COCEMFE Alicante Demands Barrier-Free Fogueres at its Most Inclusive 'Kedada'
The federation advocates for universal design in monuments and racós to enhance the experience for all citizens during the festivities.
By Mireia Blasco i Vidal
••3 min read
IA
Generic image of the Fogueres festival in Alicante, showing a festive atmosphere and architecture.
COCEMFE Alicante has held its 'Kedada Fogueril 2026', an event that champions festivities as a fundamental right and calls for inclusive, barrier-free Hogueras for all citizens.
The Federation of Associations of People with Physical and Organic Disabilities of the Province of Alicante (COCEMFE Alicante) organized its traditional Kedada Fogueril 2026. The event brought together over 35 participants to experience three of the city's main commissions: Foguera Mercado Central, Foguera Hernán Cortés, and Foguera Calvo Sotelo.
Beyond its recreational and social aspects, the initiative aims for social transformation, emphasizing that enjoyment and active participation in cultural events are fundamental rights for all citizens equally. The federation stresses that universal accessibility should be a prerequisite, not an afterthought.
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"Culture, leisure, and popular festivals are part of our land's identity and a right for everyone, without exception. Through this Kedada Fogueril, we demonstrate that people with disabilities are not mere spectators of traditions but a living, active part of Alicante's social fabric. Our federation's commitment to universal accessibility is unwavering; therefore, we will continue to collaborate closely with festival commissions and public administrations to move towards a fully inclusive festival model, where societal diversity is the driving force, not an obstacle to coexistence."
COCEMFE Alicante highlights the Accessibility Plan for the Hogueras Festivals of Alicante, approved in 2021, as the strategic roadmap for open celebrations. The Urban Mobility and Accessibility Department has launched the 2026 Most Accessible Hogueras Awards, recognizing commissions that implement accessible perimeters, adapted visual barriers, easy-read signage, QR codes or Navilens, and tactile models.
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"Strictly applying the Accessibility Plan for the Hogueras Festivals is not an option or a favor; it is a technical and legal necessity. When we implement universal design in the perimeter of a monument, install accessible signage, or provide tactile models for people with sensory disabilities, we are not only opening the festival to historically excluded groups; we are substantially improving the urban experience for all Alicante citizens. An accessible festival is a friendlier, more navigable, safer, and more enjoyable festival for children, the elderly, families with strollers, and visitors."
A participant with reduced mobility shared her experience: "Being able to experience Les Fogueres from within, feel the warmth of the commissions, and admire the beauty of the monuments at street level is an emotional experience that fills us with life. For a long time, encountering invaded sidewalks, architectural barriers, or blocked access made us feel excluded from our own city. Today, thanks to the efforts of the commissions collaborating with COCEMFE Alicante and initiatives like this Kedada, we demonstrate that when barriers are removed, we can enjoy unique experiences in complete freedom and autonomy, feeling like a real part of the festival."
The success of the Kedada Fogueril 2026 reaffirms that the future of traditional festivals lies in respecting diversity and collaborative work. COCEMFE Alicante explicitly thanks the managing commissions for their collaboration, symbolizing a strategic alliance between the disability community, the artistic sector, and public administrations.
