La Gran Nit takes over central Valencia on Saturday 18 July, from 6pm until the small hours

Today's essentials

La Gran Nit takes over central Valencia on Saturday 18 July, from 6pm until the small hours. The Gran Nit of the Feria de Julio takes over Valencia's historic centre this Saturday 18 July from 6pm until the early morning, with music, magic, circus acts and fireworks, according to Valencia Extra.

According to Valencia Extra, the evening turns the squares of the old town into one big open-air stage: circus acts, magic tricks, concerts and fireworks follow one another from 6pm until late into the night. A Whitney Houston tribute is also on the programme, giving this Gran Nit a festive, pop flavour.

In practical terms, the heart of the party beats in the pedestrian squares of the centre. You can head for the Plaza de la Virgen and the Plaza de la Reina, right next to the cathedral, the Plaza del Ayuntamiento in front of the town hall, or the lively lanes around the Mercado Central and the Lonja. These squares are a few minutes' walk from one another, so you can wander from one stage to the next without ever getting back in the car.

To get there, forget the car: the whole area is pedestrianised and packed on a feria night. The easiest option is the metro (Xàtiva or Colón stops, a stone's throw from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento) or the tram, then you finish on foot. If you're coming from further out, park near a first-ring car park and reach the centre by public transport.

One last tip, given the current heat: keep a bottle of water on you, aim to arrive early in the evening when things cool down, and scope out in advance the squares you're interested in, because the crowd is dense and you move slowly between one act and the next. The whole spirit of the Gran Nit is precisely to stroll from square to square as the night goes on.

Today's weather

Intense heat and haze: up to 32 degrees in the city, 36 inland. A day of intense heat in Valencia this Friday 17 July, with 32 degrees in the city under the haze and up to 36 degrees inland, with no rain, according to Open-Meteo.

In the city of Valencia, Open-Meteo forecasts a low of 25 degrees and a high of 32 degrees, with morning fog, no rain expected (0%) and light winds up to 17 km/h. The haze should lift during the morning to give way to full sun: bring water, a cap and avoid the full glare between 2pm and 6pm.

Inland, around Requena, it's even more sultry: low of 21 degrees, high of 36 degrees, overcast skies, almost no rain (3%) and winds up to 21 km/h. On the southern coast, in Gandia, it's a notch milder, between 25 and 31 degrees, overcast skies, 0% rain and a 12 km/h breeze. If you're after a bit of cool, the seaside to the south remains the safe bet.

Transport and traffic

• Experience the 12 August eclipse from space, in virtual reality. A virtual reality exhibition offers the chance to experience the 12 August eclipse as if you were watching it from space, with no telescope or solar glasses, reports Valencia Secreta. Tourist flights beyond Earth's orbit already exist but remain out of reach for nearly all of us, notes Valencia Secreta. The idea behind this virtual reality experience is therefore to offer that viewpoint another way: rather than looking up at the sky on 12 August, you put on a headset and witness the phenomenon as if from space. An accessible way to prepare for, or extend, this much-anticipated astronomical event of the summer.
• New land-use law in the Valencian Community to curb housing prices. The Consell has approved the draft of a new land-use law meant to curb soaring prices and put more affordable housing within reach of families, according to Valencia Extra. According to Valencia Extra, the text aims to speed up urban planning procedures, revive the construction of protected housing and support towns threatened by depopulation. For someone looking to settle or buy in the region, the stakes are direct: more affordable supply and faster procedures could, over time, ease a housing market that is very tight today. At this stage it is a draft, so an intention still to be confirmed in practice.

What changes for you

• Batalla de Flores: sign up for the grandstand draw before Monday 20 July at 11.59pm. Valencia city council has opened registration for the draw for the grandstands (palcos) of the Batalla de Flores, from 17 July to Monday 20 July at 11.59pm, according to Valencia Secreta. If you want to watch this battle of flowers from a grandstand, take note of the deadline: Monday 20 July at 11.59pm, according to Valencia Secreta. It works as a draw among those who register, so what matters is submitting your application in time via the system provided by the council. No need to leave it to the last minute: from today, you can put yourself in the running to try your luck.
• Tap water in Valencia: can you drink it?. Yes, the tap water is safe to drink in Valencia: it's a question that comes up often among newcomers, as on the Reddit forum r/valencia. In practice, the mains water is monitored and safe to consume in the city. Many people find it tastes a little chlorinated or hard depending on the neighbourhood and prefer a filter jug, mainly for the taste. If you have a doubt for a specific use, for example for a very young child, the simple move is to ask your paediatrician or doctor rather than a forum: they can give you advice tailored to your situation.

Local news worth knowing

• Five towns above 40 degrees, feels-like up to 50. Five towns in the Valencian Community topped 40 degrees with a feels-like of up to 50 degrees, Orihuela (province of Alicante) being the most stifling spot, according to Las Provincias.
• Mompó eyes a new term at the Diputación of Valencia. The president of the Diputación of Valencia, Vicent Mompó, says he wants a new term and to be placed wherever the PP and the party members ask him to be, according to Valencia Plaza.
• Valencia city council celebrates 120 years of its town hall. Valencia's town hall is marking 120 years since the laying of its first stone, with a new series of three videos presented by the council to discover its history and its spaces, according to Valencia Bonita.

Tonight and tomorrow in Valencia

• Heatwave: up to 43 degrees and a red wind warning. A new heatwave is hitting Valencia with highs forecast up to 43 degrees and a red warning for strong winds, according to Valencia Secreta. Take care if you're planning to go outside: between the extreme heat and the gusts, it's better to shift outdoor activities to the start or end of the day and stay well hydrated.
• The Titanium pyrotechnic show returns to Valencia. Titanium, the big show by Pirotecnia Valenciana that could not be set off last year, returns to the Pyrotechnic Festival of the Feria de Julio 2026, according to Valencia Bonita. It had been suspended last year because of a weather warning: so this year the public gets back one of the most eagerly awaited displays of the programme.
• Free open-air summer cinema at the Centre del Carme, 27 comedies. The Centre del Carme (CCCC) is turning its gothic cloister into a free open-air cinema from 31 July to 30 August 2026, with 27 comedies on the programme, according to Valencia Bonita. Head to the CCCC cloister, right in the historic centre: free open-air screenings all summer long, ideal for an evening in the cool.

See the full agenda, tonight and tomorrow