“Don’t take off your coat until May 40th.” Or so the saying goes. But we don’t care because as soon as the warm weather arrives, we want to get out and enjoy Valencia. If you’re looking for the same thing, don’t miss these plans that tell you what to do in Valencia starting May 1.
Valencia’s Ateneo Mercantil is hosting a new series of candlelit concerts featuring four distinct musical performances. The program includes symphonic tributes to the contemporary pop-rock of Coldplay and Imagine Dragons, Spanish pop classics by Mecano and the album “La ley innata,” along with a retrospective of Hans Zimmer’s greatest soundtracks.
The canceled mascletà will be held at night on May 2, 2026, in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. If you’re looking for a quintessentially Valencian way to kick off May, Pirotecnia Zaragozana will set off the mascletà—which was postponed due to rain—in a nighttime format on May 2, 2026; in addition, the City Council will raffle off 100 invitations for balconies and a reserved front-row area.
Taste and buy local products in Chelva’s Plaza Mayor. If a culinary getaway is on your list of May plans in Valencia, the fourth edition of Quesalia in Chelva brings together local producers and artisans to taste and buy cheeses, wine, olive oil, honey, and traditional baked goods; the program includes live music, guided tours, tastings, children’s workshops, and cooking demonstrations.
The Valencia Book Fair celebrates its 61st edition with a record number of exhibitors and a full program. If you’re in the mood for a cultural outing in Valencia this May, mark your calendar for this classic event: the 61st edition of the Valencia Book Fair takes place in the Viveros Gardens with 105 exhibitors and 142 booths, offering book presentations, signings, lectures, children’s workshops, performances, and contests. It will feature national and international authors such as Leïla Slimani, Luis García Montero, Carme Riera, and Martí Domínguez, and will present several awards.
More than 25,000 items and discounts of up to 70% for ten days. If you’re looking to take advantage of May for some great shopping deals, mark this event on your calendar: the Secret Market in Ruzafa returns to Valencia with over 25,000 items and discounts of up to 70%. It runs from April 24 to May 4 at Burriana 30, offering fashion, footwear, accessories, and an expanded home and decor section.
Aras in Bloom
Between May 16 and June 16, the town of Aras de los Olmos is filled with flowers to host the “Aras en Flor” festival, a unique opportunity to discover one of the best villages in the province of Valencia.
Until May 3, the popular Andalusian Fair sets up under the Exposición Bridge with flamenco, tapas, and rebujito.
Tapas d’Ací
More than 100 venues across the Valencian Community are participating in a new edition of “Tapas d’Ací,” which will take place throughout the region in May 2026.