San Sebastián de La Gomera Cancels Maritime Procession for Virgen del Carmen Due to Lack of Insurance

The traditional maritime procession in honour of the Virgen del Carmen in San Sebastián de La Gomera cannot take place this Thursday, July 16, 2026, due to the lack of an insurer to cover the event.

The bay of San Sebastián de La Gomera will be without the image of the Virgen del Carmen sailing its waters this year. The Festival Committee has announced that the maritime procession, scheduled for Thursday, July 16, 2026, cannot be held due to the lack of an insurer to provide coverage for the event, a necessary requirement to obtain authorisation from the Maritime Captaincy.

Last-Minute Efforts

The organisers assure that they have worked “with dedication and enthusiasm, exhausting all possibilities” to maintain the tradition. However, the inability to find a policy has thwarted their plans. “Despite the effort made and the numerous arrangements carried out until the last moment, the lack of an insurer that could provide coverage has prevented us from obtaining the necessary authorisation,” they explain in a statement released on social media.

The decision, according to the Committee, “was not within their control.” The members of the group wanted to convey that they are “fully aware of the importance and value that this tradition holds for San Sebastián,” and that they kept the negotiations open until the end in the hope of finding a favourable solution.

Apologies and Land Alternative

The news comes with little notice, something the organisers regret. “We apologise for communicating this news with such short notice, but this is precisely because we have kept the negotiations open until the last moment in the hope of being able to offer a favourable solution,” they state.

Despite the cancellation of the nautical event, the festival will not be without a programme. The Committee invites locals and visitors to join them for the Solemn Mass and the subsequent Land Procession in honour of Our Lady of Carmen, which will be held on the same Thursday, July 16, at 19:00 in San Sebastián de La Gomera. “We sincerely appreciate the understanding, support, and affection of everyone. We hope to be able to recover one of the most cherished and anticipated traditions of our festivities next year,” concludes the statement.

For the people of La Gomera, the maritime procession is one of the central events of the patronal festivities, and its absence will be felt in the bay. The lack of insurance coverage has become an increasing obstacle for nautical events throughout the archipelago, where premiums have skyrocketed in recent years. For now, the Virgen del Carmen will remain on solid ground, waiting for 2027 to sail among the decorated boats once again.