On Tuesday, rows of racing trucks and cars lined the Puerta de Hierros, drawing steady crowds. The display made clear that Albacete’s Circuito de Velocidad is open for business again.
Mayor Manuel Serrano toured the exhibition and pointed to the circuit’s return to full operation after a year of renewed investment and political backing. Serrano credited the turnaround to joint support from the Ayuntamiento and the Diputación Provincial, which worked together to bring the facility back to life.
In 2026, the Feria de Albacete set a new single-day attendance record, with 487,000 people passing through the fairgrounds, Cadena SER reported.
The exhibition displays polished vehicles and gives the city a deliberate way to use its annual Feria, which has already drawn over 2.8 million visitors in 2026, as a stage to promote the circuit. With 209,000 entries recorded in a single day, the timing is intentional. The event, which runs alongside the ‘A toda velocidad’ show at the Pabellón Municipal, is meant to catch the eye of local fans and visitors from across Spain. By September 14, 2026, the Feria had surpassed 2.6 million visitors, EFE reported, while the previous year’s total reached 3.16 million. Mayor Manuel Serrano has publicly linked the surge in attendance to the city’s economic vitality, as municipal authorities use the Feria to promote infrastructure and major projects, including the racing circuit.
In recent months, the circuit has hosted the Copa de España de Velocidad de motociclismo, as well as track days and training sessions. These sporting events also form part of a plan to move Albacete beyond seasonal tourism and make it a year-round destination for motorsport. Serrano says the circuit’s revival could boost the city’s image and open up new opportunities for local businesses and the community.
The city’s approach follows a broader trend in Spain, where regional circuits are being used to diversify local economies. As reported earlier, changes in the automotive sector are bringing new investment and attention to cities like Albacete.
For Albacete, the circuit’s comeback is more than a technical fix. It’s a test of whether targeted investment and promotion can turn a regional track into a national attraction. City leaders are betting it can, and the turnout at Puerta de Hierros suggests the effort is gaining traction.
