Sun Sea News 27 April

Sun Sea News – Monday 27 April 2026

Pull up a lounger, grab a proper sangria (or a coffee if you’re still recovering from the weekend), and let’s catch up on what’s actually happening from Alicante up to Denia.

The coast is properly waking up. Fiestas are in full swing, new residents are flooding in like it’s 2020 all over again, and the dolphins have decided to say hello from the terrace. Here’s the no-fluff rundown of what you need to know this week.

1. Calpe just threw the ultimate “half-time” party

If you were anywhere near Calpe this weekend (24–26 April), you know exactly what I’m talking about: Mig Any Moros y Cristianos.

It’s the mid-year warm-up for the big October blowout, and they went full throttle — parades, music, the presentation of the 2026 festival captains, kids’ desfiles, a paella competition, and enough traca fireworks to make your dog hide under the sofa.

The whole town smelled of gunpowder and grilled chorizo. If you missed it, don’t worry — the real thing is only six months away. Pro tip: book your October Airbnb early this year, because after this weekend’s energy, it’s going to be mental.

2. Calpe is officially bursting at the seams

The ayuntamiento just dropped the numbers and… wow.

Calpe’s population has grown 40% in less than ten years — from around 19,600 in 2016 to 27,400 in 2025. That’s thousands of new empadronamientos, and yes, a big chunk are foreign residents doing the official “I live here now” paperwork.

The poor Oficina de Atención Ciudadana is feeling it — citizen services have shot up 76% in four years and they’re now handling over 25,000 requests. If you’ve been stuck in a queue there lately wondering why it feels like the British Consulate on a bad day… this is why.

They’ve even brought in AI to help with appointments. Only in Spain do you need an algorithm to get your padrón sorted.

3. Denia drama & dolphin delight

Over in Denia, two cheeky lads decided midday on 21 April was the perfect time to nick five mobile phones from a shop right on Marqués de Campo (the main drag). Bold as brass, in broad daylight, caught on two different cameras.

Shop staff and pedestrians were apparently too stunned to react. Police have the footage — so if you see two young guys suddenly looking very pleased with their new phones, you know the story.

On a much nicer note: the dolphins are back and showing off right in front of the Montgó. Multiple videos this week of them playing in the warm waters just off the coast. If you’re on a Denia or Jávea terrace with binoculars, keep an eye out — they’re basically saying “summer’s coming, humans.”

4. Quick hits from the rest of the strip

• Benissa rolled out the flower carpets for their patron saint fiesta — the town looked like an Instagram filter come to life.
• The Hospital de Dénia is running a big course on using antibiotics properly (because we all know how easy it is to get a prescription here for anything).
• Alicante gave Avenida de Dénia a floral makeover ahead of the Santa Faz pilgrimage — the route from Alicante up to our neck of the woods is looking extra pretty right now.

That’s your Northern Costa Blanca reality check for the week. Fiestas, queues, dolphins, and the occasional bold phone thief. Business as usual.

What’s the maddest thing you’ve seen this weekend? Stuck in fiesta traffic? Queued for two hours at the ayuntamiento? Spotted the dolphins from your terrace? Drop it in the comments — I read every single one.

Joanne x

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See you on the lounger! 🌊🍹