Spanish police crack down on dangerous Fallas festival fireworks stunts by influencers
Spain's National Police have successfully disrupted dangerous pyrotechnic displays at Valencia's Fallas festival in 2026. A two-week operation led to 13 arrests, targeting foreign influencers planning extreme fireworks stunts for social media. Overall crime at the event also fell compared to previous years.
The special operation involved 100 officers from the Information Brigades and Judicial Police. Their focus was on around 20 influencers, mostly German and Dutch men, who aimed to film high-risk fireworks for online content. Six Dutch officers joined the effort, marking the first international collaboration of its kind at Fallas.
Arrests took place during major festival moments, including the *Nit del Foc* fireworks display, the *Cremà* (burning of the ninots), and an incident at a hotel involving German citizens. No extreme pyrotechnics were recorded, thanks to the intervention. In total, 85 arrests were made during the festival—72 for common crimes and 13 linked to dangerous fireworks. Crime rates showed significant drops: sexual assaults fell by 20%, serious thefts by 38.3%, and injuries from fights by nearly 56%. Vehicle thefts also decreased by 37.14%.
The festival's security was rated positively, with total crime down by 2.19%. Authorities prevented high-powered fireworks incidents and reduced overall offences. The operation's success highlights improved safety measures at one of Spain's largest cultural events.
