The Almería City Council has launched a new initiative to combat the decline in traditional stalls at the fairground. Following a significant "flight" of participants since the construction crisis, current figures are far from previous years when their presence was triple.
Through the Department of Urbanism, Housing, and Major Festivals, the City Council has released a construction contract to directly handle the installation of structures for the 2026 Fair and Festivals. The aim is to reduce the economic and logistical burden on concessionaires, encouraging the return of local groups and revitalizing the festivities in honor of the Virgen del Mar.
Currently, the Fairground has 15 confirmed stalls. Of these, 11 are youth-oriented, and only 4 are strictly traditional and family-oriented. To reverse this trend, the City Council has opened an extraordinary "repêchage" process.
This tender, with a bid submission deadline of August 6, seeks to award vacant modules (five traditional and one youth) as well as the coveted "ambigús" of the Midday Fair. Stallholders will also have their Real de la Feria modules guaranteed for the next two editions.
The municipal logistical support plan has a base budget of over 96,000 euros, allocated as 38,600 euros for material rental and 58,000 euros for technical services such as transport, assembly, maintenance, and dismantling.
The awarded company will be responsible for erecting high-resistance modular tents with pillars at least 3.5 meters high, pitched roofs, and white fire-retardant, waterproof plastic tarpaulins. The technical design requires structures to withstand adverse weather, include gutters, and anchoring systems that do not permanently damage the fairground's pavement, with the company committed to repairing any perforations.
The technical calendar sets the installation work to begin after the award and must conclude before August 14, 2026, ensuring collectives have a full week to decorate their stalls. The awarded company must maintain a qualified personnel on standby to address any incidents between August 14 and September 6.
