Since 2011, Tavernes de la Valldigna has been home to Festivern, a three-day New Year festival with concerts, alongside activities and camping. Organisers announced on 6 November that the 2026 edition would not take place there, leaving the Safor without one of its recurring year-end music events. Founded in 2004, Festivern has held 20 editions and was staged in several locations, including Pedreguer and Alcoi. Gandia was another stop before the festival settled in Tavernes.
Rainfall during two editions and a site that was not prepared to withstand it had forced the organisers to reconsider the festival’s future, they said in a statement, despite mitigation efforts. The 2025 edition was cancelled at short notice after storms flooded both the concert grounds and the camping area. They also pointed to the strain on small projects without sponsorship or institutional support as they compete with larger festivals. Such projects, they said, are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up. A separate report on heavy rain forecasts covered western Spain rather than the Tavernes area.
The decision follows earlier suspensions. Festivern was cancelled in 2020 because of Covid-19 restrictions. In 2021, organisers called it off after discussions with Tavernes council, citing the high coronavirus incidence in the town and rising pressure on hospitals. The organisers described Tavernes as being at extreme risk and said they did not feel able to proceed.
The cancellation comes in a difficult year for music in Valencian. La Fúmiga is also bidding farewell. La Gossa Sorda ended its run on stage in Pego with «L'última Aquelarre». The organisers’ announcement also described support for music in Valencian as a shared responsibility.
They thanked the festival’s audience for enduring cold and rain, as well as Tavernes council for providing the site and facilities. The organisers said they would look for a way to bring Festivern back in 2027, but did not announce a venue or programme.
