The Bilbao Municipal Police and the Ertzaintza have finalized the details of a joint and coordinated special security operation for Aste Nagusia, aiming to enhance safety and surveillance both within and outside the festival grounds, with a priority on preventing sexist assaults.
The operation also covers the prevention and response to thefts and violent robberies, as well as reinforcing road safety and controlling food safety. A total of 620 people will form the cleaning crew, with 270 exclusively dedicated to Aste Nagusia.
A wide range of bins and containers will be provided to facilitate recycling and source separation in festival areas, along with numerous temporary restrooms. The Security Coordination Commission, chaired by Mayor Juan Mari Aburto and the Basque Government's Security Councillor, Bingen Zupiria, has detailed the operational aspects.
The operation will generally focus on preventing all types of crimes, with particular sensitivity towards machista aggressions and hate crimes. Officers from both forces will patrol key festival zones 24 hours a day, with a priority police presence in areas of high public concentration such as El Arenal, Casco Viejo, Plaza Circular, Campo Volantín, and the fairgrounds at Parque Etxebarria.
Regarding thefts, in the 2025 edition, 617 reports were registered by the Municipal Police, of which 73.1% (451) were petty thefts, mainly of mobile phones and wallets. Citizens will be able to file complaints outside of police stations, as officers can initiate the process on-site.
To prevent sexist assaults, the number of plainclothes officers will be increased, and video surveillance and inter-institutional protocols will be activated. Councillor for Security, Amaia Arregi, highlighted the municipal concern for Crimes Against Sexual Freedom, and recalled the 'Respeto Nagusia' strategy to promote respectful relationships. Downloading the SOS DEIAK mobile app is encouraged.
A specific face-to-face attention service will be offered at the City Hall police station from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM for victims of sexual freedom crimes, and coordination with social services and equality departments will be strengthened.
In terms of road safety, alcohol and drug checks will be intensified. The Municipal Police have planned 34 checks, and the Ertzaintza will operate at access points to the city. In 2025, 384 alcohol tests and 44 drug tests were conducted, with 15 and 6 positive results, respectively.
As a new measure, focus will be placed on Personal Mobility Vehicles (VMPs), reminding that "a scooter is not a toy" and their riders must undergo alcohol and drug tests. Fines ranging from 500 to 1,000 euros will be applied, and the mandatory Civil Liability Insurance, in effect since January 2026, will be verified.
The Municipal Police will control illegal street vending. In 2025, 202 kilos of food and 19 other items such as tobacco and beer were confiscated due to a lack of sanitary control.
An Extraordinary Lost and Found Service will be launched at the City Hall police station, operating 24 hours a day, which collected 598 items last year. The Civil Protection device will include ambulances and health personnel, and firefighters will conduct an average of 9 preventive-operational services daily.
The caliber of fireworks will be limited to 125 mm, a launch zone will be established further away and protected, and drones will be used for control. The cleaning operation will mobilize 620 people and 120 vehicles, promoting sustainability and recycling with improved waste management, which reached 39.44% selective collection in 2025.
