Valencia cancels second day of Festival de les Arts due to excessive noise. The authorities in Valencia have canceled the second day of the Festival de les Arts. The reason is a violation of the permissible noise level at the first venue. Organizers promise to refund ticket holders.
The authorities of Valencia have decided to cancel the second day of the Festival de les Arts after violations of noise levels were recorded the previous day on the territory of La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. The city council and the management of the complex informed the organizers about the ban on holding events just minutes before the gates were due to open for attendees.
The reason was complaints about the sound being both too low and simultaneously exceeding limits: during Leire Martínez's performance, the audience could barely hear the music, and the artist herself was forced to interrupt the concert and apologize to the crowd. Acoustics problems arose due to a legal dispute between the city and local residents, which led to the introduction of strict restrictions: no more than 85 decibels during the day and 80 at night. Despite organizers’ attempts to find a compromise, the restrictions proved impossible to meet for the festival format.
Previously, at other stages within the complex, audience members had also complained about the volume being too low, which sparked dissatisfaction and demands to increase the sound. However, after the first night, city services recorded levels exceeding the permissible values, which became the official reason for cancelling the second part of the event. Performers scheduled for that day included Triangulo de Amor Bizarro, Two Door Cinema Club, Dorian, and Belén Aguilera.
The organizers stated that they tried to propose alternative solutions and even considered moving the festival to other venues, including La Marina de València and Circuito Ricardo Tormo in Cheste. However, according to them, no meetings with the city hall took place to discuss the options. As a result, it was decided to refund money for tickets and passes.
The situation with Festival de les Arts is a result of a March court ruling requiring local authorities to protect residents from acoustic pollution caused by large-scale events. According to russpain.com, similar restrictions and postponements have already affected other mass events in Spain, and questions about balancing cultural life with residents' comfort are becoming increasingly urgent. In the story about Burgos's fight for the playoffs, it was also noted how decisions by authorities and courts can impact the organization of major events — you can read more about this in the analysis of the decisive matches of the season.
For reference: Festival de les Arts has been held in Valencia since 2015 and is considered one of the region's largest musical events. In recent years, issues of noise pollution and residents' right to rest have become the subject of heated debates across Spain. The introduction of new noise standards has already affected the format and schedule of dozens of festivals, with organizers forced to seek compromises between audience expectations and the interests of local residents.
