In Graus (Huesca province), the Mojiganga on Sunday, 13 September 2026, is at risk of being cancelled because of a scheduling clash with a municipally organised music event. The Partido Popular-led town council has scheduled a party for 20.00 at the car park of the Espacio Pirineos a party Tardeo Remember with DJs Isma Nordic and Skudero for 21.30. The Mojiganga procession is due to set off from Glorieta de Joaquín Costa and head to the Plaza Mayor at 21.30. The Mojiganga Committee sees this as a clash affecting both audiences and participants, and is considering cancelling the performance. It plans to inform the mayor of its decision on Sunday, 6 September.
The Mojiganga is a satirical theatrical performance featuring a procession followed by a staging in the Plaza Mayor. Its origins date back to the 17th century. In Aragón, it is protected as a Bien Catalogado Inmaterial and is considered a defining element of the Fiestas del Santo Cristo y San Vicente Ferrer, which take place this year from 12 to 15 September. Around 60 volunteers prepare the scripts, costumes and choreography; the performance traditionally attracts visitors from elsewhere, too.
According to the committee, scheduling the events at the same time shows disregard for the volunteers’ work and directs public funds towards a competing event. The published programmes suggest that the town hall is keen to broaden its offering for younger audiences. No official announcement about rescheduling or adjusting the DJ event had been made by the editorial deadline. The scheduled times for the Tardeo and Mojiganga are documented in the municipal programmes.
The dispute touches on how municipalities balance new events with the protection of intangible cultural heritage. The committee has the final formal say on the Mojiganga’s format and participation, but the city plays a central role in providing infrastructure, time slots and security arrangements. As the Mojiganga is listed as protected cultural heritage, an ongoing scheduling clash could lead to a dispute over resources and priorities. It remains unclear whether the city will make last-minute changes to reduce the overlap.
Until the announced decision on 6 September, the matter is essentially a scheduling conflict with possible cultural policy implications. One thing is clear: if the two events remain close together in time, audiences are likely to be split. Cancelling the Mojiganga would clearly diminish the highlight of the patron saints’ festivities and deal a blow to Graus’s cultural identity.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).