"burning of the mustaches of saint john" contest 2026
The City Council opens the registration period for the 'Burning of the Mustaches of Saint John' contest 2026
The 'Burning' can be registered until June 12th at the General Registry of the City Council, and will be lit on Tuesday, June 23rd, at La Rada Beach, at 00:00 hours, at the beginning of the Night of San Juan.
The Estepona City Council has opened the registration period to participate in the XLVI 'Burning of the Mustaches of San Juan' Contest, which will be held on June 23rd at La Rada Beach.
In accordance with the rules of this local competition, the attached councilor for Festivals, Macarena Diánez, has announced that all individuals and legal entities, Brotherhoods, Fraternities and neighborhood associations that wish to participate may do so.
Application forms are listed in Annex I of the Rules and can be submitted in person or electronically through the Town Hall's General Registry, addressed to the Municipal Festivals Department, from May 11 to June 12, 2026, inclusive. Participants must submit sketches of their bonfire design. The Rules can be consulted at www.estepona.es, on the Notice Board located in the Electronic Services section.
All bonfires submitted to the competition will be installed in the area designated by the City Council on La Rada Beach. The theme and dimensions of the bonfire are at the discretion of the participants. Designs that infringe upon the right to honor, personal and family privacy, or that are disrespectful to religious beliefs and/or sexual orientation, or that contain xenophobic messages, will not be accepted.
The municipal delegation of Festivals has established the following prizes for the best Burnings: First Prize, 1,000 euros + trophy; Second Prize, 750 euros + Trophy; Third Prize, 500 euros + Trophy, and fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh prize, 300 euros for each.
The jury, composed of the Councillor for Festivals or their delegate, with one member from each registered bonfire acting as a voting member (who will not be able to vote for their own proposal), will visit each bonfire starting at 9:00 PM. Prizes will be awarded for the bonfire's theme, artistic quality, ingenuity, tradition, humor and originality, and the overall atmosphere and popularity of the bonfire.
The bonfires participating in the competition will be lit starting at 00:00 hours, at the beginning of the Night of San Juan.
The City Council reserves the right to pardon any of the Burnings submitted to the competition, which, due to their uniqueness, may be suitable for use in another municipal event.