ALICANTE NEWS

Valencian Community hotels are almost full this August, with Benidorm and Alicante South leading the wayAverage occupancy across the region hit 92.1% in the first half of the month, slightly ahead of last year and pointing to another strong summer season If it felt like every hotel on the Costa Blanca was packed to the rafters this August, that is because.. 24/08/2026

More than 262,000 hectares burned by wildfires across Spain this yearSpain has recorded 43 major forest fires this year, while a change in the weather could bring some relief to fire-hit areas this weekend Spain has seen more than 262,000 hectares of land affected by wildfires since the start of the year, according.. 24/08/2026

Spain's next big show is coming with a partial lunar eclipse on August 28The Moon will be almost completely swallowed by Earth’s shadow during the early hours of Friday, with the best views in western Spain A spectacular partial lunar eclipse is set to give people across Spain an early-morning sky show on Friday.. 24/08/2026

Retirees in Spain get new options to work and receive part of their pensionFrom August 28, certain retirees in Spain will be able to return to work while continuing to receive part of their pension Spain is making it easier for people who have already retired to return to work while continuing to receive part of their pension.. 24/08/2026

Saharan dust and muddy rain in the forecast: Alicante weather forecast August 23-27Showers and thunderstorms could affect parts of Alicante this week as Saharan dust lingers in the air We are on the home straight towards the end of summer, or at least the intense summer heat. After temperatures and humidity climbed slightly over.. 24/08/2026

Marina Baixa Hospital is getting a €102 million overhaul, and the scale of the changes is significantNearly €30 million will be spent on the project in 2026 alone, with more operating theatres, more ICU beds and a much bigger emergency department on the way For anyone who uses the Marina Baixa University Hospital in Villajoyosa, the news that.. 21/08/2026

Asian hornets are spreading across Spain, and experts say they are here to stayAsian hornets are spreading into new areas of Spain, putting bees and other ecosystems under growing pressure The spread of Asian hornets across Spain is proving difficult to stop, with the invasive insects now being detected in areas where they.. 21/08/2026

Could foreign non-residents be stopped from buying homes in Alicante Province?Valencian political coalition Compromís is calling on the Spanish Government to restrict property purchases by non-residents as Alicante house prices continue to climb Could buying a home in Alicante Province become more difficult for foreign.. 21/08/2026

A trip back 25 years ago: 15 things that didn’t exist yetFrom the euro and the AVE to YouTube and the iPhone, a look back at how different life was in Spain in 2001 It’s hard to believe now, but 2001 really was a different world.   As the saying goes, “time flies”, and looking back.. 21/08/2026

Supreme Court sets clear limit on sex changes and past convictionsA change of registered sex cannot erase a gender violence conviction for offences committed before the change The Supreme Court, in Spain, has confirmed that changing a person´s registered sex does not wipe out a previous conviction for gender violence.. 20/08/2026

Alicante has recorded nearly 38,000 blood donations this year, and the summer campaign is still runningWith 80 special collection points set up across the province, donating has never been easier, and first-time donors are stepping up in impressive numbers Nearly 480 people in Alicante gave blood for the very first time this summer. That's not a small.. 20/08/2026

Storms, hail and cooler air on the way: Alicante weather forecast August 20-23After several days of hot and humid weather, thunderstorms could bring heavy showers, hail and very strong winds to parts of Alicante Province before temperatures fall The past few days have been hot and humid once again across Alicante Province.. 20/08/2026

Cocaine seizures in Spain have fallen sharply, but synthetic drugs are surgingNew annual drug statistics show 370 tonnes seized nationwide in 2025, with ecstasy, tusi and crystal MDMA all on the rise while traditional trafficking routes face increased pressure Spain's security forces seized 370 tonnes of drugs in 2025, according.. 20/08/2026

Disney's Tangled is bringing over €40 million to Alicante and the Valencian CommunityWith up to 700 people working daily at Ciudad de la Luz, the live-action Rapunzel film is proving a major economic win for the region If you've driven past the Ciudad de la Luz studios in Alicante recently and noticed rather more activity than usual.. 19/08/2026

Spain's Mediterranean coast is quietly becoming a major destination for swinger tourismFrom Murcia and Alicante to the Costa del Sol and beyond, liberal leisure is growing fast along southern Spain's coastline this summer Spain has long been known for its sunshine, beaches and relaxed attitude to life, but there's another kind of.. 19/08/2026

German teenager strangled, beaten and robbed after leaving Cabo Roig StripThe 16-year-old says he was grabbed from behind and strangled before losing consciousness in the Campoamor area A 16-year-old German tourist has reported being attacked and robbed after leaving the Cabo Roig Strip in the early hours of Saturday morning.. 19/08/2026

Mediterranean nears 30°C as Spain braces for temperatures of up to 44°CThe latest heatwave is adding to already unusually warm Mediterranean waters, with temperatures above 30°C recorded in some areas Spain is facing another day of intense summer heat, with temperatures expected to climb as high as 44°C in parts.. 19/08/2026

Red alert issued for northern Alicante as temperatures set to hit 44°CTemperatures will reach the mid-40s in several parts of Alicante province on Wednesday August 19 Alicante is bracing for one of the most extreme days of the summer, as Aemet has issued a red alert for the northern coast of the province on Wednesday.. 18/08/2026

Benidorm's most permanent souvenir isn't a fridge magnetBritish tourists are leaving the Costa Blanca resort with something rather more lasting than a suntan, and the tattoo industry is booming as a result Most people come home from Benidorm with a tan, a hangover and perhaps a novelty hat. An increasing number.. 18/08/2026

Three British nationals arrested after allegedly isolating and defrauding a 91-year-old expat in CalpeThe suspects changed the locks, withheld her passport and tricked her into rewriting her will, before police stepped in under Operation Confide A 91-year-old British woman living alone in the Costa Blanca resort of Calpe was subjected to months of calculated.. 18/08/2026