Now, Zaragoza residents are wondering who might deliver the opening address at the 2026 Fiestas del Pilar. There are many figures with merits and a deep love for the region, but for now, it remains unknown. From Amaral to Kase.O, Teresa Perales, Bigas Luna, Paco Ortiz and Enrique Bunbury, many have taken part in one of the city’s most moving moments over the past 20 years. José Antonio Labordeta, however, was the first to take on the role of opening speaker, in 1979.
From Zaragoza City Hall’s balcony, and singing his "Canto a la libertad", Labordeta launched the Fiestas del Pilar that year. The thousands upon thousands of people who witnessed that historic moment that night could not have known that this iconic song would be sung from the heart year after year at every opening address. The singer-songwriter, writer, politician, member of parliament and so much more is the only person who can claim to have delivered the opening address twice, repeating the experience in 2009, just one year before Aragonese people were left, in some way, orphaned by his death.
Until 1978, it was the senior festival announcer, Ignacio Moreno, who fired the starting gun for the festivities from the heart of the city every Saturday before October 12.
THE LAST 20 OPENING SPEAKERS: FROM JAVIER CORONAS TO A TRIBUTE TO ARAGONESE CINEMA
With a “Hello Mr. Pepito, hello Mr. José,” Javier Coronas began his speech as opening speaker at the 2004 Fiestas del Pilar. Although originally from Barcelona, he has been one more Zaragoza resident since 1997, and the comedian was chosen for the role during those early years of the new century. A year later, the role passed to a very young César Laínez, who at the time was Real Zaragoza’s goalkeeper. "I’ve been down there many times and I know how, at those moments, you want the opening speaker to finish so you can give free rein to your urge to celebrate," acknowledged the footballer, much loved by Zaragoza supporters and well aware of the Maños’ desire to party.
Braulio Cantero delivered the opening address in 2014
Eva Amaral and Juan Aguirre stepped onto the balcony in 2006 and, with a resounding "Long live Aragón!" in the Aragonese language and the subsequent rocket exploding in the sky, they ushered in Zaragoza’s big days. As if they were performing one of their concerts, they thrilled all of Zaragoza, as the Maño duo were at one of the best moments of their career. Known as "La Maña", Lita Claver delivered an opening address in 2007 with the humor that has made her known throughout Spain. Describing Aragonese people as "open, straightforward and noble", she also found time in her speech to say that "Viagra works miracles" if someone’s body was asking for "more action". Blending emotion and irreverence, the vedette earned an extended ovation across the entire Plaza del Pilar.
If one event marked 2008 in Zaragoza, it was the Expo, and naturally the opening speaker had a very special connection to this major event. At the age of 104, Guillermo Herrera stepped onto the City Hall balcony as the oldest volunteer at the International Water Exhibition. "Zaragoza has looked beautiful before the world. People of Zaragoza, Aragonese people, visitors… you cannot give up these days either. May the weather be kind to us and allow us to enjoy good conditions," Herrera said in his speech.
In 2009, José Antonio Labordeta became the opening speaker once again and, in what seemed like a farewell that no one knew would be one, Zaragoza residents heard live for the last time the words "there will come a day when everyone, upon raising their eyes...". Former footballer Álvaro Arbeloa paid him a small tribute during his opening address a year later. The adopted Maño took to the balcony in 2010 after becoming world champion with the Spanish national team. He naturally brought out the golden trophy, showing it to the thousands of Zaragoza residents who filled the Plaza del Pilar, and mentioned a city that had always welcomed him.
Álvaro Arbeloa delivered the opening address in 2010
Aragonese journalist Plácido Díez was the opening speaker in 2011. That October night, he encouraged all Zaragoza residents to enjoy the festivities and delivered an assertive speech in which he particularly praised the "coexistence of different cultures in Aragon". Sport took center stage again in 2012, with Aragonese swimmer Teresa Perales as the featured speaker. And rightly so: it was a landmark year for her after she won six medals in London and reached a total of 22 Paralympic medals.
Jorge Asín and Marisol Aznar’s humor welcomed the Fiestas del Pilar in 2013. The stars of Oregón TV represented an entire team that continues to make Zaragoza residents laugh to this day, although the loss of Laura Gómez-Lacueva is still keenly felt. A year later, in 2014, Braulio Cantera, former president of the Interpeñas Federation, delivered the opening address on behalf of the 26 clubs that made up the federation at the time, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of its foundation.
