as red devils dance around them. Pets and farm animals are blessed outside the basilica, and a medieval market and livestock fair fill the old town’s streets.

For 2027 the Comunitat Valenciana tourism board lists the fair for 15 to 24 January, running Friday to Sunday, the same pattern as 2026. Benissa’s town hall usually publishes the detailed programme in early January. The day-by-day times below come from the full January 2026 programme (verified November 2026), so treat them as a reliable guide to how the fair runs rather than confirmed 2027 times.

What Is the Fira i Porrat?

The Fira i Porrat is Benissa’s traditional winter fair for Sant Antoni Abat, whose feast day is 17 January. Fira means fair and porrat is the Valencian name for the small traditional market held around a saint’s day. Benissa’s fair grew out of its farming and livestock past. It still centres on horses, carts and working animals, alongside a modern programme of concerts, exhibitions and fairground rides.

The fair is spread across two weekends. The first is the traditional one, with the pines, the bonfire and the animal blessing. The second is the medieval market and the livestock fair. Weekdays in between have smaller cultural events, talks and card tournaments.

Key Dates for 2027

Fair dates: Friday 15 to Sunday 24 January 2027, according to the regional tourism board’s listing

First weekend (expected 16–17 January): pines arrive by horse, the bonfire is lit and the animals are blessed

Second weekend (expected 22–24 January): medieval market, livestock fair and concerts

Main venue: Plaça Rei Jaume I and the streets of the old town

The First Weekend: Pines, Bonfire and Animal Blessing

The first weekend holds the fair’s oldest traditions. In 2026 it ran as follows.

  • Saturday, 12:00: the pines arrive pulled by horses, coming through Plaça del Portal and Carrer Puríssima to Plaça Rei Jaume I.
  • Saturday, 18:30: official opening, with the blessing and lighting of the bonfire in Plaça Rei Jaume I. Red-costumed devils from the Esbart Dansaire dance around it to traditional music, jabbing their forks at the crowd. Fireworks go up as the fire takes hold, and the fire brigade stands by for sparks.
  • Sunday, 12:00: pets and working animals gather in Plaça del Portal.
  • Sunday, 12:30: the animals parade from Plaça del Portal to the door of the basilica, where they are blessed.

The animal blessing is the moment most visitors come for. Dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, sheep and the occasional more unusual pet line up together, and anyone is welcome to bring their own animal. Arrive before 12:00 to get a clear view of the procession. The basilica itself, the town’s landmark church, is covered in CBD’s guide to Benissa’s old town, church and market.

Rain is the main risk. In January 2026 damp air meant the bonfire wouldn’t light properly despite repeated attempts, and organisers carried on with the rest of the night without it. January can be wet on the Costa Blanca, as CBD’s guide to weather across the year explains, so bring a waterproof.

The Second Weekend: Medieval Market and Livestock Fair

On the second weekend the old town turns into a medieval market, and the Associació de Carreters i Cavallistes (the local cart drivers’ and horse riders’ association) runs a livestock fair. In 2026 it ran as follows.

  • Friday, 19:30: opening ceremony of the medieval market in Plaça del Portal, with medieval taverns open from 18:00.
  • Saturday from 10:00: medieval market and street entertainment through the old town, including Carrer Puríssima. The livestock fair runs on Carrer Palmera and Carrer Fra Humilde Soria.
  • Sunday from 09:00: the livestock fair’s Dia del Trato, the traditional trading day, followed by the medieval market and street performers from 10:00.

Expect craft and food stalls, travelling performers, medieval taverns, and children’s workshops and traditional games. A display of historic vehicles and farm machinery also fills Carrer Nou, Carrer Vicente Buigues and Plaça Rei Jaume I.

The 2026 edition also marked the 40th anniversary of the Volta en Carro, the carters’ and riders’ association’s traditional cart ride. A photo exhibition and a documentary, Gente de carro, accompanied it.

Concerts, Exhibitions and Other Events

Between and around the two weekends, Benissa runs a full cultural programme. In 2026 it included:

  • Fair concerts in the Taller d’Ivars arts centre by the Rondalla Cultural de Benissa, the Sociedad Lírica y Musical de Benissa and the Coral Benissenca.
  • Art and photo exhibitions at Cases del Batlle, the Taller d’Ivars and the university centre.
  • A paella contest on the first Sunday.
  • Valencian pilota (a traditional handball game) at the municipal trinquet, the town’s court for the sport.
  • A wine tunnel and sandwich bar in a marquee at the Dolores Piera car park.
  • A guided hike on the final Sunday through the Umbría de Bèrnia, the shaded northern side of the Sierra de Bernia, to the Ermita de Pinos chapel.

Children’s fairground rides run at the Dolores Piera car park for the whole fair, with reduced prices on the opening Friday.

If the Bernia hike appeals, CBD’s guide to the Sierra Bernia covers the range, and the Benissa walking routes guide has gentler coastal options.

Getting There and Parking

Benissa sits on the N-332 between Calpe and Teulada-Moraira, about 20 minutes’ drive from either. The old town is compact and its streets close to traffic during the fair, so park on the edge of town and walk in. The Dolores Piera car park, where the fairground and marquee are, fills up on the main weekend days.

Benissa is also on the TRAM line 9 coastal route between Benidorm and Dénia, though the station is a walk from the centre. Check timetables in CBD’s guide to public transport on the Costa Blanca.

Make a Day of It

The fair is a good reason to spend a winter day in Benissa. Pair the medieval market with a walk through the old town, or head down to the coast in the afternoon. The coves of Benissa Costa are quiet in January and good for a winter stroll.

For the rest of the town’s year, see the Benissa festivity calendar and CBD’s Benissa town guide. The fair also follows straight on from the region’s Three Kings parades on 5 January.

Tourist information: Benissa tourist office, 965 732 225, turismo@ajbenissa.es. The full programme is published on the town hall and tourism websites in early January.