Alicante-born singer and composer Adrián Gomis, professionally known as Funzo, delivered the official proclamation for the 2026 Hogueras de San Juan in Alicante, calling on young people in the main City Hall square to keep the city's festive traditions alive and defend the identity of celebrations that go beyond mere tourist attraction.

During his speech, Funzo reviewed parts of his biography linked to Alicante, explaining that he grew up and was educated in the San Blas neighborhood, where he attended school and high school, and where, as he recalled, he has lived for as long as he can remember. With this personal recollection, he aimed to underscore his connection to the city and to the neighborhoods that, he later insisted, sustain the spirit of the Hogueras.

The artist assured that he understood the significance of his appointment as announcer and that he was not there solely for his musical career. He emphasized that he spoke on behalf of his generation, and therefore, his first message was particularly directed at young people. In his view, he belongs to a generation that has had to face the toughest years of recent decades, a context that, he said, has also brought to light creative, strong, and dreaming individuals.

Building on this reflection, Funzo argued that young people have the responsibility to keep Alicante's traditions alive, particularly the Hogueras de San Juan. He insisted that customs are not at odds with modernity and used his own appearance at the proclamation as an example: dressed in a traditional zaragüel, with pride and enthusiasm, demonstrating that Alicante can resonate with pasodoble, but also with rock and roll and reggaeton.

The announcer highlighted that the festivals can evolve, incorporate new musical styles, and connect with new generations without losing their roots. In this way, he advocated for the Hogueras to remain an intergenerational meeting point where the tradition of bands, mascletàs, and fireworks coexists with new forms of youth leisure.

Gomis also sent a direct message to the tourists who fill the city at this time. He asked them not to forget that the Hogueras are not just a tourist attraction, but rather a part of Alicante's collective identity and the way locals experience the streets, neighborhoods, and community life. Furthermore, he recalled that the festival would not exist without the neighborhoods, which are the ones who build the bonfires, care for the 'racós' (gathering spots), and sustain the festive atmosphere throughout the year.

In the final part of the proclamation, Funzo definitively ignited the festive spirit with a call to start the celebration. He rallied the audience with a resounding 'now yes, indeed, Alicante, open the racós, let the bands play, let Luceros tremble, let the city smell of gunpowder, because we are already in Hogueras'.

Visibly moved, he closed his speech with a triple cry in Valencian: 'visca el poble alacantí, visca les Fogueres de Sant Joan i visca Alacant' (long live the Alicante people, long live the Hogueras of San Juan, and long live Alicante).

Immediately after, with the City Hall square captivated, the singer performed his well-known song ‘Alicantino, borracho y fino’ with the audience, turning the end of the proclamation into a small collective concert that served as a symbolic start to the official festivities.

The mayor of Alicante, Luis Barcala, introduced the announcer from the tribune set up in front of the main facade of the Casa Consistorial. In his prior speech, the mayor highlighted that Funzo is the youngest announcer in the 98-year history of the Hogueras to proclaim the Official Festival, a fact that, as he pointed out, reinforces the role of youth in the celebration's continuity.

Barcala added that, through his compositions, the artist expresses his love for the 'terreta' (homeland) and embodies a new generation of Alicantines who succeed in Spain, acting as ambassadors for their land, and doing so, in this case, from the music industry. In this way, the City Council wanted the voice of the proclamation to connect with younger audiences without losing respect for the Hogueras tradition.

The Hogueras de San Juan are recognized as Festivals of International Tourist Interest and constitute the city's main festive highlight. Each year, they fill Alicante with monuments, music, fireworks, and activity in the 'racós' and 'barracas' (traditional gathering spots and tents).

The official program can be consulted on the municipal website of the Alicante City Council (https://www.alicante.es), where events, schedules, and recommendations are detailed.