COSTA BLANCA, ALL VALENCIA REGION NEWS

Spain heats up for Semana Santa as temperatures head towards 30°CThe week gives way to sunshine and spring warmth just in time for the Easter getaway After a windy and unsettled start to Semana Santa, the weather across Spain is finally turning a corner, and it is looking much more like spring.   At the.. 01/04/2026

Easter 2026: Supermarket opening hours in Spain for Mercadona, Carrefour, Lidl, Aldi and DiaMercadona is shutting up shop throughout Spain as usual, but Carrefour is keeping its doors open wherever it legally can The big Easter weekend is nearly here and if you're planning your shopping around the public holidays, it's worth knowing.. 31/03/2026

Semana Santa thefts cost Spanish retailers €591 millionOil, perfumes, footwear and headphones are among the most stolen items as shop losses rise during the holiday period Spanish retailers are facing losses of up to €591 million during Semana Santa because of stock loss, according to a new retail theft.. 31/03/2026

Disney's live-action movie Tangled to be filmed in AlicanteThe production will be based at Ciudad de la Luz studios in Alicante and  will use locations across the Valencian Community The castle of Santa Barbara, Alicante Disney is bringing Tangled to life in Spain with an eight-month shoot.. 31/03/2026

Alicante's pet population booms with nearly half a million registered dogs and catsA 14% rise in a year sees furry friends become more popular than ever across the province Pet ownership is clearly on the rise in Alicante province, with the latest figures showing a total of 487,587 registered dogs and cats. That's a healthy 14%.. 31/03/2026

Spanish airport ground staff strike could hit 1.3 million Easter travellersAlicante, Málaga and Valencia are among the airports affected as workers walk out over pay disputes Anyone flying to or from Spain this Easter would be wise to double check their flight before setting off. Ground handling staff at 12 Spanish.. 31/03/2026

April's Pink Moon kicks off a month of changing skies over SpainThe full moon, a pitch-black sky and everything in between: your guide to April's lunar cycle April is shaping up to be a good month for anyone who enjoys watching the night sky in Spain, kicking off with a full moon on Thursday April 2 and running.. 30/03/2026

Clocks go forward in Spain but energy savings remain minimalExperts say the twice-yearly time change has far less impact on bills than many people think Spain has officially moved into summer time after clocks went forward in the early hours of Sunday March 29, but the long-standing justification for the change.. 30/03/2026

The white diamond road sign in Spain: Don’t get caught outIt marks a special lane for shared cars, but misuse can lead to a €200 fine If you’ve been driving around Spain lately and spotted a white diamond symbol on a blue background, you might have wondered what it means. This sign is popping up more often..

Bullfighting crowds fall sharply despite funding and pockets of renewed interestNew report points to long-term decline in attendance even as subsidies and tourism keep the tradition visible Bullfighting in Spain may still be making headlines, but new figures suggest the reality inside the arenas tells a very different story. &.. 27/03/2026

Easter bookings rise despite conflict concerns, but travel disruption clouds outlook in parts of SpainTourism demand shifts towards Spain as global tensions grow, while transport issues threaten local impact Spain’s tourism sector is showing surprising resilience ahead of Easter, with early booking data suggesting a strong season despite ongoing.. 24/03/2026

Spaniards increasingly worried about the "quality" of their jobs even as employment numbers improveConcerns over low pay, job insecurity and mental health now rank among the country’s top worries, alongside housing and unemployment For the first time in many years, Spaniards are paying more attention not just to whether they have a job, but to.. 23/03/2026

Why electricity bills still feel high nearly a year after Spain's blackoutReinforced grid measures introduced after last year’s outage continue to shape costs and energy mix It’s been almost a year on from the major blackout that left large parts of the Iberian Peninsula without power, the effects are still being.. 23/03/2026

The low-cost chains quietly spreading across Spain's high streetsFrom bargain furniture to discounted fashion and beauty, a growing wave of budget retailers is reshaping the Spanish high street Spain’s retail landscape is increasingly being shaped by a new generation of low-cost chains that many shoppers may.. 20/03/2026

Rise in hate speech linked to burka debate and Ramadan, new report findsSharp increase in online abuse comes as political tensions grow over face covering measures in Spain Hate speech targeting people of foreign origin rose sharply in Spain in February, with new data pointing to a link between online hostility and recent.. 20/03/2026

Almost 80% of Spaniards see nuclear war as a real possibility amid global tensionsMost citizens back a strong, well-equipped army, even as fears of catastrophe divide opinion A recent survey by Spain’s official sociological research centre, the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS), shows that the threat of global.. 17/03/2026

Why does Spain have different days for Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day?This is when Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day are traditionally held in Spain, and why they are different from other countries In many countries around the world, Fathers' Day and Mothers' Day are celebrated on different dates, each.. 17/03/2026

Track Renfe trains live from your phoneNew website shows real-time positions for high-speed and long-distance services Renfe has rolled out a handy new website across Spain, where you can follow high-speed, long-distance and medium-distance trains in real time. It's a step up in keeping passengers..

Mercadona stores in Spain are about to get a brand-new look!Record €1.73 billion profit alongside rollout of efficient 'Store 9' model Mercadona wrapped up 2025 with impressive numbers that have president Juan Roig beaming. "We are very, very, very happy," he said three times over while.. 12/03/2026

The definitive guide to choosing a health insurance policy for expats Are you planning to move to Spain and looking for a health insurance policy specifically designed for expats? We understand that such an abundance of information can be overwhelming, particularly when you wish to make a decision as quickly as possible.. 05/03/2026