Marco Aurelio Pérez: “These festivities are an opportunity to get closer to our capital, reconnect with our people, and enjoy the music, traditions, and customs that are part of our identity.”
Alejandro Marichal: “Tunte retains a very strong identity and these festivities are an opportunity to reclaim it and for new generations to learn about, value and embrace that legacy.”
Yilenia Vega: “Tradition plays a fundamental role during these days, from the Carbonero to our sancocho, the popular music or the events linked to the patron saint, and we want these customs to continue being shared between generations.”
SEE THE FESTIVAL PROGRAM AT THIS LINK
The Department of Festivals and Events of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council presents the program for the 2026 Tunte Patron Saint Festival in honor of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, which will take place between Sunday, August 16th and Monday, August 24th. The program includes musical performances, children's activities, family gatherings, sports, traditional events, and religious ceremonies, with the Plaza de Santiago and various locations in the town center of Tunte serving as the main venues for the celebrations, which will culminate on the patron saint's day.
The program kicks off on Sunday the 16th at 21:00 PM with the Noche Tuntera (Tunte Night), featuring the Medianías del Timple concert, traditional Canarian folk music, and a tasting area showcasing Canarian wines and cheeses. Starting Monday the 17th, a series of children's activities, workshops, and family events will take place. These include a workshop on decorating the official float that will represent the town of San Bartolomé de Tirajana in Teror on September 7th. This workshop will be held over three days at the Pancho Guerra Cultural Center. The program also includes a Charcoal Maker's Workshop, a baking contest, children's films, a foam party, the Peque Disco Tunte (Tunte Kids' Disco), family bingo, and the traditional soccer match between single and married women.
One of the main musical events will take place on Friday, August 21st, beginning with the Triangular Tournament at 19:00 PM and continuing at 20:00 PM with the Cart and Wagon Race, which this year commemorates the 16th anniversary of the Cart Race Association and will run from the cemetery to the House of Culture. Starting at 22:00 PM, the big night of concerts will begin, headlined by Tony Tun Tun, along with Idel el Mulatico and DJs. The music will continue on Saturday the 22nd with a street party in Santiago Square, featuring performances by Ladys Swing, Grupo Arena, and Línea DJ.
The Councillor for Festivals and Events, Yilenia Vega, emphasizes that “we have prepared a broad and diverse program, designed so that audiences of all ages can find something to enjoy and experience Tunte throughout the festival.” She also points out that the program “aims to preserve what makes the Tunte festivals recognizable and special, while also creating new opportunities for residents, families, and visitors to come together.”
Vega points out that “tradition plays a fundamental role during these days, from the Carbonero festival to our sancocho stew, the folk music, and the events related to our patron saint, and we want these customs to continue being shared between generations.” The councilwoman encourages residents from across the municipality and visitors to come to Tunte, participate, and enjoy the festivities, which have been prepared “with great enthusiasm and with the aim of filling its streets and main square with life during these days.”
The First Deputy Mayor of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Alejandro Marichal, emphasizes that “the Tunte festivities speak, above all, of its people. Of generations of residents who have preserved their customs, shared them, and passed them on, making them an essential part of the town's identity.” In this regard, he underlines that “Tunte maintains a very strong identity, and these festivities are also an opportunity to celebrate it, to come together as a community, and for new generations to learn about, appreciate, and embrace this legacy.”
Sunday the 23rd will be marked by one of the most deeply rooted traditions of the program: the Bajada del Carbonero (Charcoal Burner's Descent) at 18:00 PM through the streets of Tunte, accompanied by the Banda Isleña (Isla Band). At 20:00 PM, the Verbena del Carbonero (Charcoal Burner's Festival) will begin with performances by Star Music, Leyenda Joven, D'Music, and DJ Línea. Religious services will also be held throughout the weekend, with a Mass for the deceased of the town on Saturday the 22nd, a Mass of the Lord and a Mass for the Pilgrims on Sunday the 23rd, and the solemn religious service in honor of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle on Monday the 24th, presided over by the Claretian missionary priest Alejandro Suárez Rosales, followed by a procession accompanied by the Banda Isleña.
On Monday, August 24th, the main day of the festivities, the celebrations will begin at 04:30 a.m. with the traditional floral parade through the town's streets. Following the religious services, the Plaza de Santiago will host the traditional Canarian stew (Sancocho Canario) at 14:00 p.m., and from 15:00 p.m. onwards, the "August Rains" open-air dance with Armonía Show will take place. The program will conclude at 20:30 p.m. with the Grand Closing Gala, dedicated this year to Nuria Medina Mejías, whose professional career at the Town Hall began in 1992 and has been closely linked to the culture of various towns in the municipality, especially Tunte and Fataga. The tribute will feature Dani Calero, with a comedy and bolero show, and Tania Gil with "A Night with Chavela," bringing to a close nine days of celebration in the municipality's historic capital.
In closing, Mayor Marco Aurelio Pérez Sánchez emphasized that the Patron Saint Festivities of San Bartolomé de Tirajana "are once again a special occasion for us to come together and celebrate. During these days, Tunte becomes the meeting point for residents and visitors from all corners of the municipality. It is an opportunity to reconnect with our capital, reconnect with our people, and enjoy the music, traditions, and customs that form part of our identity," he noted.
The mayor encouraged all citizens to participate in the program and "experience and share festivities designed to be enjoyed with family and friends, in an atmosphere of conviviality and celebration."
