Cascamorras Guadix & Baza 2026 🎉

The Cascamorras is one of the most unique, vibrant, and original festivals in Spain. Declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest, it takes place every September, pitting the towns of Baza and Guadix against each other over a 500-year-old legend. In 2026, Baza hosts its event on September 6 and Guadix on September 9. If you have never experienced Cascamorras before, this is your year.

The Legend: What is El Cascamorras?

The history traces back to the late 15th century when a builder from Guadix named Juan Pedernal discovered a statue of the Virgen de la Piedad (Our Lady of Mercy) while working on the construction of the Church of La Merced in Baza. Both Baza and Guadix claimed ownership of the sacred image. According to tradition, the Virgin remained in Baza, but Guadix was granted the right to reclaim it if an emissary could reach the Church of La Merced without getting stained.

Every year, the Cascamorras —the character representing the messenger from Guadix— sets off for Baza with the mission of retrieving the statue. Armed with black paint, water, and foam, the locals of Baza wait to stop him. If the Cascamorras manages to arrive completely clean, the statue goes back to Guadix. If not —and he hasn’t succeeded in over 500 years— the image stays. Later, the festival repeats in Guadix, where the locals also stain the character as a punishment for failing his mission.

Baza welcomes the Cascamorras with the full energy of its streets packed with black paint and foam. The day in Baza combines the religious devotion of the novena to the Virgen de la Piedad with the festive explosion of the race. Below is the provisional schedule based on previous years:

Three days later, the Cascamorras arrives in Guadix. Now it is the turn of the Accitanos (locals of Guadix) to confront the character, who is already covered in black paint from his time in Baza, ensuring he stays stained throughout his route across the city until reaching his final destination at the Real de Santo Domingo.

Children’s Cascamorras in Guadix

The Cascamorras Race in Guadix

Race Route (Provisional)

Carretera de Baza → Avenida Buenos Aires → Plaza de las Américas → Avenida Medina Olmos → Tena Sicilia → Plaza Cuchilleros → Tárrago y Mateos → Ancha → Caño de Santiago → Magistral Domínguez → Plaza de la Constitución → Plaza Catedral → Santa María del Buen Aire → Calle Concepción → Barradas → Plaza Pedro de Mendoza → Cruz de Piedra → San Miguel → Real de Santo Domingo (Farewell and Flag Oath)

Tips if you are going to experience Cascamorras

Come to Guadix and discover it with Quo Wadis Tours

The Cascamorras is the perfect excuse to visit Guadix. And if you are already here, don’t leave without truly getting to know the city. At Quo Wadis Tours, we are experts in guided tours in Guadix: the 11th-century Moorish Alcazaba, the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque Cathedral, the unique cave houses, the ancient Medina, and the secrets of a city that has been inhabited for over 2,000 years.

The very same city that dresses up in paint and foam every September for Cascamorras is a destination full of historical layers that deserves to be explored at leisure. Private groups, families, solo travelers, and school trips — write to us, and we will plan your perfect tour.