The Spanish embassy in the UK has poked fun at Morrissey for cancelling a show in Valencia after the noise from the Las Fallas festival apparently prevented him from getting any sleep.
The solo artist and former Smiths frontman, who has a reputation for axing and postponing gigs, had been scheduled to perform at Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía but called it off over “sleep deprivation”.
The artist claimed he was kept awake by noise from the Las Fallas celebrations, a week-long programme of festivities where locals often set off fireworks. The festival usually only runs from March 15-19, but the celebrations frequently kick off days before.
Morrissey’s team warned in advance that the show may not go ahead. “Having travelled for two days by road, Morrissey reached the hotel in Valencia late on Wednesday. Any form of sleep or rest throughout the night was impossible due to festival noise / loud techno singing / megaphone announcements,” they said in a statement via Morrissey Central.
“This experience has left Morrissey in a catatonic state. Before leaving for tonight’s scheduled concert, please check that the show remains possible under these circumstances.”
In the end, the show was called off. “Tonight’s scheduled show in Valencia has been rendered impossible due to sleep deprivation. Morrissey drove from Milan to Valencia but has been unable to rest in Valencia due to noise. The show is not cancelled. Circumstances render the show impossible.”
Later, Morrissey said that staying a hotel in the Plaza Manises area was an “indescribable hell”, adding: “It will take me one year to recover. And that is an understatement.”
Following widespread ridicule online of the cancellation – with Pitchfork reporting the news under the headline ‘Morrissey cancels show because he is sleepy’ – the Spanish Embassy joined in.
Taking to X, they posted footage of the Las Fallas celebrations, featuring the explosions of fireworks, with the caption: “The Fallas festival in Valencia has already begun, and we have had our first casualty. Morrissey has cancelled his show because he couldn’t sleep.”
Playing on one of The Smiths’ biggest songs, they added: “Fallas is noise, fireworks… and there is a light that never goes out! Enjoy today’s mascletá!”
The Fallas festival in Valencia has already begun, and we have had our first casualty. Morrissey has cancelled his show because he couldn’t sleep.
Fallas is noise 🙉 , fireworks🎆… and there is a light that never goes out! 😎
Enjoy today’s mascletá! pic.twitter.com/uWklV2NDMp
— Embassy of Spain UK (@EmbSpainUK) March 12, 2026
This is the sixth concert he has cancelled on his tour after axing shows in St. Petersburg, Florida, San Diego, St. Louis and Atlanta – with the latter also being due to “artist illness”. According to a website tracking them, his cancellation rate is currently 24 per cent.
