A new grassroots initiative is putting Ibiza’s overcrowding and tourism model back in the spotlight, as the Associació de Joves d’Eivissa prepares to hold a public “Xindriada” at Cala Saladeta this Sunday, August 30.

The gathering is intended to be both a social event and a statement: the young association says it wants to reclaim public spaces for local residents and call for a change in Ibiza’s tourism and economic model.

What Is the Xindriada?

Rather than organising a conventional demonstration, the association has chosen something much simpler: people gathering on the beach, eating watermelon and spending time together.

The event will begin from around 8am, with organisers deliberately choosing an early start because Cala Saladeta is a small and heavily visited beach and they want participants to be able to find space.

The organisers say anyone is welcome to attend.

There is no entry restriction and participants are simply being encouraged to bring watermelon, share the beach and take part in the message behind the gathering.

Why Cala Saladeta?

The choice of Cala Saladeta is central to the group's argument.

The picturesque cove in the municipality of Sant Antoni de Portmany has become one of Ibiza's most popular summer destinations, attracting large numbers of visitors.

For the Associació de Joves d’Eivissa, that popularity has created a situation where many local residents increasingly avoid the beach during the summer because of overcrowding.

The group says the event is intended to highlight the idea that Ibiza's beaches are not simply tourist attractions but public spaces that should also remain accessible and enjoyable for the people who live on the island.

“We Want to Enjoy What Belongs to Us”

The association has stressed that the event is not intended to create unnecessary disruption.

Silvia Ramón, speaking for the group, said the goal is not to make noise without a reason, but to create a peaceful gathering around a shared concern.

The message is essentially about being able to enjoy Ibiza's own beaches during the summer, rather than feeling that residents have been pushed aside by the sheer volume of visitors.

The group says the Xindriada is therefore a form of protest, but one designed around community, conversation and simply occupying a public space together.

A Bigger Debate About Ibiza's Tourism Model

The Xindriada is also part of a much wider discussion taking place across Ibiza about overtourism, housing, access to public spaces and the island's economic model.

The Associació de Joves d’Eivissa was officially presented in January 2026, emerging from concerns about the social changes taking place on the island.

In its founding manifesto, the group described Ibiza as facing an unsustainable model involving land exploitation, housing difficulties and an economy that increasingly treats the island and everyday life as commodities.

Housing is particularly important to younger residents, many of whom face increasingly difficult conditions in finding somewhere affordable to live.

The Group Says Ibiza Is Losing Part of Its Local Identity

The association also argues that the island's tourism profile is changing.

Ramón said she believes Ibiza has lost some of its family-oriented tourism, while attracting more visitors primarily interested in nightlife and partying.

The criticism is not aimed at tourism itself, but at what the group sees as a tourism model that can increasingly disconnect visitors from Ibiza's culture and local community.

The group wants a broader conversation about what kind of tourism Ibiza should pursue and how much pressure the island can sustain.

It Could Become an Annual Event

For now, Sunday's Xindriada is being treated as a pilot initiative.

If organisers consider it successful, the Associació de Joves d’Eivissa says it could organise similar actions during future seasons.

The group has also said it is preparing additional projects and activities, suggesting that the Cala Saladeta gathering is only one part of a broader campaign focused on the island's future.

The idea was also encouraged by another recent local initiative: a popular dinner in Ibiza's port designed to make a similar argument about residents' relationship with public spaces.

Not a Protest Against Tourists — But a Protest About Balance

The organisers' message is ultimately about balance.

Ibiza depends heavily on tourism, but the association argues that the island also needs to remain a place where residents can afford to live, access public spaces and enjoy their own coastline.

That makes Cala Saladeta a powerful backdrop for the discussion.

On Sunday morning, instead of another conventional political demonstration, a group of young Ibiza residents will arrive with watermelon, towels and a message about who gets to enjoy the island in August.

And if the beach fills up again, the gathering itself could become a very visible illustration of the problem they are trying to highlight.