Music took its turn in 2015 with singer Carmen París and her appeal for Aragonese culture and relations between peoples, before another packed Plaza del Pilar. Culture continued to take center stage at Zaragoza City Hall, as a year later Aragonese actress Luisa Gavasa did the same after being named an Adopted Daughter of the city and carrying a Goya Award for her role in Paula Ortiz’s "The Bride".
Amaral delivered the opening address in 2006 with a cry of "Long live Aragón!" in the Aragonese language
If there is one opening address practically all Zaragoza residents remember, it is Kase.O’s in 2017. To the rhythm of rap and with lyrics created especially for the occasion, the entire square sang along to "I’m from Aragón, I’m from Aragón"… As the years moved closer to the present, 2018 became the year of female opening speakers, with seven representatives from the cultural and scientific fields. Ludmila Mercerón, Sagrario Saiz, Trinidad García, María Jesús Lázaro, María Jesús Lorente, Carolina García and Justina Lordachescu took center stage in the most female opening address to date, and also one of the longest.
A year before the pandemic, in 2019, the opening address featured a cappella music from the unmistakable voices of international group B Vocal. "No matter how many times we travel around the world, we always return home to breathe and clear our heads with our cierzo," Augusto González said in a speech that also referred to the long-awaited promotion of much-loved Real Zaragoza. As the group sang, "a thousand flags will fly from the towers of El Pilar; I was born with two colors, one white and one blue; when I die, may they paint my coffin that way," the Plaza del Pilar went wild in 2019.
With the country in the midst of the pandemic in 2020, there were no Fiestas del Pilar and therefore no opening address. In 2021, Ander Herrera’s name was circulating as a possible—and highly anticipated—speaker, but the festivities were ultimately canceled as well.
One of the most remembered opening addresses was Kase.O’s in 2017
Aragonese jota was responsible for relaunching the opening addresses in 2022. The voices of Sara Caballero, José Miguel Pamplona, Sara Blanco and Diego de Pablo echoed before thousands of attendees who, after the break, were more eager than ever to celebrate. In October 2023, the Copa de la Reina champions, their "Aragonese rasmiа" and a faithful "red tide" filled the Plaza del Pilar for an opening address celebrating women’s sport.
Naiara and Juanjo promised on OT that they would deliver "the best opening address in history", and their fans and all of Zaragoza were able to confirm that this was the case in October 2024. With their passion for their homeland and jota, and a Maño pride that moved the entire city, the former Operación Triunfo contestants were the last to step onto the City Hall balcony. Now, people will have to count down the days to see who earns that honor.
Directors Javier Macipe, Pilar Palomero and Paula Ortiz delivered the opening address at the 2025 festivities. They were joined on the balcony by costume designer Arantxa Ezquerro, filmmaker Blanca Torres and actor Pepe Lorente. The speakers addressed the crowd filling the Plaza del Pilar after being introduced by Zaragoza mayor Natalia Chueca, who wished residents a happy fiesta.
THE ONES WHO CAME BEFORE THEM
Before 2004, major Aragonese figures also had the honor of stepping onto the balcony and delivering a speech that surely remained etched in their memories forever.
2003. Carlos Pauner, mountaineer 2002. Enrique Bunbury, singer 2001. Bigas Luna, filmmaker 2000. Javier González Ferrari, journalist 1999. Andoni Cedrún, footballer 1998. Paco Ortiz, journalist 1997. Raúl Gracia "El Tato", bullfighter 1996. Imperio Argentina, actress, singer and dancer 1995. Arantxa Argüelles, dancer 1994. Víctor Fernández, football coach 1993. Fernando Escartín, cyclist 1992. Epi (Juan Antonio San Epifanio), basketball player 1991. Pilar Lorengar, soprano 1990. Soledad Puértolas, writer 1989. Javier Tomeo, writer and playwright 1988. Eduardo Foncillas, diplomat and politician 1987. Luis del Val, journalist and writer 1986. José Luis Borau, film director 1985. Javier Moracho, athlete 1984. Antonio Saura, painter and writer 1983. Conchita Buñuel, actress 1982. Antonio Mingote, cartoonist, writer and journalist 1981. Francisco Yndurain, philologist and historian 1980. Ildefonso Manuel Gil, poet and essayist.
