Free alternative leisure festival JOAFEST returns to Denia

Denia is getting ready to host the incredible fourth edition of JOAFEST, a vibrant alternative leisure festival designed by youth, for youth in the municipality. Taking place on Saturday, September 26, at the Casal Jove facility on Ronda de les Muralles, 42, and its surrounding areas, this free event will transform the city’s youth centre into a dynamic hub of creative and active entertainment.

A festival created by youth, for youth

Created by local young volunteers to gather youths in Denia, JOAFEST has quickly established itself as a highlight on the annual calendar. Valen Alcalà, Denia’s Councillor for Youth, emphasised the importance of granting young residents the space and autonomy to propose, participate in, and direct their own activities. The event is organised by the Youth Council alongside the Azarkia entity and supported by regional gaming associations, including Tablero, Vault 37, Secretos Olvidados, and El Señor de las Pulseras. The festival warmly welcomes families, teens, and young adults from across Denia and the wider Marina Alta region.

Daytime gaming zones and physical activities

The event runs in two main blocks throughout the day, operating from 10:00am to 2:00pm in the morning and resuming from 4:30pm until midnight. Inside the main Casal Jove building and its Multipurpose Room, visitors will find an extensive board game library with live demonstrations taking place. The indoor space will also host dedicated areas for Warhammer miniatures, trading card games, and a live DJ set. Meanwhile, the outdoor area caters to physical activities for attendees aged 12 and older, offering archery workshops, soft combat matches with foam weapons, and the competitive Viking Pulse tournament, a medieval-themed duel game.

Cosplay, K-pop and evening horror games

Pop culture and fan activities will take over the ETC Hall, featuring K-pop dance exhibitions, interactive workshops, presentations, a trivia quiz, and a colourful cosplay parade. Throughout the day, visitors can also take part in the Magical Relics Scavenger Hunt across the venue grounds. As night falls, the programming will turn toward immersive gaming experiences. Older participants aged 16 and above can brave The Game of the Timekeeper, a live-action horror role-playing game, or test their skills during the Nighttime Survival challenge scheduled between 9:00pm and 11:30pm.

How to participate in the JOAFEST

Admission to JOAFEST 2026 is free of charge, with open access to most areas. Because spaces are limited for high-demand structured activities such as soft combat, the Viking Pulse competition, live horror role-playing, and tabletop RPG sessions, participants must sign up on the day of the event at the Central Information Point located inside Casal Jove.