Outside the Entierro de la Cuba Logroño mayor Conrado Escobar gave an initial review of the festival week on 25 September 2026 San Mateo 2026 . He described it as a celebration “for everyone”, with high attendance, a varied programme and a good atmosphere overall. According to the city, the programme included more than 300 events across all districts.
The biggest turnout was reported on 19 September, the day of the traditional Cohete. According to the town hall, more than 50,000 people gathered in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and the surrounding streets. The city administration highlighted that events had deliberately been spread across several locations and times of day to avoid bottlenecks and make it easier for people from different neighbourhoods to take part.
One highlight of the programme was the pyrotechnic display competition in La Ribera. According to the organisers, Pirotecnia Tomás from Castellón won the San Mateo 2026 fireworks competition. The company is reportedly due to return next June for the festivities of San Bernabé to Logroño .
Escobar emphasised the inclusive approach: events were planned to accommodate different age groups and needs, including accessible areas. The city also pointed to close coordination between public order and emergency services during the busiest days. Officials reported that the situation was generally calm, with no serious incidents; medical services treated mainly minor injuries and circulatory problems.
The mayor presented the review politically as confirmation of the current approach. In his view, decentralised stages, a wide range of music and family-friendly events contributed significantly to the high attendance. Organisers’ representatives also see economic benefits beyond the city centre, as hospitality and retail businesses in several neighbourhoods are said to have benefited from visitor numbers.
Nevertheless, critics in local politics and among residents point to occasional overcrowding in central streets and the need to document cleaning and noise-control plans more precisely. The town hall said it would take feedback from this year’s review into account in future planning. The city council will decide on specific changes only after the final reports are completed. As far as the city leadership is concerned, one thing is clear: the combination of events spread across the city, a prominent programme of activities and a strong opening with the Cohete is intended to form the basis for the next edition.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).