What's changed for Fiesta 2026 in San Antonio
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The Josh Abbott Band on a Battle of Flowers Parade float during Fiesta 2025. Photo: Madalyn Mendoza/Axios
Fiesta is less than a week away and a few things have changed since the last time the city partied.
Why it matters: San Antonio's cultural centerpiece affects traffic, business and daily routines for 11 days.
Catch up quick: The party kicks off Thursday with Fiesta Fiesta and runs through April 26, with more than 100 official events, including two headliner parades.
From transportation upgrades to event changes, here's a quick guide to get you ready.
Getting around
đź‘Ź Good news for pedestrians heading to A Night in Old San Antonio at La Villita and La Semana Alegre at Hemisfair: The long-awaited South Alamo Street work is expected to be finished by Fiesta.
- Two new crosswalks and more than 150 shade trees will make it easier to walk around the area, Public Works Department spokesperson Nicholas Olivier tells Axios.
🚶 Traversing Market Square should also be smoother. Much of the road work tied to Zona Cultural — the district that includes the square — wrapped up about a month ago after beginning in 2022.
- It will be fully open for Fiesta, Olivier says.
đźš™ Waymo, the ride-hailing company that uses self-driving cars, is an addition to the Fiesta landscape. The company coordinated with local officials to adjust operations around street closures and events.
- "We regularly work closely with city officials, first responders, and local organizations to prepare for special events that may disrupt traffic where we operate," Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli tells Axios.
Event changes
🎟️ Fiesta de Los Reyes, long known as a free event, will now charge $5 admission during peak hours, following approval Thursday by the City Council.
- The official Fiesta event runs April 17–26 at Market Square.
⏸️ Alamo Heights Night, a tradition since 1987, is "paused" this year. Organizers cited declining attendance and revenue, and its future remains unclear.
🎶 ¡Pachanga at Pullman! is adding to the buzz as a Rey Feo Scholarship–presented party — though not an official Fiesta event.
- The April 18 event (noon–5pm) features music headliners including Fastball and Eve 6. Tickets cost $36.64.
The bottom line: ¡Viva Fiesta! 🎉