“Let Melchior come, let Melchior come!“, the children shouted in unison in front of the TVE cameras during the Three Kings parade in Madrid in 2026, with their voices trembling due to the freezing cold of 0 degrees and also emotion. Between oversized coats and reddened cheeks, they celebrated the arrival of the first of the Three Wise Men. And a heartbreaking cry from a child left viewers stunned: “I want a bike!!!”
King Melchior greets participants during the Three Kings parade in Madrid EFE/Víctor Lerena
The 2026 Kings Day took place in most of the country without major events, with a certain tension and freshness thanks to the storm François, which caused in some cities like Totana (Murcia) and Vera (Almería) The parade of Their Majesties of the Orient or certain cities will bring forward today’s program compared to previous days. Freezing temperatures except for the children, who openly declared that they were not cold at all.
Lizards, super powers, dragons, unicorns In addition to all the unimaginable toys, they were requested by letter to the Three Kings in 2026. And the tenderness, love and joy of being able to play with these toys that on the 6th these children will find on the street, always in danger because of the weather typical of these dates. And that this parade also presented a danger of rain and that in many places it could be saved. And in some, no.
Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla de Baltasar
Because the rain left the parade of the Three Kings without Tomares, Mairena del Aljarafe and San Juan de Aznalfarache in the province of Seville, which, in its capital, had a star protagonist among its thousands of participants: Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla. Because?
The president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, dressed as King Baltasar, throws candy EFE/José Manuel Vidal
It has been 39 years since a president of the Andalusian government established himself as a sorcerer king. in the Seville parade and, on this occasion, he did it under the name of Baltasar, for which he also received some accusations of black face (a practice born from the use of theatrical makeup used by white people to represent a black person and which, over time, has been questioned) on social networks in a city that has been organizing this celebration for over a hundred years. For him, as he stated in previous days, it was a great honor and a surprise.
Precisely, although the parade could have taken place normally, just before starting, an unexpected downpour occurred which surprised King Baltasar (Moreno Bonilla) leaving the Rectorate of the University of Seville. Looking at the photographs from news agencies, we can see to what extent the paint on the President of the Council’s face was paler or not at different times.
“Shared knowledge”
Madrid put on a spectacular show, as it should be: 2,100 participants (with 250 royal pages), 15 floats powered by renewable energies and 1,200 kilos of candy to offer children during three hours of emotions while traveling through the city. and with him Postman’s broom, of course, to recover the scattered letters and deliver them at the last minute to the Three Wise Men. “The broom postman, the broom postman, always gives gifts to those who collaborate,” sang the very charismatic character in the streets of the capital.
Superb scenic composition that brings the star of the East to life Alejandro Martínez Vélez EP / Alejandro Martínez Vélez
The motto of this edition? “Shared knowledge”, with Their Majesties of the East as custodians of ancient knowledge but also of those who today perpetuate its legacy in classrooms. And a retired teacher from Vallecas, who taught 1,500 children aged 14 to 18, said on camera: “It was a phenomenal idea. Because we are a bit of a mistreated group, generations of people pass through our hands, thank you very much for remembering us.” Indeed, in this sense, Gaspar closed his speech in Cibeles with this inspiring message to children: “You are the scientists, artists and thinkers of tomorrow”he declared alongside the mayor of Madrid José Luis Martinez-Almeida.
To Barcelona by the sea, to Logroño by the sky… and the camels?
Because their Eastern Highnesses are versatile. They adapt. Helicopters, boats… After a long journey from the East, Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar arrive by sea in the Catalan capital aboard the emblematic ship Las Golondrinas, where the royal pages and the mayor awaited them, Jaume Collboniwith the traditional offering of bread and salt and the magic keys which will open the doors of all houses.
Among the audience, the little ones did not hide their enthusiasm and shared their wishes: “I asked for sneakers, deodorant, goalkeeper gloves, games for the game and many other things,” said one child. And another chimed in: “I only ordered a keyboard…well, a Spanish soccer jersey and a ball.” The parade was massive in the city of Barcelona, bringing together some 600,000 people in its streets who watched the more than 1,200 meter long procession made up of eleven entourages who performed 37 choreographies.
In the case of Ingenio (Gran Canaria) or San Fernando (Cádiz) or Logroño (La Rioja) we are talking about something higher. Literally. The helicopter. And the arrival of Their Majesties the Three Magi at Bhelma III maneuver at the Las Gaunas stadium in Logroño, to the emotion of thousands of children and adults in a full capacity room for the occasion, more than 14,000 people.
Arrival of Their Majesties the Three Kings by helicopter at the municipal stadium of Las Gaunas EFE/Raquel Manzanares
And by train, more conventional of course. The magical trio arrived in Vitoria by this means of transport and, accompanied by the royal postmen, traveled in classic vehicles along Dato Street, in the capital of Alava, to the Town Hall where they welcomed the children from the main balcony before receiving them at the Villa Suso Palace.
We won’t forget the camels either, of course. We leave here a beautiful Navarrese image with their arrival in Pamplona by the Magdalena Bridge, riding these animals and following the Camino de Santiago. After visiting Carmen, Navarrería and Mercaderes, you arrive at the Consistorial Square, where the mayor and the Corporation receive you and greet the boys and girls from the balcony.
Arrival of the Three Wise Men in Pamplona Eduardo Sanz EP / Edualdo Sanz
More than 60 years with spectators
The streets were filled with people and joy, but the same sparkle in the eyes and the same emotion was felt by the children and adults who turned on the television at home to see (in much more detail) the Three Wise Men and their entourage on TVE, as always over the last 61 years.
The Madrid parade had more than 25 cameras, seven cranes and more than 100 people which made it possible to transmit the magic of this Madrid parade to the whole world, as evidenced by the messages sent by spectators. The presenters were Javier Hoyos and Ana Pradaaccompanied by Nacho Mapachoof the clan. And the team of journalists, made up of Clara Rivas, Cecilia Revuelta, Lucía Vinaixa, Alberto S. Núñez, María Ortega and Marta Ingelmo. And the broom postman!
And even though the weather was truly winter, one of the hardest days, no one failed in their work. The most important, of course, are the Three Wise Men, who continue their historic mission without disappointing and arrived on time at all the parades this January 5. The children’s historic mission to open presents never fails either, of course. And I hope that tomorrow there will be no more without one.
