Photos: Tons of tomatoes fly through the air at the world's biggest food fight

Welcome to Tomatina.
 By 
Brittany Herbert
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The streets of Bunol are splattered with red after the world's largest food fight. The annual Tomatina fiesta took place on Wednesday in a village outside of Valencia, Spain, where trucks dumped 160 tons of tomatoes for around 20,000 participants, according to the Associated Press.

There are only a two rules at Tomatina: no throwing hard objects and phones, cameras and backpacks are to be left behind. The festival traces its roots back to 1945, when an actual food fight broke out with fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes.

The food fight has been an organized event every year since, minus a few years in the 1950s when it was banned. (In 1957, people protested by holding a funeral for a tomato.) It is now a major tourist attraction and the tickets this year sold out quickly. Below are the vibrant and action-packed photos from Tomatina. The images show people of all ages finding pure joy in pelting each other with tomatoes.


You May Also Like

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Mashable Image
Brittany Herbert

Brittany is an Editorial Art and Photo Intern at Mashable. She received her Commercial Photography degree from Appalachian State University.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
Review: The new M5 MacBook Air is incredible. I wish it was $200 cheaper.
m5 macbook air open to home screen


The DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo is on sale for less than Black Friday — save over $100 at Amazon
the DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo on a green background


The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is down to an all-time low price — save $500 at Amazon
a person flies the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone in a green mountainous area. the image views the drone and the DJI RC from over the shoulder of the operator

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma

What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!